Samboa, Katrina B.

13 December 2010

English 11 – E06 Ms. Marikit Uychoco

I’m One with You

“Freshies! Freshies! Freshies!” Upperclassmen of different schools and courses

welcomed us all freshmen in the annually held event called OrSem which we attended last

June. It aimed to welcome all of the freshmen to the “Ateneo family” and to make us feel part of

it. “Welcome to Ateneo, freshies!” as most of the TnT’s had said to us as we walked through

their colonnade. They were dancing, making loud noises, calling our attention and encouraging

us to participate in their activities. They also encouraged us to befriend each and every person

in our block and also in other blocks for we were already part of this community and with that we

were able to know a lot of our schoolmates.

We are all part of different communities and one of those communities is the Ateneo

community. If I am to describe the Ateneo community, I can say that it’s a salad with various

ingredients. The Ateneo community is composed of different ingredients put all-together in a

bowl. We can find some geeks – nerds in other words, goths – people who would wear an all-

black outfit, jocks, beauty queens, musicians, celebrities, wanna-be celebrities, “special”

students – students who would do anything just to get your attention, rich and “cool” and

average students. Just like what Mr. Nestor Maviloso, a security guard of Ateneo, said, “Ang

napakaloob sa campus ay composite.” wherein he explains that the Ateneo community is

diverse. Janella Ongcol, a freshman taking up BS Management Information Systems, shares

some of her insights about what she thinks of the Ateneo community. She said that, “The

Ateneo community resembles that of what I had when I was in high school. You can really feel

the camaraderie and sense of being at home since you step on the grounds of the campus. I

have that kind of environment when I was in high school so it feels like that I have never left it.”

Yes, we are part of this community, but how can we tell? Carmela Miranda, a junior

taking up AB Communications, tells me that she is truly part of the Ateneo community. “I get
myself involved in the Ateneo community by being active in my organizations and in the different

projects of the school board or Sanggu.” This is also what Janella have in mind. “Aside from the

fact that I am enrolled in this institution, I also have an organization. I try to take part in their

activities when I have the time and the people, especially the upperclassmen, do not alienate

you and would always be willing to help you.” The people around us, whom we interact and

socialize with, are one of the factors that make us part of this community.

But the Ateneo community isn’t the only community here. Like I said, we are all engaged

in different kinds of communities. So, what makes the Ateneo community stand out from the

other communities? “I think what makes Ateneo different is that the people are willing to get to

know each other very well.” Janella is right about that. Whether a student or staff, each has the

eagerness to know all of the people he has interacted with. Mr. Maviloso have other things in

mind. He said, “Maganda ang patakbo nila. Maganda ang standard. Okay ang pakikitungo nila

sa kapwa, lalo na sa estudyante, bisita, sa mga services na katulad namin. Yan ang gusto ko

dito. Makatao, Makadiyos. Pantay-pantay ang tingin sa isa’t isa.” Equality and quality of

education are the things that make this community stand out from the others. Growth and

prosperity is also achievable in this community for everyone is given an opportunity to excel in

the activities they love to do. It is only a matter of deciding whether we grab those opportunities

or not.

Each and every one of us has our own identity. We differ from one another – from our

personalities to our lifestyles to our perspectives. But we use these differences to extend our

hands to each other to build one community that turns out to be competitive, strong and united.

Whether in good times or bad times or hell weeks, people in this community make themselves

available and are ready to give you a hand, a shoulder, an eye, an ear or whatever part in their

body, in the problems you are facing.