Lift your head a little higher. Spread the love like fire. Hope will fall like rain when you speak life with the words you say. - Toby Mac (Speak Life)

A year after I graduated my college and passed the licensure exam, I was asked to talk to the students during their recognition day. I thought it was a joke when my former dean said that I’ll be the one to speak. But it wasn’t. Yet, it turned out to be a very memorable day for me, and maybe also for them.

To encourage and to inspire people who, I believe, are smarter and more diligent than me, was the event that I didn’t expect to happen in my life. But I just can’t turn down the chance to share the hardships that I have had and to stir their hearts to never give up despite the numerous difficulties in life.

Sitting with me were the great people of our school. Imagine being a fresh graduate to be with the vice presidents and deans. I was shaking that time! Good thing though, the one who introduced me was my college dean who used to be so close to me.

He sold me to the students by telling why I did not become a cum laude. He said, “When I asked him why he wasn’t able to have a Latin honor, he said, “Ni ana man gud akong mama Sir, ‘Nak eskwela ug tarong para ma engineer ka!’ (My mom said to be studious in order for me to become an engineer). So, that’s why he just aimed to top the exam.” Hahaha!

The theme of the event was "Harnessing CTU's Polytechnological Capabilities for the 21st Century". I honestly had a hard time in drafting my speech. The good thing was I have a friend who made some edits in grammar. Thanks to Kuya Rei! Hahaha.

Here’s the content of my speech.

_{(Greetings to the university president, VP's, deans, teachers, parents, and students.)}

School Administrators, Professors, Instructors, Teachers, PTA officers, Parents, Friends, Students, Ladies and Gentlemen, a blissful and wonderful day to all.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the facilitators of this event for giving me an opportunity to speak in one of the special days of this year at my Alma Mater. Thank you very much, Sirs, Madams, for this privilege.

Though I am just a young man who just graduated last year still you've given me this chance. It’s humbling to know that though there are other great men who will be able to inspire the students more, still you did not hesitate to give me this opportunity. This for me is a privilege and I am grateful.

At last, the day has finally come, especially for the graduating students with honors, to reap what they have sown. This is the day that you’re going to receive the fruits of your labor. The day that you’re going to remember the hardships, trials, sleepless nights, out-of-this-world examinations, those seemed to be unending assignments, plates, and projects, and many more.

I can still remember, and it’s still very fresh, those things that happened in my college days. It’s nostalgic. It seems that everything that I’m seeing today brings back old memories. (Matud pa sa engineering, looks-fam)

This recognition day, makes me remember the achievements I attained. The quiz competitions, the ROTC loyalty award, being a dean’s lister, ambassador of the year, etc. This day has come not just to recognize the achievements of the students, but also to bring into the limelight the hard works of our parents, wisdom of our instructors and the grace of our God.

This recognition's theme "Harnessing CTU's Polytechnological Capabilities for the 21st Century" is a message to make use of natural resources to enhance the Technological capabilities of our beloved university. I believe that our university possesses great talents. Our capacity to inspire young students is more than what we could imagine.

One of our best assets is that we have is the capability to produce high-quality graduates, engineers, educators, etc. I have been a witness to this. This is because of the deeper foundation of our faculty. Our teachers, instructors have trained us well in shops, laboratories, competitions, and lectures. Right now, we need to harness not just the ability and prowess of our teachers and instructors but also pour more on harnessing the potential of our students.

I do believe that every first-year student that enters the premises of this university is brimming with untapped potential. It is our role to find that potential. it is our role to find the key to unleash the potential of the students. For I do believe that every student here possesses great ingenuity, engineering skills, mathematical prowess, etc.

Second, we need to inspire them. We need to inspire them to keep reading, to keep listening, to keep observing, to keep investigating, to keep researching and to keep on experimenting. Letting them understand that disassembling something is the only way to know its inner workings, engineering, and design.

Third, we need to make them understand the joy of discipline. Knowing that we cannot reach our goal with no focus at all. Knowing that engineering is a disciplined approach to creating something.

Our theme only means that we need to harness the “US”, I mean us. You and me, and making use of our natural selves to enhance CTU's Polytechnological Capabilities for this century. We must first be able to know the capabilities that are already within us for this is a gift from above.

Without ourselves to harness the technology, technology would be just useless. The industry's appreciation of CTU is not because of the existing technology that we have but is how we make use of ourselves to think of a more productive way. Less dependence on technology but more dependent on our minds to enhance more the Polytechnological Capabilities this university has.

It is an honor to share my past scholastic journey. Let me backtrack and go to my first senior high school year.

I was once addicted to computer games and because of this, I cannot understand our mathematics teacher’s lesson anymore. I was really having a hard time understanding/learning from her lectures and, so I received a failing mark during our first grading period. I was so discouraged at that time that I decided to stop going to school.

It was hard for my parents and, so I decided to help in our small business to somehow ease their pain. I became known as a fishball and tempura vendor in our place. During that time, I promised to my parents that when I go back to school I’m going to strive hard, I’m going to put my heart on it and I’m going to make them proud. By God's grace, the impossible was made possible. I finished the secondary school as the most outstanding student in mathematics.

During my first year in college, it came to a point where I was hesitant to continue taking the second semester because of our financial status. Here’s a confession, it was during this time that I drew the plates of my batchmates in exchange for money in our Engineering Drawing-I subject, handled by Archt. Uy, even if I knew that it was illegal or wrong just so that I’ll be able to sustain/support myself during those difficult times. It went on until the time when our instructor noticed my penmanship and warned the whole class about the illegal thing. That warning was enough for me to stop from creating any more plates for my batchmates.

I was able to continue my studies when that same instructor, Archt. Uy endorsed me to be a student assistant to Maam Josephine Villa, in the guidance services center. But before I can start working, our family needs to first settle my first semester’s remaining balance which was around P5000. For me and my family, this is a big amount to acquire in a short span of time because the second-semester class is already starting. Though it was late, I was amazed by my mother who was able to find a way to settle my dues in just a week. Now you guess how she did it? Walay lain pa kung dili utang (No other else, but debt), I know many can relate to this. Haha.

But I never let this problem overcome us, and I would never let this stop me from fulfilling my dreams. I kept on going. I studied in the morning and worked in the evening. This went on Monday to Friday. duty on Saturdays, attend ROTC class on Sundays. Until I endured my first year working in the guidance office.

My second year was the year when I started to dream as a quizzer. It was not because of the prizes but I was focused on grabbing the honor and bringing this honor to my family and my school. So I strived hard, and by the help of the Almighty God, I achieved 7 championship titles, 3 of which are national competitions, thrice I became 1st and 2nd runner-up. I Experienced many travels for national competitions which were supported by the university administration. My close classmate, also the topnother Engr Arrabis said my award on recognition day should not be "Ambassador of the Year" but it must be "Gastador of the year" because of the expenses.

Though I achieved victory from these competitions, I also want to let you know that I also failed about 8 times in these competitions as far as I could remember. In addition, behind these achievements are sleepless nights, uncompleted assignments, projects, and reports.

I can relate to your hardships, pains, trials, hunger and many more. These are not new to us who strive for greater things. There are even failures, but what keeps us going during these times when we are so down is the thought that "All things work together for good, especially for those who love God".

When I turned my attention back to the things that I must do, my studies and my work as a student assistant in College Of Engineering faculty office, (for I stopped at guidance to focus studies but worked back in COE), it turned out that I was terminated. I failed to comply some important requirements and failed to meet some deadlines. It was the time when I chose to go with our classmates and our instructor in our hydrographic surveying than to report.

It was one of the most painful experiences in my college days. But as what I have said, all things work together for good. This situation gave me more time to study and led me to review in the review center where I’m currently working. When the owner and director of the review center Engr. Gillesania noticed that I was doing well on my quizzes even though I was still an incoming 4th yr, he asked me to work for him and be his working scholar. In addition to the training that I have undergone under the hard work of Engr. Mayor, the review helped me to be a national quiz champion.

Because of these situations/experiences, I was also given an opportunity to be a scholar of Parents Teachers Association, on my 4th and 5th year. Without them, I wouldn't be here today.

Without these instructors especially my coach Engr. Mayor, Dr. Ancheta, our beloved president today, who once gave me an incentive after winning the PICE Students' Quiz, Engineering Faculty, school administration, PTA, I wouldn’t be able to stand here.

Students, we know that if we experienced hardships from our instructors, these are always meant for us. These are made to build us up. To hone us. To strengthen us. Though we cannot deny that they are painful and unpleasant, we know that our characters are built. Hardships are also given by God as a way of disciplining us, as what we can quote from the Bible,

"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

I wouldn’t be able to do these things alone, so cheers to all my friends who were with me. And to my family, you know what you did. You were my backbone. I don’t know where I’d be without you.

Students, without your instructors, your friends and especially without your parents and guardians, you wouldn't be here to receive these awards. Can you give them a round of applause as a sign of great debt of gratitude? or even hugs to your parents! kiss them, tell them that you love them, and you are so thankful for them.

Most of all, without the Almighty God who can do exceedingly abundantly more than anything we could ask or pray, WE couldn't have these things that we have right now. Every good gift comes from our Father in heaven. So, all the glory, praises, honor and adoration belong to Him alone.

Students, for the graduates God, bless in the next phase of life, for the non-graduates strive more for His glory. To All, May the LORD God bless you and keep you always. Congratulations!

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It was a long speech, wasn't it? Actually, I thought the length of the speech would make the students feel boring. But I was wrong. They rose up instead to my surprise and gave me hands of appreciation.

Hey! Have you heard the song Speak Life by Toby Mac? You've got to check it out. That's a song that encourages us to speak with full of hope, full of life and see how it brightens the lives of people who are in their dark hours.

Speak Life! :D