WAY OF THANKS

By: MARY JOY MURAO SERRANO

When I spoke to Him last, before I entered this stage, I asked Him to
bless me and my fellow classmates and to guide me for my choices that I
should then be making. I entered this hospitable building of valuable
education, not knowing its impact that it will cause. I had zero knowledge of
how to tie the knots of my shoes, how to brush my teeth properly, what is the
importance of having breakfast, and why education even valuable does. But
now, standing in front of you is a student with great knowledge and wisdom.
She was once a little girl but now, she is an epitome of responsibility and
pursuit of excellence.

Throughout this memorable year, I have been uplifted and sustained by

the knowledge that I have my own people to pray for me. Their thoughts and
prayers have been with me since the first time. My crowd, let me tell you this:
there are people in this world that will surely stay with you in the time your
own empire is falling, and there are also people who will eradicate that empire
you have been building. And I am grateful to have people who stay.

To my classmates, you have stolen a great ample amount of space in my

heart. It has always been there the first time I learned my ABCs. Uray anya
ngata nga kinangiwat tayo, napigpigsa latta ti pammateg ko nga nu umalis
tayo ket haan kayo nga makalipat. Uray ubing tayo pay ket naamuan tayon ti
importansya ti panaggagayyem. Sapay lang kuma ket aggagayyem tayo latta tu
rumuar tayo ditoy pagadalan.

To the ones who taught me to be an effective student, my dear teachers, I

cannot thank you enough for all the sacrifices you have done for us. The way
you teach and the way you touch humanity is amazing. You have been so
wonderful not just as a teacher but also as a human-being. Nu pagpilien dak
nga rugyan manen ti panagadal ko, piliek latta nga sikayo ti nga mangisuro
kenyak.

Many of you here have been with their mothers throughout their lives,
and I have been conscious too that some of us are longing for a mother’s love.
The day I have lost my mother is the beginning of my eventual meltdown. She
was a mother with unconditional love and unending sacrifices. She was
indefatigable and indomitable. Losing someone who is important in your life is
a traumatic experience. It is unforgettable, my mama was unforgettable. The
pain does not instantly go away. Isu na lang ti kamammok nga haan nga
naginana uray agsaksakit. Isu na lang ti am-ammok nga haan nga nagbabawi
nga nagbalin nga nanay mi. Uray mabilbilang ti sida nga maylako na, adda
latta ti maipakan na kenyami nga pamilya na. Nagbaliw ti lubong mi idi
panakapukaw mi kenyana. Nagbaliw ti taray ti panunot ko. It was depressive
and breaking.

Imbag laengen adda ni tatay mi nga timmakder nga nanay mi. Isuna ti
nangpakan idi mabisin kami ken nangbado idi awan maibado mi.isuna doctor
no agsakit kami nga agkabsat Isuna nangpaay amin ng kasapulan mi.
Agyamanak la unay kenyayo, nanay ken tatay, ate labeng a kabsat ko, lola
____. Nu awan kayo, awan ak met itatta nga agbitbitla ditoy sangwanan yo.
Sikayo ti inspirasyon ko ti panagbiagken panagadal ko.

Ita a kanito dawatek man kadakayo padak nga agraduar ita nga aldaw
nga alaen tayo atoy a gundaway nga agyaman kadagiti nagannak tayo.Tatay
agyamanak kadakayo!

This day forward, I shall learn the importance of moving on. We cannot
grow in life if we live it, dwelling in the past. I chose to move on. I started to
learn how to live again, I started to distance myself to my depressive state. Her
life has ended, but my life has not. It is perfectly okay look to look back every
once in a while, but do not let yourself to be stuck in there. Always look
forward, pay attention to good things, think positive. You can never move on if
you do not know the real essence of happiness.

I have behind me a vast group of supporters who will never let me down.
I have my family. We share the same ideals and purposes. Although, my
experience in life is so short and my task as a Junior so new, I have in my
parents, friends, and relatives as examples which I can follow with
certainty and with confidence.

Therefore I am sure that this, our Graduation, is not the symbol of a

completeness and a splendor that are gone but a declaration of our hopes
for the future, and for the years I may, by God's Grace and Mercy, be given
to serve in this school.

I have learned all my responsibilities and duties in this school, and I

shall do it with respect and passion. I vow as a good citizen in the republic
where I stand and belong.

There might be temptations, chaos, and challenges waiting for me to

conquer, but I promise to never give up in this life. Although, I haven’t
reached so much yet, I am winning small, silent fights.

My classmates, promise me to never give up. I know it is not that

easy to be a Junior. There would be numerous times when we forget where
we are from, but always remember that this school, Barrientos Elementary
School, shall always welcome you. This is our home, and will always be our
home.

Parents, I thank you all for nurturing each one of us. Without you, we
may have been lost. We thank you for being that constant image of
commitment and love. We assure you that failure may come to us, but
there will be no moment we will not thank you for not giving up on us. We
love you, parents.

As this day draws to its close, I know that my abiding memory of it

will be, not only the solemnity and beauty of the ceremony, but the
inspiration of your trust and love. I thank you all from a full heart. Haan ko
nga malipatan amin nga adal nga naisuro yo kenyak ditoy nga pagadalan.
Naggannak ken padak nga agturpos itta nga aldaw, congratulations!
Kadakayo nga mangisursuro daytoy nga pagadalan, agyamanak unay. Till
we met again. God bless you all.