“
..... Congratulations Batch 2018-2019. You are now officially graduated and I’m
looking forward to see you again after many years. After this important day of
your life, I hope you’ll start immediately to build the foundation of your success.
Once again, Congratulations!! “
The
University President ended her Speech for our Graduation. And obviously the
speech is not that entertaining or amusing at the same time. The speech has
been repeated every year. They just changed the Batch Year.
“
Ladies and Gentlemen please get ready for the speech of our Magna Cum Laude;
Ms. Elizabeth Fuentebella. Give her a round of applause. “
So, here’s the
go signal. They finally mentioned my name. They will now receive the sweet
taste of my revenge. Why revenge? You’ll understand once you finish reading
this story. I’ll prove to you that school officials were also having
corruptions. Connections matters to be popular. So that all the staff will be
in favor if you have the power. And it’s true. Power controls everything. Power
can take someone’s life.
I walked
straight to the stage. Holding the microphone while holding an old piece of
paper. Staring to all the graduates. And I can feel tears flowing to my face.
My heart beats too fast. My hand is shaking. Everyone is just looking at me,
wondering what I am doing. Why I am just looking at them so eagerly. As my
tears drop, I started my speech.
“ Congratulations to all of my batch mate. The academic year 2013-2014 is
never been easy to all of us… “
Everyone is
wondering and whispering to each other questioning why I state the wrong
academic year. But still, I continue reading my speech.
“
… Time elapsed. We haven’t notice that the end has been approaching so fast.
That a new whole world is waiting for us to conquer the challenges that awaits
us. Challenges that will make us stronger and much better than we are right
now. So, to all of my batch mate. Don’t be afraid to face the reality. It’s
been an awesome experience. It will give meaning to your life. Because if you
always avoid and ignoring to face hardships, nothing will happen. Nothing will improve.
Because you limit yourself already to see the outside world. There’s a lot of
things to explore outside the box. Let yourself to improve and experience the
amazing things in life. But all of these won’t happen if not because of our
respectable professors. They help us, they prepare us for this. All thanks to
them, without them, we’re not here right now wearing the most beautiful outfit
on Earth. And also be proud of yourselves, ourselves. Because we too, has been
so tough enough to stay late at night to review, to finish a project, to do a
lot of paper works. We too should be proud of ourselves because we survived the
trembling experience during class recitation and participation, class
performance and class projects. We too should be proud of ourselves because we
overcome the hardships during enrollment. Waking up early just to fall in line
first. The feeling that your heart beats so fast as you open the piece of paper
containing your grades and the happiness you felt that you passed them all.
Guys, don’t forget the happiness we felt when we saw our grades. Because once
we success to our chosen fields, the same emotion will explode. And I knew that
all of us really like it! Right? HAHAHAHA.. So, this is it guys. We already
reached the end of our studies. The 15 years of studying was already done. And
there’s a lot of things to be missed. The memories we planted here will always
be here inside of us. The lessons that we have learned will use to protect us
in the future. But what I really miss is that, our class rooms wherein we all
started dreaming together. The funny moments during class discussions. To our
professors that is no joke. To Sir Michael, you taught us how to be fun while
learning. We’ll ‘gonna miss your Jokes and you being stricted during
examination and quizzes. To, Ma’am Thelma, you treated us like you kids. You’re
with us as always. To Ms. Perez, you make our heart breaking to your breath
taking recitations. To your brother Sir. Perez, you made us to stop thinking
while you’re in the class. It’s because you always feel our presence, you
always read our minds. HAHA.. To Ms. Leonora, you made our College Life fun.
Thank you for not attending class more often, because of that we have time to
do the home works for the other subjects. HAHAHA. To. Sir Eric, you made our
Physical Education so fun. Because of that you all witness my clumsiness. My
god. I hate PE’s. HAHAHA! Guys honestly I don’t wanna end this speech. Because
there’s a lot of things I wanna say. This is just the 10% of it…”
Everyone’s face is questioning me
why I mentioned the names of the professors from the other department.
“
.. But because every beginning has its ending. Therefore, this speech does also
have its ending. Ending. It comes in two way. There’s a sad ending and a happy
ending. And obviously this ending is happy. So let’s start the new phase in our
life happy and proud of ourselves. To my friends. Lea, Cherry, Angel and Ailyn
thank you to all of you. You made my college life so fun. To my parents thank
you for raising me to be a good daughter, a good sister and a good student.. To
everyone. Thank you and have a good and interesting journey in life!
Congratulations Batch 2013-2014!”
My fellow graduates don’t know if
they will going to clap or not since I tell weird things in my speech. Everyone
is mumbling again because my friends name I mentioned didn’t exist in my batch.
I stay still in the stage watching
them. Looking at them. From the graduates, professors, Campus Dean and the
President, to all of the staff. They looked at me full of questions.
“
Actually I commit a crime. This Graduation Speech isn’t mine. I didn’t have
time to read it beforehand so I can be able to change some facts. I didn’t have
a time to change it. I’m sorry for that. You caught me. You witnessed me
committing a crime. I’m not good at it. But there are persons who is expert in
committing a crime. They can hide all their dirty tactics using their power.
They can manipulate everything because they’re powerful. Well, I’ll admit whose
Graduation Speech is this. This is my Sister’s supposed-to-be her speech during
her graduation. She is Princess Fuentebella! “
Everyone got shocked on what they
heard from me.
“
She’s studying so hard and now she’s gone crazy!”
“
She’s totally insane.”
“
What is she talking about?”
“
Drama series has been taken her senses away.”
“
Is this a live show?”
“Nice
act!”
I received a lot of different
reactions and attentions. But still I continue what I’m doing. No backing out.
“My
sister died because someone cheated on her. She died five years ago. Here right
in this place.”
“Ms.
Fuentebella, what are you doing?!Come down now!” Sir Francis
yelled at me. But I didn’t listen.
___________ T H R
O W B A C K _____________
Five years ago.
My eldest sister is also a
graduating student of BSBA Major in Marketing Management that time. She’s also
a Magna Cum Laude that time. Unfortunately, something happens. During her
actual Graduation, her position has been replaced by the richest kids at
school. She as a Magna Cum Laude fades immediately just like that. She’s been
confused. Adopting the scenarios little by little. She waited for a couple of
minutes, expecting that the host has been announced the wrong names. But
nothing has changed. She confronts the assigned staff regarding that thing. And
this is what he says;
“You can complain if you have connections. But if you don’t have. Just
sit back and be quiet!”
My sister didn’t accept this kind
of discrimination. She left the event hall. Running and crying. Because the
medal that she was supposed to received will be given to our parent’s tomb.
Because that’s what we promised before they died. But someone stole her
achievement. Someone stole her happiness. Someone break our promise to our
parents. Someone has taken away her life. That day. She died. She is sick. She
has a heart problem. And situation like this made her die. The day that we
should be celebrating. Turns into the day of mourning.
_________________ E N D __________________
“The school officials killed my sister! I know revealing this won’t make
things change. But I just want you to know that, not all Honor Student deserves
the award. Not all student is clean. All of us did something that will raised
ourselves more! Not all students wearing medal is bright. And not all students
that didn’t received anything is fool!”
“I
don’t know why discrimination, politics and connections is running in the veins
of this country. Those who more deserve it is always been set aside. And those
who didn’t deserve it always have a spot in everything. This nation is using
their power to control everything! Those who doesn’t have power always treating
bad. And those who is rich has special treatment. I don’t know why I born in
this cruel world! This place is a safe haven for the bad folks!”
“I’m
not saying this to gather your attention or to be famous. I don’t even need
that. I just want to speak this speech today. Because this is my sister’s last
words of her studying. I’m not saying this to destroy the school officials or
to start an argument to our country. I’m saying this because… because… … this
is her last wish before he died. To hear me using her piece to my graduation.”
“By
revealing this, I’m ready to accept the consequence of my actions. You might
hold my Transcript of Records (TOR), my Diploma or even block me to the famous
restaurants and hotel here in the Philippines. I’m ready to accept the
consequence. We all knew that you have the power to do that. Well, I’ll prepare
myself to be killed after this event. By destroying my future, you will just have
killed another innocent life. Then you just prove to me that you don’t know how
to fight equally. And this is my graduation speech.”
I go back to my sit. Everyone is
looking at me. I just bow my head after all I have done. I know people is
cursing me right now. I know they’re mad at me. Well, it’s fine. This life has
no point anymore. There’s no point of living if you’re surrounded with fake
people.
“You’re
so brave! Amazing!”
“I
didn’t know that, that kind of acts exist in our University.”
“Don’t
worry Elize! We’ve got your back!”
“Elize,
you’re not alone!”
“We’re
all here for you. You’re a good example of a deserving student! You well
deserved what you got today.”
I look at them. They were at my
side. They are supporting me. I cried so hard. To the point that I can’t
breathe. Someone’s tapping my back. Someone’s saying that I did a great job.
But what’s amusing is that I saw my
Sister in the stage. Smiling. Waving at me. It made me cry even more.
“Elize,
you made our Graduation even more interesting and unforgettable. Thank you for
lighten up our spirit. Thank you for proving to us that we something. That we
are nothing.” My best friend said.
“That
the grades is never been the basis if you’re going to be successful in life.
It’s just a piece of sheet (shit). Success comes with a GREAT DETERMINATION AND
PASSION! You did well Elize. The most memorable Graduation I ever seen.” Sir Mike
said.
And I smiled with tears. Finally, I
feel relieved. I can now breathe again freely.
----
P.S: Credits to the owner of the photo.
