Where to go?

Last Wednesday, about 400 students from the University of the Philippines Cebu took an oath before the officials of that university. It was their promise to be good individuals as they exited the university. After the ceremonies, they greeted one another, took pictures, and swore that they will keep in touch. The memories made and shared will forever be remembered.

But the biggest question is, where will they go after? This is what we all asked students who are called the iskolars ng bayan - the cream of the crop in the educational institution. When they leave the halls of the school, it will be a challenge if they can still remember everything that they have learned. That’s as if all the lessons will be put into the heart and mind.

The country is uncertain if it has enough places for these students to go to after they finish school. But one thing is sure; developing their hometowns will be welcome if they do it. The challenge for these students is to always go back home and be relevant, spread the knowledge learned over the years spent for by the government. Those left in their hometowns will look forward to what the products of a state university have to offer and change in their current situation.

Journeying in this life will be tough. There will be different phases that one will have to go through - being successful and losing what there is to gain in life. A student who just finished school will now choose what to pursue. Pick money over passion or the other way around? Finding where to go isn’t just a challenge of a new graduate. For some, the situation is losing a job that you have had for years. When time is over, the worker asks the same question; where to go?

It is all uncertain but for those who believe in God’s will, there will always be ways in where one could shine. There are plans that we don’t understand but we just have to submit and trust. The process may be hard but it is reality. Opportunities will come; a new job, business venture, or something else. When a door closes there will always be something else waiting.

In my current workplace, we are seeing people saying goodbye in the hopes that we will see each other again in the future.

The picture of the graduation and the end of employment are similar in some ways; saying goodbye and hello to another adventure. It will be exciting as it will always be. I hope the doors of love will be kept open.

Saying goodbye is never easy, it will always be hard but I hope we all pick a lesson or two. Wherever the road will lead us, I know that there is something good at the end of it all. Our choices pave the way for the life that we choose.