If there is one workplace where getting old is noticeable, it is working in a school. Each year, age gap between the teachers/staff and students, is increasing. On a positive note, it may mean another year of fulfillment seeing your students wear BLACK graduation GOWNS…because in one way or another, we’ve been part of this milestone in their lives. Each year, the speech of STI ORMOC President never fails to mention about the unselfish service of non-teaching staff and commitment of teachers in imparting their knowledge to our students… Another year as opportunity to look back at the academic year that ended, and improve academic delivery and student services for another academic year that is about to unfold.
Ormocanons are so blessed to have SUPERDOME as venue for big activities in our city. But sad to say, during our graduation, the air-conditioning units were not sufficient to cool the place so parents and graduates had to use copy of their programme as improvised fan. I have talked with the administrator of superdome and assured me that spare parts were already requested to replace defective parts. These parts are expecting to arrive soon. It was evident though that the joy of the parents and graduates outweighed the hot temperature inside the Dome. Anyway, I, myself, would not want to miss graduation of our students. I remember three years ago, I struggled to climb up the stairs of Sabin Resort Hotel despite the 5-day old fresh scars I had in my tummy due to CS for my 3rd baby just to attend our 9th commencement exercises. I had to stay at the back and watched our graduates receive their diploma from afar. Like me, friends and relatives of our students would want to witness this very important occasion. This may mean a lot to them. Maybe, some relatives and friends are benefactors of our students. Unlike other smaller venue, in SUPERDOME, graduates can bring as many relatives and friends as they can. NO LIMIT. We even have graduates who are the very first college degree holders in their family and clan. Just imagine how important this graduation is to the family and relatives of our students. So Superdome is a perfect venue for our graduation if well-ventilated.
Normally, graduates have to go up the stage and receive their diploma but this year is different because our President, our Dean and I had to go down the stage and hand the diploma to one of our DCET graduates who was then sitting on a WHEELCHAIR due to fractured bones on his legs. At first, his guardians requested if they can just carry our student to go up the stage. But we realize, Givers of diplomas have functional legs while the receiver doesn’t have. Let us break the tradition and do what we think is more humane.
I see on TV that some schools in Metro Manila( or maybe also in Visayas and Mindanao) invited politicians as commencement speakers. Personally, choosing a commencement speaker is a no easy task. We have to carefully study the professional background of the person to make sure our graduates will learn and benefit from her/his talk that is why our President decided to invite the HR Manager of Lexmark who is also the People Management Association of the Philippines(PMAP)-Cebu Chapter President, Ms. Gladys Santos. As expected, she enumerated what is it that employers want to find in a fresh graduate:1) Employers want effective Team Players 2) Employers want effective communications 3) Employers want graduates to navigate across boundaries and create networks, even after school 4) Employers want team members who are self-driven in developing professional competencies. 5) Employers want critical and reflective thinkers 6) Employers are looking for employees with leadership potentials.
Ms. Santos pointed out also that fresh graduates should adjust salary expectations to get the necessary skills and experience, as well as be patient to achieve their aspirations over a longer period. She also advised that new job seekers like our graduates need to be flexible and versatile, do not let status or pay prevent them from taking jobs that are available. They should be prepared to adapt to new environments, learn from the job through on-site training and be prepared to pick up new skills.
What is striking about her message is the word PUSH. Ms. Santos said to our 154 graduates… “You are now ready to fly away from the nest of your Alma Mater. The PUSH - sometimes we need it and sometimes we need to give it to others. And though the PUSH can be a metaphor of being brave enough to face risks, may we remember the P-U-S-H to also mean: PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS”
Lastly, I would like to :
CONGRATULATE the 154 graduates who wore they BLACK GOWNS last April 13, 2010.
THANK Ormoc City Government for the use of SUPERDOME for our graduates, their family, friends and relatives
SALUTE Mr. Ever Pactoran who sat on his WHEELCHAIR last April 13,2010. His determination is commendable despite the adversity that he has to face.
EXPRESS our gratitude to Ms. Gladys Santos for accepting our invitation and for enlightening our graduates the true meaning of the word PUSH.
All this happened in one day and I wish these will happen again next year but this time no more WHEELCHAIR. I PRAY FOR THE SUCCESS OF OUR GRADUATES AND SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS.
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