A letter of gratitude to parents who dream with their children

Kenneth Abante

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'I may have chosen government over offers with heftier paychecks, but you brought me up telling me that all you ever want in life is my happiness; and right now, I am the happiest son in the world'

Kenneth Isaiah Abante graduated cum laude from the Ateneo de Manila in March 2012 with a degree in Management Engineering and a minor in Philosophy. He was also valedictorian of his graduating class. After graduating, he wrote this letter to his parents on April 21. Ken is among the 30 national finalists of this year’s Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines. The awards are given by the RFM Foundation.

 

Thank you, Ma, Pa, for understanding that all a child ever needs is to know that his parents dream of helping his dream come true.

And my dream is fairly simple: it is to answer God’s Call. And God has called me with such clarity and intensity to go to government. It is my heart’s burning desire. It is where I am needed the most by my country.

Know that it isn’t easy for me to say no to a life of comfort I can give you. I’m very sorry that I won’t be able to tour you around the Philippines or abroad, or buy you a brand new car, or shop you non-stop around the metro’s malls, or give our house that renovation. Thank you for understanding that all these other things can wait; God is waiting.

CUM LAUDE. Ken Abante graduates valedictorian of his class.

I know you have worked all your lives for us, but do not worry. This is not just the path of greater resistance; it is where I can love you with all my heart, freed from the heavy burden of doing work I do not love, just for the sake of earning money probably in excess of what we need.

I will help with the family in any and every way I can, with money I will earn out of the fullness of my dignity and all the great fruits of love for what I do, out of love for you.

In my meager time in this world, I discovered that God eases all the yokes of those who respond to His call. He has infinite resources (and probably not always the way we conceive resources to be). He provides. Thank you for letting Him provide for me, provide for us.

I may have chosen government over offers with heftier paychecks, but you brought me up telling me that all you ever want in life is my happiness; and right now, I am the happiest son in the world. So that probably makes you the richest parents in the world too.

I will love my work with all my heart, you’ll see. And all your doubts will melt away.

I will show you that our government is only as good as the people who are willing to trust it enough to want to work in it. I will show you that I can serve the poor the most here. I will show you that I can make the best use of what God has given me here. And I will show you the happiest smile you will ever see as I give you my first paycheck.

PROUD PARENTS. Ken makes his parents proud on his graduation day.

You brought me up telling me that you want the best for me. Thank you for seeing that my happiness is yours, and your happiness is mine.

Thank you, Ma, Pa, for dreaming with me. Let my entire life then be a testament of gratitude to you, through whom God makes His Love ever present.

I will make you the proudest parents in the world. – Rappler.com

 

Ken started working with the Department of Finance on June 15. He also hopes more parents dream with their children; and that more children tell their parents what their dreams really are.

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