Rules and compassion

Policies, rules, and expectations protect an organization from any violations and disputes. But such measures are intended to adapt to the particular situations brought about by situations and will turn toward what will make them applicable to times such as in the case of the pandemic now. They aren’t engraved on stones that ought to be protected forever.

And there are guidelines that are no longer applicable to the situation during the pandemic. We need to set aside some strict guidelines which will make it more complicated. And look at the human side of people in doing so. Some students have trouble keeping up with technical demands in the initial introduction of online distance learning.

While some have the privilege of purchasing the new and state-of-the-art gadgets, a significant number of those don't even have the simplest online learning gadgets. Others may also continue to work only to fulfill the task of providing the family's basic needs as previously done by their parents, but have been forced to stop due to retrenchment.

Some students are required to work and study at the same time only so they don't miss studying for a year. I've seen a viral video of a student attending her online class every now and then, secretly while at work only to attend her online class in real time.

Another case is a graduating student who did not mind so much of graduating this year but asked for a certification of graduation or a transcript of records that shows that she had completed her academic requirements just for her to present to her new employer as a requirement for employment.

But how can we really respond the inability or difficulty of others? While we are fortunate still to have our work or source of income, others are looking for one in order to sustain a simple living. More than ever, we, on the advantaged side need to look at the situation with understanding and compassion. Rules this time must be tweaked a bit and so therefore look at the side of the disadvantaged without necessarily compromising the long-held standards for academic excellence.

There are just things that we cannot anymore do this time of the pandemic. Before, it was possible to submit printed copy of documents physically, no longer this time. And that’s the reason everything is done virtual. Documents are sent electronically via email, Facebook messenger, Viber, or other online platforms. Terms of payments for utilities including school fees are being relaxed or arranged for easy payment. We have been doing all these for the past months. And so everything is being relaxed on the side of compassion.

This is not the time to call for strict adherence to policies and laws. There is no point in adding burden to someone else's already wretched lives. And so it is always unimaginable for one to feel happy for other people's misery.

When darkness remains, we hope to be the first to shine a light. When injustice happens we dare to be the first to condemn it. If anything seems complicated, we dare to do it anyway. Would we dare to find any when there appears to be little hope? Do we hope to be tougher when times are difficult? If people get hurt, would we dare to help them recover? In this pandemic, we let compassion prevail.