Magpantay, Reem D.

LSFORM
JD1 Midterms Input

1. What touches you most from the life of St. John Baptist De La Salle?

After carefully understanding and analyzing the beautiful and inspirational life of St. John
Baptist De la salle, I have realized that he had gone through struggles too many for a person to
comprehend and overcome. Not all people, honestly, can handle all the hardships the Saint have
passed and that is one thing I really admire of him. His intention of putting up a school and
maintaining the same in the belief that God works in him for the people was more than
commendable and selfless.
Basically, the life of St. John Baptist de la Salle was, in overall, moving. What touches me
most is his noble and generous decision when he opted to stay with the teachers of his newly
established school after the time he lost title to the family mansion on Rue St. Marguerite when
it was put up for auction. This instance meant more than moving for him. He chose to leave his
comfortable life. He even suffered nausea because of the smell, the food they eat, and the living
conditions of their new home and this miseries went on for days. Their living conditions even
made the other teachers to leave. That is how wretched their situation then, but instead of
leaving, Saint John Baptist de la Salle decided to stay because according to him, once committed,
there was no turning back.
If the aforementioned struggles and obstacles had happened to a different person, the
answers and the attack to resolve the issues will surely not be the same as De la Salles. He was
someone who is loyal to his promises, dedicated to pursue his goals and belief and he was
someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to make his decisions, no matter how critical it
may be, into effect for the common good and benefit. From there, it was evident that he deserved
to be a saint that will soon guide people in making decisions and to be a person dedicated enough
to teach children specially those who are financially challenged.
The actions and decisions made by De la Salle strongly move not only the teachers of
those days but also, me who is a student and continuously appreciating professors and teachers
who have taught me book lessons and even went beyond that. Similarly, these actions made me
want to pursue more because De la Salle faced struggles that are way more than what I have to
endure. He was so selfless that his acts affected people of his time as well us, the people of today
who are continuously willing to learn and know more of his life. A life that is unmistakably
inspiring, to the teachers who wanted the best for their students even if it costs them their
personal life and to students, who are having a deeper view of what the professors and teachers
are willing to do to be able to educate their students.
 2. What insights (deep knowledge) did you learn from the life of De la Salle?

The life of De la Salle embodies a lot of lessons essential to living a better life. I have
encapsulated all the lessons I appreciated in his life into five (5) important points which are as
follows:
a. We must learn to sacrifice, whether it may be small or big sacrifices, it will turn into
something good.
Like De la Salle, who made quite a lot of sacrifices for his beliefs, we must learn to
sacrifice things and situations we got used to having, especially in times we know
that it is for the best. The achievement of our goals requires us to let go of the
things that may hinder us from obtaining the same. Brighter things will be more
welcomed if we let go of small things. We have to uphold the selflessness that
Saint John Baptist De la Salle possessed when he was living. If it wasnt for his self-
sacrifice, we, the students of De la Salle Lipa, wont experience a quality education
founded in the beliefs and achievements of De La Salle.

b. Do good deeds without expecting anything in return.

The best way to do good things to others is not to expect anything in return from
them. The intention to do good will be manifested by not expecting nor wanting
to be received in return of the good you did. We have to learn to do things with
the purity of heart and intention to help and for the common benefit of everyone.
Like De la Salle, who faced couples of miseries because of his strong belief in what
education can do and the faith that God wanted him to do the same, never
expected anything in return. He even used his own financial resources and
sacrificed his comfortable life.

c. Never give up. Your efforts will be reciprocated by something good.

Similar to what De La Salle manifested, we should learn to continue what we have
started and to never give up despite of the weight of all the obstacles we have to
overcome. Hindrances are indispensable in achieving all our goals. We have to
keep in mind that despite of the hardships, we have to continue striving for our
best to be successful. Soon enough, all our efforts and sacrifices will be
reciprocated by something good.

d. Not all the time material things matter.

De La Salles life portrayed that material things are not the most important thing
a person should live with. He gave up every material thing he had and even
sacrificed his own money for the success of the school and institution but, in
return, it resulted to the establishment of quality education that, up until today,
 continuously creating successful persons that initiate innovations. Today, most
people are blinded by material things. That fact has an evident bad effect to our
society and such have to be stopped. Living without material things is meaningful
and we have to learn to have that perspective.

e. Do everything with the belief that God is working with you and this is His plans.
Out of everything, in my standpoint, this is the most inviolable lesson that Ive
realized from the life of De la Salle. He continued working the best way he could
to be successful in what he believed God wanted him to do. We must learn to do
all things the way God want us to do. We have to learn to pray and communicate
with him to truly distinguish what plans are ours and His. This way, we will never
go wrong.

3. How does the course on the life of Saint John Baptist De la Salle deepen your being a
Law student?

The course made a great impact in my study of law. Applying the insights I have learned for
his life, I realized that Saint John Baptist De la Salles vision and way of life is very much
appropriate to the life of every Law student. We have to sacrifice the comfortable life we got
used to before we entered law school. It is true that we have to sacrifice time with family and
friends and disappear for a while in order to study well. Accordingly, we have to learn the art of
helping other people, especially our classmates without expecting anything in return from them.
Law school requires hard work and tons of efforts. It will result to grave stress and classmates,
who understand your situation, are everything we have.
Ive also learned that no matter how hard times get bad, we have to continue doing the things
we have to do with extra effort this time. The struggles I am facing in law school is nothing
compared to the miseries faced by De la Salle, I have to strive more and to never give up because
soon, hard works will pay off. Also, the realization that material things are not the only thing
important in the world is helpful not only to students but to all people. We should appreciate the
goodness of life without looking only at the material things that world has to offer. In the end, in
our deathbeds, materials will no longer matter.
Most importantly, I have deepened my faith that God works in a very mysterious way and
that he has plans for me. What I have to do is to believe that he will do me no harm and that he
will help me finish my law studies with his guidance, motivation and support.