Student’s success requires focus, discipline
By
ADESPONDENT man was being roused by his mother one early morning. “Son, it’s time to go to school,” the mother said. “I don’t want to go for two reasons: I don’t like the people there and the people don’t like me.”
* * * The mother gazed at him, saying: “My son, you should go back. I also give you two reasons why: first, you’re 59 years old and second, you are the school principal!”
* * *
Classes all over the country have started already—others start later. Principals, teachers, and students should return to school…whether they like it or not.
* * * With the new school year, let me share some tips on how to succeed as a student.
When I was in grade school, I wasn’t aware of the importance of studying. I preferred gallivanting with my barkada—which was, of course, more enjoyable than doing homework.
* * *
As a result, I flunked in Grade 3. My schoolmates laughed and teased me, calling me a “repeater.” At that time, it was more shameful to be a flunker than now.
It was all my fault and the experience was a wake-up call. I promised to myself that it would never happen again.
* * * To make progress, I imposed discipline on myself like allotting more time for study. Slowly, I progressed.
When I reached Grade Six, I got promoted to the bright section. It wasn’t easy because I had to compete with the cream of the crop.
* * * When I graduated from high school, I made it to the top ten. And when I completed my MA in Philosophy, I finished with a distinction of magna cum laude.
This is not to blow my trumpet. Well…maybe it’s part of it.
* * * But I share that experience to prove that we all have the potential to excel, although for some, it may not be in academics but in vocational, technical courses or sports. The crucial thing is we have to develop that raw material within us. And that requires focus, time, and, above all, discipline.
* * * Moreover, we have to accept the reality that there is INEQUALITY in the distribution of talents and abilities.
Jesus’ Parable of the Talents (Mt 25, 14-30) gives us a glimpse of the answer. It tells us that God does give different gifts to everyone. One receives five talents, another two, and another one. * * * Despite the inequality, everybody gets sufficient qualities to work with. It is not how many one has that matters, but HOW one uses his gifts. If you use your intelligence, for instance, to amass wealth for selfish enjoyment only and worse, through illegal means, then you are using it wrongly?
* * * For the less gifted, the most important thing, however, is that after all the hard work, it’s all worth it because you gave it your best shot.
Remember: “What you ARE is God’s gift to you. What you BECOME is your gift to God.”
* * * THE LIGHTER SIDE. Once a professor, known for his sarcastic remarks, picked on a slow-witted student. “Jun, where were you when God was distributing brains?” The whole class laughed.
* * * Regaining his composure, Jun countered, “Sir, didn’t you know? Magkatabi lang tayo!” (We were just beside each other!). The class roared. LESSON: Don’t look down on your less gifted fellow creatures.
* * *
ST. JUDE. Join us today in our novena to St. Jude Thaddeus at the Divine Word Shrine, Christ the King Seminary, on E. Rodriguez Boulevard, Quezon City, after the 6 p.m. Mass.
A healing prayer and anointing of holy oil will follow.