Reese Barcelon
- A fresh graduate named Riana Rosenhil shared a story on her Facebook account.
- Her learning years didn’t become easy as she was continuously judged by the people’s prying eyes no matter how hard she did her best.
Behind every student is a different story, a different struggle.
At times, it may appear that students are all the same, but they aren’t. Although there are students who have a good life, there are a few who are struggling on their own without anyone noticing. Some are experiencing family problem, financial problem, personal problem and even problems with the society.
Despite of it all, these students do their best to survive their own battles and prove that they have more to offer.
One of the students who never surrendered in her own battle is Riana Rosenhil.
Since she was in kindergarten, she was often misjudged and people doubted her skills as a student.
Read her story below:
“GAME OVER
4 different schools, 4 different levels, 3 common denominators: INTRIGUES, JUDGEMENT, and DISCOURAGEMENT.
Kindergarten: “Apo ng principal eh kaya nasa tuktok”
Elementary: “Uy transferee, handle your aspirations, you might get disappointed”
High School: “Teacher’s pet eh”
College: “Yuck, hindi nakapasa sa entrance exam. Valedictorian ba talaga yan?”
Kadalasan ay nagbubulag-bulagan ang karamihan sa problemang ang tao lang din naman ang pinagmumulan. Kaibigan, ito ang kwento ‘ko— ang kwento ng isang simpleng estudyante na di naglaon ay namulat sa kalupitan ng mapaglarong isipan at matatalim na salita ng lipunan.
~~
Bata pa lang ako, sobrang enthusiastic ko na sa pag-aaral. I remember waking up my parents to help me prepare before I go to school. I have always loved learning, taking charge, and exploring a lot of things. I was the Class President in our Kinder-1 class. Sooner, I got accelerated then graduated with the highest honors.”
According to Riana, she had always loved to learn which was a good thing. However, there are some people who viewed her enthusiasm in a negative way.
“As a 5 year old kid who just loved to go to school, I had no idea what was happening. Na mayroon palang mga issues and controversies na kasama kapag ganon. Hindi ko pa nga alam yung real essence ng awards and recognition that time. Then I heard some rumors na kaya ko lang daw nakuha ‘yon lahat kasi I was a grandchild of the Principal. At an early age, I was questioned and accused of such things just because of receiving the fruits of my hard work.
Pagpasok ko ng elementary, I got in to a new school. I told myself na it’s an opportunity to prove them wrong. Dito na nagsimula yung drive ko, yung ambition, and goal setting. Hindi naging madali. All those years mas mabigat pa sa mala-cabinet kong bag yung dala dala ko deep inside. Dito ko naranasan yung ilang years na ipagkait sa akin yung dapat naman talagang sa akin: mapa-patalikod man o harap-harapang paraan. Dito ko naranasan yung mas mahirap pa sa pinakamahirap na case analysis yung pilit kong iniintindi. Ilang taon din akong nag-ipon sa isang butas na alkansya. Ilang taon akong kumapit sa salitang “alam mo kung ano ang sayo at kahit hindi nila binigay, hindi nila makukuha yung natutunan mo”. Yes, in the end it’s just what you’ve learned that counts; but it’s still not fair enough, right? It seemed like everything and everyone was against me and my aspirations. But with the blessing, light, and love of God, against all odds, the truth prevailed. Graduation Rites and I got the real fruits of my hard work.”
During her elementary days, she experienced how to be treated in an unjust way. She didn’t get what was rightfully hers, but still, she continued her passion in studying.
“All eyes were on me as I entered high school. I transferred to a new school once again, which was technically just beside the other. It was quite controversial since being the Class Valedictorian, I had the privilege of entering my former school with a full scholarship grant yet I chose to transfer. Hindi ko ginustong iwanan lahat. Hindi ko ginustong mag-adjust na naman. Pero wala eh, sa dami ng nangyari gugustuhin mo na lang talagang magsimula na lang ulit.
It was a new league. All of us were transferees with own different stories and goals. Akala ko na ito na yung fresh start na hinahanap hanap ko pero minumulto pa rin ako ng nakaraan. Ang daming nakaabang—hindi sa tagumpay kundi sa paglagapak. Para akong rebeldeng lumayas na patuloy na minamatyagan at hinihintay bumagsak sa kangkungan. Medyo matigas pa yung loob ko ‘non, sabi ko sa sarili ko papatunayan kong kaya ko.
My high school experience was full of ups and downs. I had a good start. Mahilig kasi talaga akong mag-aral. But then sophomore year, dito na nagsimula yung exploration period. Yung parang sabi ko sa sarili ko na gusto ko naman enjoyin to, ayoko na muna ng masyadong seryoso. Dito na lumabas yung pagiging part time happy-go-lucky ko. Yung dating advance reading, nagbabasa na lang a day before or minsan mismong araw pa ng quiz or exam. Yung mga lectures na sinusulat kapag clearance or checking lang, as in for the whole grading period. Yung dating bahay-school, school-bahay, ginagabi na sa paggala. Even POD and community service naexperience ko pa. Pero wala akong kinakahiya sa mga nangyari kasi lahat dinala ako sa kung sino ako ngayon.
Well my high school may have been a little shaky but beyond those flaws and mistakes still lies my own self who loves learning and taking responsibilities. Still, before the graduation mark, I was still able to revive my own self, continue what I started as an honor student, and fulfill the responsibilities of a leader as the Student Government Council President.
Akala ko that time titigil na yung mga usap-usapan. Kaso all those achievements turned to issues once again, as in real quick. Wala eh, paborito lang daw kasi ako ng teacher kaya ganon. Plus the fact that my aunt was the former principal years before I graduated. Siguro nga mukha talaga akong hindi deserving sa mga nakukuha ko dahil mukha akong taong hindi nagseseryoso. Yung pakiramdam na binigay ko lang naman yung best ko pero parang kahit anong makuha ko sa buhay mali pa rin ako: may naitatanong pa rin, may naibabato pa rin.”
When Riana entered high school, she thought it was finally the time to start a new. At first, she was contented, but it came to the point that she had some time to enjoy her high school years and be less serious when it comes to studying.
However, it didn’t last long as she still managed to get back on track and graduated as an honor student.
But then again, she was misjudged by the society once more saying that she was a teacher’s pet and was influenced by the former principal who was her aunt.
“3/3 schools, 100% consistent. I was tired of the unending cycle. I felt lost and tried just to go with the flow. Nawalan na talaga ako ng gana. Dumating na rin sa puntong pati mismong ako, nagduda na sa sarili ko.
First step to college, ligwak agad. 1/3 entrance exams lang ang naipasa ko. Bilis nga ng balita eh. Yes, I failed the UPCAT. Well, the results were not that bad ‘tho. It may not be not that good enough for UPD but highly acceptable. Pasok naman po. I just really chose not to have it reconsidered, as advised, just for the benefit of telling everyone that I was able to pass. Ayokong lokohin ang sarili ko at ibang tao. I know it was my fault because I wasn’t in perfect shape: walang motibasyon at direksyon, sobrang apektado pa ako sa lahat ng nangyayari that time.
Sa totoo lang ang daming maliliit na rason. Ang daming detalye sa likod ng kwento. Yun nga lang, walang interesado.
Basta hindi raw ako nakapasa, period. Basta masaya na nilang pinag-uusapan: na tama sila na hindi talaga ako magaling, na chamba lang lahat, na hindi naman talaga ako deserving sa lahat ng nakuha ko; na parang sa wakas nakahanap na sila ng isang matibay na ebidensya na makakapagpatibay na tama lahat ng pagdududa nila sa lahat.
No one knew how everything deeply affected me that time. It was a total torture. As time passed by, I tried not to care. I tried to go with the flow and started again silently.
Sobrang paranoid ko. Takot magdecide, takot gumalaw, takot makagawa ng pagkakamali. Sabi ko ayoko na ng pulitika. Sabi ko ayoko na ng usapan. Sabi ko hindi na ulit ako iinvolve sa maraming tao. Sabi ko mag-aaral na lang ako bilang isang tahimik na estudyante.
But as time passed by, I was able to cope up. Little by little, I was able to adjust. I learned. I enjoyed. Consequently I was able to accept and fulfill leadership responsibilities from tiny to bigger ones. From being a Class President to handling a college-based organization. My passion in leading helped my revive myself once again and everything went normal little by little.
Ang daming nangyari. God loves me that much. Words are not enough to express my fascination on how everything went into the right place. I got into a field where I’d like to be forever. The wonders of finance made me deeply in love. The motivation in me was oozing to the point that I gave my best shot every day just because I wanted to— which I think led me to where I am standing right now.
—
1/3? Siguro nagtataka po kayo kung ano yung isa pang university. Well friends, none other than Bulacan State University itself. Opo, hindi po ako pasado sa placement exam. Kasama po ako sa daan-daang estudyanteng pumila ng ilang araw, nagpa-interview, at nagpareconsider para lang makapasok at hindi ko po kinakahiya ‘yon. Hindi ko po alam kung anong meron sa BulSU at parang may bumubulong sa akin that time na ipaglaban ‘to at dito pumasok. Pero sa tinagal tagal, sa wakas, alam ko na: Dahil itong university palang ito ang magsisilbing tagapagbukas ng mga mata ko sa tunay na mundo at magbibigay sa akin ng lakas ng loob para gawin ko ang matagal nang binubulong ng puso ko.
As I held the microphone in front of a thousand of graduates once again, I reminisced everything and I realized:
GAME OVER.
Game is now finally over.
Not because I graduated as a Magna Cum Laude…
Not because I was the Outstanding Student once again…
Not because of the leadership awards and recognition…
But because I finally figured to end this society’s unending game.
I am done with the infinite judgements;
I am done with the unsatisfiable dares;
I am releasing the toxics and negativity;
And I am ready to go on and enjoy the beauty of life.
I am more than excited to give the best in me to every opportunity that lies ahead.
Not because I want to prove you wrong…
Not because I want to show you that I can…
But because…
THIS. IS. MY. LIFE. AND. THIS. IS. WHAT. I. WANT. TO. DO.
~~~
Kadalasan ay nagbubulag-bulagan ang karamihan sa problemang ang tao lang din naman ang pinagmumulan. Nakakalungkot isipin na sa panahon ngayon ay tila kasama na sa bawat pagdilat ng mga mata at pagsisimula ng bawat umaga ang pagbuno sa mapaglarong isipan at matatalim na salita ng kapwa tao. Sa panghuhusga, inggitan, pananakit, hilahan, at pataasan na po ba iikot ang laro ng buhay ng mundo?
Kung gayon, suko na po ako.
At kung ito ang depinisyon ninyo ng pagkatalo ay buong puso ko pong tatanggapin.
Kaibigan, tapusin na natin ‘to.
Tapusin na natin ang larong walang katapusan.
Mahal ko kayong lahat.
GARCIA, RIANA ROSENHIL PISCASIO
M̶a̶g̶n̶a̶ ̶C̶u̶m̶ ̶L̶a̶u̶d̶e̶,̶ ̶O̶u̶t̶s̶t̶a̶n̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶S̶t̶u̶d̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶L̶e̶a̶d̶e̶r̶ ̶(̶B̶a̶t̶c̶h̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶2̶0̶1̶7̶)̶
̶V̶a̶l̶e̶d̶i̶c̶t̶o̶r̶i̶a̶n̶,̶ ̶S̶G̶ ̶P̶r̶e̶s̶i̶d̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶(̶B̶a̶t̶c̶h̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶2̶0̶1̶3̶)̶
̶V̶a̶l̶e̶d̶i̶c̶t̶o̶r̶i̶a̶n̶,̶ ̶B̶a̶r̶a̶n̶g̶a̶y̶e̶t̶t̶e̶ ̶P̶r̶e̶s̶i̶d̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶(̶B̶a̶t̶c̶h̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶2̶0̶0̶9̶)̶
̶V̶a̶l̶e̶d̶i̶c̶t̶o̶r̶i̶a̶n̶,̶ ̶L̶e̶a̶d̶e̶r̶s̶h̶i̶p̶ ̶A̶w̶a̶r̶d̶e̶e̶ ̶(̶B̶a̶t̶c̶h̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶2̶0̶0̶3̶)̶
SIMPLENG ESTUDYANTENG HINUSGAHAN. HINAMAK. NASAKTAN. AT NALIGAW. PERO BUMANGON.
AT HABAMBUHAY NA BABANGON.”
Riana showed how she managed to survive everything she had gone through – which obviously wasn’t easy. She endured the harsh comments of the people even when they had doubted her abilities, thinking that she wouldn’t have achieved the awards if it wasn’t for her connection in those three schools.
Riana proved them wrong.
On the other hand, the netizens who had read her post congratulated her for being able to win her battle. Some even said that they were able to relate to her story.
Students are graded through their performance and not by the people they know. Whatever they are awarded with is the fruit of their efforts and hard work, which shouldn’t be doubted by people who don’t even know how much they try to excel.
Furthermore, people don’t have the right to judge a person – no matter what their status might be. At the end of the day, no one can really know the story behind a person. Learn to respect.
What are your thoughts about Riana’s struggles in life? How do you think will she live now that she’s finally graduated?
