Raphael Joshua S.

Santos

PSYCH 2M

TTh // 5:55 PM 7:25 PM

We cannot move forward if we allow the past to pull us back (Duterte,2016). This line
from our newly-elected president Rodrigo R. is very remarkable for me. I believe that every
person needs to taste failure at least once their life. The success that comes after failure helps us
bring about drastic changes making one energized. Only through failure can one know the real
meaning of life. It also reminded me of two things: Firstly, Foucaults philosophy: at the very
heart of man is finitude, that is, he is always influenced by a historical situation but, we must not
forget that he is also founding, he can use his rationality to create and be the center of creativity.
We should dwell not on the past because it is a cessation of our development. We should liberate
ourselves from these chains of unquestioning acceptance of whatever is at hand. Liberation is the
moment of confronting and embracing the past which is part of us a taking possession of it
and the equally important affirmation of the future as creative self-project. Secondly, my own
experience: this horrible event was happening to me and in that moment, that moment that this
thing threatened to take everything away, even the pain. I realized what I still had left to give and
I did not want to let that go. It gave me light. That pure moment of absolute horror gave me light.
And as wrong as this may seem, Im better for enduring it. I am stronger. And, I must admit, I am
grateful it happened to me, and I wish the same for everyone like me.