Open letter to Krisel: Accept your ‘failure’

Dear Krisel,

I understand your plight because I also felt cheated in elementary and high school. It is indeed enraging to know you got less than what you really deserved.

I believe that what you did was right. At a young age, you have learned how to fight for what you think is right. You chose not to be passive. (READ: Girl interrupted: School officials cut salutatorian’s speech)

Your action showed why it is important for students to fight and to be vigilant. You reminded us to fight oppression and corruption.

Whether it was done in a proper forum is out of the question. As you have explained, you already went through the proper channels, questioning the result even before you stood on that stage. (READ: #GirlInterrupted: Should graduation speeches be censored?)

However, I believe accepting failure is also an honorable thing to do. Acceptance teaches us to see what is wrong with us, what keeps us from succeeding, and what has to be corrected. 

I can still remember a phrase painted on the front wall of our classroom in grade 6: “God will not ask how much money you gave, or what the good things you have done are. He will only ask, how much love you gave? Reflect on. Have a good day.”

Krisel, you might have failed to get the top award but that doesn’t make you less of a person. It is not even a failure. You will realize later on that achievements, medals, and trophies are just accessories. Awards do not define who you really are.

Though most people recognize people through their success, it is not the be-all and end-all of life. People should recognize you because of what you have done to achieve things.

Now, ‘give’ the award to the valedictorian, Krisel, and work hard for your own success. Choose to be better, righteous, and faithful to God. It is not yet the end of everything.

Let me end my letter to you by quoting Mother Theresa: “At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by ‘I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.” – Rappler.com

Raymon Dullana is a campus journalist and Business Administration student from Cagayan State University-Andrews campus in Tuguegarao City. He finished his elementary and secondary education with honors. He’s an orphan student since his 3rd year high school but continued his schooling through scholarships and part-time jobs.