Ateneo Learning

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Finally, the first semester of the school year 2009-10 has come to an end. It's incredible how we college students can squeeze a lot of information for a small span of time only to have half of what we’ve learned outdated by the next semester in this age of information. In my case, it's my first semester as a Business Economics student and I've been learning how the economy works, the causes and effects of the distribution of the wealth of nations and other cool economics lingo. But aside from learning all these expected stuff for a typical to-be economist, I’m also able to gain some insights on what it means to be a student. I would like to share some of the insights that I've gained this semester with the hope of affirming some of your beliefs on student life and to shock some you with some new realizations.


First idea that I would like to share is that I learn school is merely nothing but a training ground. Let us stop romanticizing and, simply, accept the fact that school is nothing else but a training ground specifically designed to sharpen the mind. Acknowledging this, it’s quite disturbing to see students cramming, copying assignments and forging research papers. Though it is a fact that most of us students experience some degree of cramming and copying of assignments, we can all agree that we are all old enough to understand that, in the long run, it defeats the purpose of the educational institution. It seems like that the end of education is the attainment of a beautifully and shiny printed piece of paper and that the honing of the mind is just optional.

But the thing in the information age or any time of the word is, it takes more than just a diploma to be successful in life. It takes the disciplining and the continuous learning of the mind to live in the real world. Failure in this aspect can be equated to being a failure in life. Thus, learning is not vital but a requisite.

Which brings me to my second point: being a student is easy, you just study. The basic of foundation of being a successful student is, simply, to study. That's why it's called "study", stupid. ;) As students, we are first and foremost expected to study. We are not , therefore, in school to make friends, show off our fancy clothes or volunteer for activities but to study. A student's life becomes a hundred times easier to live by accepting this simple, no brainer fact.

But studying and no application can be likened to living in a wonderland. Thus, I sympathize with students who are tortured from one class after another with only the four walls of the classroom to accompany them. Thus, there are student organizations and activities that are welcoming students to put theories learned in classrooms to the test. In other words, if the classrooms can’t provide that application aspect of learning then student shouldn’t expect to be spoon fed but, instead, find that real action.

What’s unique with being enrolled in the Ateneo is the fact that the institution acknowledges the need to create men and women who are well rounded. The institution understands the need to mold men and women who are not only mentally capable but, also, equipped with the necessary physical, emotional and spiritual competencies to not only survive but, more importantly, succeed in the so called “real world.” And these can be best summarized by the 3 C’s: Conscience, Competence and Commitment. In other words, a person can’t succeed in life by succeeding in one area while failing in another. So, it’s not really a surprise to couple our majors with minor subjects like PE, FFP or RS.

Being a student is, actually, a big responsibility. It entails not only mental discipline but, also, emotional, spiritual and physical practice. We are first students before we are leaders, volunteers or assistants. Thus, the words student leaders, student volunteers and student assistants. Everything else will fall into its proper places if we put our being student first.

Being able to understand these things, my conviction to make the most of my Ateneo education is strengthened. The Ateneo education is not a ticket for some sort of measly job nor is it a status symbol for the elite. It’s a medium for change and hope to a society that needs men and women for and with others.

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