When I entered the Varsitarian during my junior year, I did not realize I was about to get a glimpse of the “real world”—where the requirements were hard work, responsibility and professionalism.
Being a “V” staffer frightened me because of my limitations. I did not think I was capable of the dedication and sacrifice required by the publication that I felt deserved nothing but the best.
But the V trusted me and pushed me outside of my comfort zone. It honed my skills and talents, something that I will always be grateful for.
For two years, the V has grown to be my home—the first place I run to when I go to school and the last place that I leave at night.
Its demands sometimes take a strain on my personal life. But I do not feel them a burden because work seems less heavy whenever I see the same passionate dedication and hard work from my fellow staffers.
There are times when I wanted to blame the V for my anxieties, failures, and heartbreaks. But at the end of the day, my love for the publication prevails.
The V believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. It taught me how to be a leader—how to embrace my flaws and forgive my shortcomings. It accepted me wholeheartedly without the slightest hint of judgment for which I will always say, “Thank you.”
My love for the V will always stay. It will always be one of the constants in my life, something that I do not have to think about but develops as an instinct of sorts.
But the time has come to leave the “V” and to make room for new people.
Leaving is sad for both for the graduating staffers and for the incumbent staffers. But the memories of their stay will fortify them.
I will leave behind staffers who have earned a special place in my heart.
I will pursue bigger dreams, discover new things about myself and face new challenges.
But I know that whatever happens in life, I will always have a home in UST especially in the V.
Years from now, new staffers will probably have no idea that I was once just like them—unsure of how I made it to the V.
It is this very reason that I leave with a fulfilled heart—knowing that my departure will open new doors for another faint-hearted writer out there who needs the reassurance and support that I received.
I will always admire the V from afar with pride, respect, and utmost love. I will always cherish the memories I spent laughing, working, and even crying at the V office. The friendships I have made, the moments I shared with my fellow staffers whom I consider my second family, the support and encouragement I have constantly received, and the pieces of advice that have made me into a more mature person—one that does not easily break at the slightest problem—will be my guide into the world outside V and UST.
In the end, perhaps the greatest lesson the V has taught me is this: love lets you grow—even at the expense of leaving it or getting left behind.
