Sir
Winston Churchill once said “A Pessimist sees the difficulty in every
opportunity; and optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”This
quotation caught my interest when I was starting to write this article. Sometimes
when things don’t go the way we wanted it, the usual thing that we resort to is
quitting. After you have detached yourself, you remorse on the opportunity you
have just wasted and soon you realize how hard you worked for it and now you
feel sorry for not grabbing the chance. We have to bear in mind that not every
door of opportunities and window of chances will always be easy to grab,
because there are times that they closes in an instant without you realizing it
is already over. On the other hand, maybe you are not qualified for the
requirements, for the simple reason that some chances knock only once and when
you’ve let it pass, it is gone for a lifetime. So, if the chance is offered,
why don’t you give it a try? For instance, institutions and schools that are free
from charges do not mushroom just about everywhere. People would reckon that
nowadays, education has been a privilege and not a right, education and the quality
once are unbearably expensive. Scholars, who are given the chance to study for
free, are lucky indeed. However, there are still schools despite providing
scholarship for needy students would still ask for some payments and fees of
little amount in order to compromise the education of scholars. But there are
schools that would take it literally, FREE TUITION FEE, and not ask for a
single cent from the students. This is Dr. Jose Rizal’s dream; to give the
Filipino youth free quality education. Nevertheless, a clearer example would be
that of La Verdad Christian College, which Bro. Eli Soriano and Kuya DanielRazon came up with, a full-scholarship program. La Verdad Christian College is
now continuously operated in Apalit, Pampanga and Caloocan City. Hundreds of
applicants were applying to be one of the fortunate scholars who will benefit from
the perks and services of the scholarship program.
I was very fortunate when my name is
included in the list of the upcoming students for academic year 2012-2013. Way
back I was working as a volunteer in a documentary program in a local TV
station, studying is really out of my priority. Although I am not that kind of
person who is a going-to-school-for-nothing-to-ponder-upon type of student, but
I think that I am fine and can work without a tertiary degree. I was wrong, as
we encounter different people and interact with them, college as I now realize is
very important then. To give a background, I already applied before in La
Verdad Christian College (supposedly I am on my second year) but when I found
out I passed the exams and requirements, I refuse to leave my work. Again,
second chance was given to me for I was able to take another slot as a scholar.
Surprised and happy how I felt when I first received the message from the
registrar’s office. From my first semester and now that I am in the nearing end
of classes, I learned a lot in my studies. I had adjustments because I was out
of school for nearly three years, so I almost forgot the curriculum in a class.
Academic is not only the main objective of the institution, rather it taught us
values and morals that we can use even after we graduate. My 7 months in La
Verdad seems very fast but at the same time it feels like I stayed for so long,
because of the good teachings I kept in my heart.
When I am alone and I try to assess
things, there are times I felt that I am not that deserving but still I have to
study hard. I know that my financial crisis is one of the key factors why I was
accepted as a scholar. In addition, my one instructor said that the aim of La
Verdad is to give chances to students who are unable to pay for tuitions but is
willing and committed to study. That is the principle of the Chairman Emeritus,
Bro. Eli and Vice Chairman, Kuya Daniel to help those in need without taking
anything in return. I believed that we, as students have our different purposes
when we had the chance to study and these chances must not be taken for granted
or wasted. I feel that I was not just a learner but a teacher as well. We have
to extend our hands for our classmates or schoolmates who are in need. At the
end of the day I ask myself, did I just act as a student or have I lend any
help from others. Sometimes I feel that this is a burden to worry yourself for
the sake of others but there is happiness inside me that in a little way I
assist them I see them striving to continue and finish their tasks. Thank God
for this opportunity to help others and be helped by others as well, Thank God
for the founders of the school who help students to be productive and in the
most genuine manner had uplift the true meaning of scholarship in the academe.
