Jay-an Mae Castillon AB- Political Science

SPEECH OUTLINE:

“Tell the class, in detail, about where your life is going to be in 10 years.”

I. Talk about the fast-paced life and the difficulty to predict the near future

II. Talk about the what if’s in the future

A. Studying law
a. Sleep-deprivation due to a lot of case digest
b. Praying to all the saints that the Prof. will not pick me for oral recitation
c. Working part time to support my education
B. Working to provide for the family
a. Working as law firm clerk
b. Working as a legal researcher
c. Working as a teacher
C. Starting a family of my own
a. Getting married or not getting married
b. Having kids
c. Being a devoted and loving wife

III. Talk about thousands of possibilities that could possibly happen. Emphasize the importance
of present action.

“The past cannot be changed but the future is yet in our power.”
Jay-an Mae Castillon AB- Political Science

A Tale of Uncertainties

Computerized transportation, towering infrastructures, increasing numbers of high-tech

gadgets and the rising of social media: all supports the notion that we now live in a fast-paced
era. Every day, we are introduced to new inventions, new ways to a more convenient life.
However, in this fast-paced era, the irony of uncertainties towards the future remains. Even
though our technology has advanced, the image of our future remains blurry. Thus, we conjure
some realities in our head. This is when we make stories to satisfy our inability to see our own
future. This is when we ask ourselves what will happen next; who will I be years from now?

Looking back, I had the same question. Who will I be years from now? What will I
probably do in 10 years? And all I can come up with are three possibilities. Possibility number
one: I graduated with flying colors and actually entered a prestigious law school. However,
despite the honors I bagged, I am still struggling my way as a law student knowing the fact that
law school is not about excellence but survival. I could be sleep-deprived in some coffee shop
because I had to digest at least 30 cases a week. I could be praying to all the Catholic saints that
my professors will not call me for oral recitation as it is their usual torture. Or I could be a
working student who juggles her time in between law school and work. Possibility number two: I
am working full-time. I could be a law firm assistant who works for a famous criminal lawyer
who always has bodyguards tailing him. I could be a legal researcher to a powerful politician
who constructs his campaign speeches. Or I could be a teacher who terrorizes students who do
not follow instructions. Possibility number three: I have a family of my own. I could be married
to a famous lawyer if I don’t become one. I could be a widower because my husband was killed
in an ambush for protecting a murderer. Or I could be a mother to three loving children who lives
up to their mother’s principles. These are thousands of possibilities of my own future, all of
which I wish to achieve.

In this fast-paced world, we are often confronted with questions of purpose and meaning.
We conjure up stories in our head because we want to convince ourselves that we actually have
something to live for. And that even though life is a tale of uncertainties, there is still a glimmer
of hope that something bigger awaits for us. That is why, in this fast-paced world, I do not
succumb to the speed of life. Instead, I am taking control of each stride knowing that each step
will create my future, and that all the possibilities I’ve dreamed of can actually happen.

How about you? Are you in touch with all the possibilities of your future? Have you
created a life where you can see them? Because I have.