STARS have landed from the empyrean to illumine a 21.5-hectare terrain along the stretch of the bustling boulevard of España in Manila.
Streaks of light with the size of pearls now hang at tree branches around the University and luxurious chandeliers, that seem to float on mid air, line up the so-called ‘Lover’s Lane,’ leading to the majestic and shining Main Building.
The campus has again been set for the much-anticipated Paskuhan tradition, when Thomasians, all nicely groomed and in a party mood, gather at the University grounds for hours-long festivities.
It’s this time of the year again when Thomasians—and even non-Thomasians—excitedly watch and listen to a concert of over four hours while waiting to witness a grand “pyromusical” that marks the start of the yuletide season and the long-awaited two-week class break.
While this means day-long sleeping and night-long partying for most students, seniors still have to bear the pains of having sleepless nights just to accomplish promptly the most dreaded word that is the “thesis.”
With eyes exhaustingly staring on laptop screens, fingers crazily thrusting on the characters of the keyboards, and minds forcedly travelling through the vastness—and vagueness—of the ‘world of ideas,’ seniors will have to accept the fact that this year’s Christmas will be unusual, and perhaps more burdensome and woeful.
Very lucky are those who are yet to do such additional academic requirement. Enjoy now. You will never have the chance to do that more often when you enter this phase of your academic life. Take all the time you want…while you can.
As for my fellow candidates for graduation (yes, that sounds encouraging), who definitely have had their hearts broken, we need not to further grumble and rant as, after all, the nearing deadline of submission of this horrendous paper signifies that we are getting closer to the highly coveted bachelor’s degree and the end of the almost year-long torture.
And when this moment has finally come (given that we don’t ‘die’ in the process)—marching towards the stage and taking our final bows before our batch mates and families—then it shall be our time to gape at the little undergrads as they scramble and flinch to finish the demands received by a fourth-year student. We were, are, and will never be alone.
Just tighten the grip, hold on, and always look forward. Working hard is important but believing in ourselves is imperative.
As Harry Potter said during the fifth instalment of the movie series, “Every great wizard in history has started out as nothing more than we are now—students. If they can do it, why not us?”
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A happy Christmas, Thomasians! Take the opportunity to rest and renew your ties with God.
