My Final Thoughts as a Domuschola Graduate

Receiving my high school diploma

Last year, to leave Domuschola International School was an imminent plan. I yearned to attend a school with a winning football varsity. Who would have thought that 12 months later, I was savoring every little moment I had spent at this school at my recent graduation? Yes, a few days ago, on May 29, 2015, I was standing at the podium, giving an inspirational message to the school, and to inspire and uplift my fellow graduates. 

With classmates (new and old) and teachers

I will always remember this day when I was surrounded by my loving and caring classmates and my hardworking teachers whom I will sorely miss because it was at that moment when I fully appreciated what they all did for me. Mix that up with emotions and you got a fifteen year old who had sweat in his eyes. Amidst all the goodbyes, it was then that I realized that a year ago, I wanted to leave this school. I understood how selfishness and arrogance clouded my thoughts that created a "need" to leave.

Sending a message to the school and to my fellow graduates

The one tear I shed that morning was not just because I was leaving, but because of the countless mistakes I made. Wrong doings I can never take back. Oh yes, I am a young man with many faults. My false moves included lying, teasing, disobeying, and most of all, wounding the people around me. No, I wasn't using violence to hurt others. It was words. There were many incidents where I teased other people about their appearance or used curse words on others. Sometimes I would get angry and insult other people, most of the time behind their backs. I started to get isolated from my group of friends; because of the verbal attacks I had on them.

My life took a turn one night, when I was very frustrated with myself because all of the days of slacking off on studies had caught up with me. I was surprised after dinner when my parents approached me and asked me what was wrong. I explained my dilemma, and my parents reminded me of why God sent his only son to die on the cross. They helped me remember that after all of the mistakes I made, God still loved me and wanted to forgive me. 

With my parents (leftmost), my lolas (beside me),
 and my favorite teacher (rightmost), teacher Cherry!

Tears started to make their way down my face when I realized that God was using my parents to change how I looked at the world and how I looked at my school. Many people say realizing your mistakes is one thing, and acting on it is another. I did exactly that. Seeing things from a different perspective - God's perspective - truly changed me. I became more grateful, joyous, appreciative of life, respectful, and just a tad bit more responsible. I started to focus on my studies, and my grades went up, although it was the little things that changed me the most. Those small acts of kindness like helping my classmate carry a heavy box, help the maintenance staff clean up a mess, or even a polite good morning to people whom I didn't really know. 

The Grade School, PYP, and High School Graduates of
Domuschola International School

I am a work in progress, and, as I told my fellow graduates, we should try as hard as we can to change ourselves and change the world. Leaving the school was painful, yes. Sometimes, one must close one chapter in order to open another. As I open that new chapter, one last thought lingers - I am grateful for everything that has transpired, both good and bad, because they have shaped me into the young man I am today.

Migs