I will continue, O my God, to do all my actions for the love of You

When I thought about returning to school, I thought about the end in mind. I imagined myself an MBA graduate from De La Salle University. I would be a person my organization could trust more to handle bigger responsibilities. I would be someone people could respect because they can see the change and capacity in me to lead a group of people. I would be a person they could rely on. But, I guess while I was thinking about what I would become, I forgot to think about the details, like advanced reading, cases, reports, late nights, group work, and cramming. I’ve completely forgotten what it’s like to be a student.

Honestly, the thought about being an MBA graduate is so glamorous, enough to mask the fact that the process of actually becoming one isn’t at all glamorous as I first made it out to be. If in the course of my undergraduate degree, I could do without reading the textbook in advance because I could be sure my professor was going to teach the lesson anyway, here I can’t get through a class discussion not having read lest I would get left behind. If I used to be able to rely on my ability to answer by going around and around in circles, here I run the risk of being called out for it. If in the past, sheer, dumb, luck was going to get me through, well… hah! I was gravely mistaken. If I wanted to ever see that MBA graduate in me I imagined, I was going to have to work hard for it. And it was only the first term.

Going back to school was a challenge to adjust to. Already in my first term, I’ve had to relearn my study methods, get reacquainted with the highlighter, and try, desperately, but fail miserably not to cram. Graduate school is also an entirely different ball game because your professors’ expectations are far greater. We are expected to think beyond the obvious, and to constantly seek to answer tough questions we would never initially expect to even ask. Add to that the fact that most of us aren’t full-time students, and have to balance work with school. Going back to school has never been more difficult.

But, coming back, even if it’s only been my first term, has already been so enlightening. I learned that Lasallian business leadership means more than just being the boss in your organization. It means deciding to go down a path that everyone will benefit from, the public, government, and yourself alike. It means being doing the right thing even if it is the difficult thing. It means caring for people, putting their interests above economic or financial position. It means giving – your time, your resources, your whole self – without expectation of return. And it means doing all things for the love of the One who loved us first.

Becoming a representative of Lasallian values and education is a tall order. One must be be ready, not only in terms of tuition fees or time, but also in body, mind, and spirit. This is only the beginning, and I admit, I do not yet have the answer as to my level of preparedness to face the many more subjects I am bound to take. But, because of the strong and clear foundation that I have gained in my first term in graduate school, I know I am committed to graduate as a Lasallian MBA student. I know I am committed to become a Lasallian business leader. I know I am committed to becoming a Lasallian achiever for God and country. And I know I will continue doing all my actions all for the love of You.

A loud and resounding ANIMO to all froshies of the MBA program A.Y. 17-18! CONGRATULATIONS ON A WONDERFUL FIRST TERM!!!