“You have a duty to protect you dream.
People will say you cannot achieve your dream simply because they cannot achieve theirs.
Believe in yourself.”
(I am paraphrasing Will
Smith’s character in the film "The Pursuit of Hapiness" as he talks to his 5-yr old kid)
It was a wet November 8, and on that day, the
graduation of 22 instructors from 6 schools in the province of Sorsogon was
scheduled at 2PM. My institution was the venue, as it had been for the past 3
weeks of training, for the Ph Tesda’s TMC (Trainer’s Methodology Course), a
requirement for keeping one’s capacity to teach in tertiary level.
I had made a deliberate effort to take it slow that
rainy morning, owing to the fact that the day seems to mark the end of a very
demanding month of academic activities for six of my school’s staff.
Two days earlier a panel of 3 TMC Assessors had
arrived from Manila to pass judgement on those who took the
course. I have seen the participants work morning till night to pass assessment.
This is already the 4th week, a continuum of the 3-week TMC training proper
during the previous month.
The past month of October was downright grueling.
My staff also spent 2 of the last 4 days of the month taking the Comprehensive
Exams (Compre) for their graduate course in MSIT. On 10.28.12 two examiners
from Bulacan State University arrived in the evening from the airport to
administer the tests for 10 subjects over 2 days.
That evening, even as dinner was cordial, what followed was unbelievable. Although they reviewed on and off for the past 2 months, my staff still reviewed through the night, finishing at 5AM. Exams are set for 8AM. They came late, as expected.
Tests for 6 subjects started at 9AM. It ran straight for 6 hours until 3PM, and lunch was served inside while taking the tests. The second day was worse, we lost all concept of time, and the examiners had to be rushed to the airport in the afternoon. Thank God the plane was late and they were the last 2 passengers to be boarded.
That evening, even as dinner was cordial, what followed was unbelievable. Although they reviewed on and off for the past 2 months, my staff still reviewed through the night, finishing at 5AM. Exams are set for 8AM. They came late, as expected.
Tests for 6 subjects started at 9AM. It ran straight for 6 hours until 3PM, and lunch was served inside while taking the tests. The second day was worse, we lost all concept of time, and the examiners had to be rushed to the airport in the afternoon. Thank God the plane was late and they were the last 2 passengers to be boarded.
But now it is November 8 and I am in front of the
TV watching cable of “The Pursuit of Happiness” starring Will Smith. The
character of the story was in ‘desperation mode’. His wife left him because he
could not make both ends meet. He is a salesman for a high-end scanner that he
sells to doctors. After struggling with this job, he decides to change careers to be a finance management broker. But this entails being an intern for 6
months without pay. Only 20 interns are to be taken in and only one among them
will be chosen. He and his kid ends lining up in welfare homes just to spend
nights.
How Will Smith’s character hustled his way over the
numerous challenges amid misfortune is awesome. It made me think of the
backbreaking 1 month that I had just experienced and it all seemed frivolous. The
end of the movie came in one word - “Come!” as he was ushered in to the board
room. The boss tells him: “This is your last day.”
In the next scene the boss also tells him: “Tomorrow
is your first day as a broker.”
There was no funfare or rolling of drums when
success came. It came quietly as Will Smith stepped out of the boardroom, tears
in his eyes. A breath of fresh air dispels so much pain. To what extent will
you pursue a dream?
In my head I kept hearing success’s deafening
voice: “You have a duty to protect you dream.” And boy did he! I wish all of us
will, too. Cheers!
