As the Earth slowly traverses space at unimaginable speeds about 186,282 miles per second along with the rest of the solar system, it seldom sees distant friends who have a surface and atmosphere alike—revolving from a star that scorched in the vast hues of empty space. Though as they pivot the same light, the earth still has planetary friends that are twice its size, have supersonic winds, and have rings to be bearers of comets. Earth, on the other hand, was just a planetary sphere colored with a mixture of blue, brown, and green; otherwise, what it had was unparalleled and ordinary to what its friends possessed. Yet, what would the littlest people in its atmospheric shell think? Would they still see earth as minuscule and unexceptional? 

Just like the earth whose friends are extraordinary, there are also those minuscule beings that strived inside of its atmospheric shell. These little beings are smaller compared to the high-rise buildings they made, brighter of those lights they invented, and mightier than the kings and queens of their time. And thus, the smallest of the kind, the brightest innovators, and the mightiest leaders are what may be called the Scholars. In commemoration of the ASHS Scholar Day this April 13, Hi-Lites proudly presents the scholars of the community—the ever-gritting young academicians, athletes, and leaders of tomorrow! 

To be a Family 

  They say that blood is thicker than water, but others also believe otherwise; poets believe that blood is less thick compared to loyalty, bakers believe that cornstarch and honey are thicker for baking pastries, and scientists believe that liquids such as oil are more scaly compared to blood with their test. Yet, regardless of these differing testimonies whether scientific or ideal, no one needs to become a poet, baker, or scientist to be able to discern which are thicker or not. Because simple and common people see love as thicker than everything else for it encompasses different forms and may take shape depending on the bearer. And as love becomes limitless, familial love shared upon blood can be shown to those siblings polarized by blood. 

  Madeline Dini-ay, the SINAG Vice President for Communications, Documentation, and Public Relations mentioned that, “Nang [inanyayahan] ako sa Welcoming Party  ng SINAG, doon ko nararamdaman na may matatakbuhan ako dahil sa loob ng organisasyon ay may [maliliit] na pamilyang hindi lang basta gumagawa ng mga proyekto [pati na rin] nangangamusta at nakikinig”. In her remarks, it shows how familial love can be life-nourishing, different, and boundless—and that the love of a family can be seen and built with people of individual genetic imprints. 

  Furthermore, Kristine Santiago, one of the Co-Moderator of SINAG also said that, “Love [Scholars] so that they may grow to be loving people, love them so that love overflows and reaches more people, and love them so that they themselves be instruments and avenues of love in this world”. When hearing the word “love”, majority of people see this as a form of romantic attraction—a knack of varied imaginations including a picnic night with that special person, a masquerade dance with hidden beauties, or maybe a simple date on carinderias as they jive with OPM songs being played in the background. Although everything mentioned was one can experience with love, there are also indefinite ways to nurture and see love in its different form—a type of love that is rooted in people you hanged out with through shared academic stress, community events, and even through simplest moments like waiting and talking with someone for a ride on an E-jeep after daybreak of school.

  Nevertheless, as love becomes more encompassing and complex, something unconditional and familiar like the love of a mother and father can be considered familial love. The same way as how the community of scholars tended to one another, enriched their fullest potential inside and outside the community, and learned to be a family of others by welcoming even those polar of blood. Likewise, just like the earth pivoted around the sun along with its planetary companions, the sun never once did shadow the earth of its radiating SINAG. 

To be a Brave Navigator 

  In the earliest of time, the ancestors of different generations used stars as a form of celestial navigation to travel in oceans in search of islands, while others used these celestial bodies to predict seasonal changes for crops to grow or refinement of astrological orientations that lived to this day such as the “Zodiac Signs”. Though among these discoveries, navigation was one of the most important tools in today’s world; Global Positioning System (GPS), compass, and aircraft navigation system. Yet, regardless of these advancements, navigation is also a tool of the human mind to come up with decisions that direct paths to the bearer’s future. 

  A grade 11 scholar from the Ateneo de Manila Senior High School, Daniel Allones, stated that “It may have been intimidating at first, but the support and encouragement from fellow scholars, friends, and teachers made it easier to navigate and thrive in the academic environment”. There were times that scholars were lost in the transition of being admitted to the institution; some were intimidated by others because of the difference in social status, while others were unable to outlast the pressure of handling the academic standard of the school. Though as large as these problems were, there comes a time when they will be able to navigate the places they belong, the people they call home, and the passions they thrive on. 

  Another grade 11 scholar, Aleina Emboltura, mentioned that “Ateneo has always been generous and considerate to us scholars. SINAG is also there to look after our welfare at all times. These are the reasons why I am motivated to always do my best and strive to be better academically”. Other than navigation, there are also those who helped the scholars in creating a map of the vast world; people who offered them the opportunity to direct, the wisdom and grit to stride the unknown, and the inspiration to get through the day. The Ateneo and SINAG have always been a home of fruition and a safe space for scholars.

  Hence, to those scholars who are still wandering in the vast plains or lost amid the transition, do not be discouraged because there will be a time that you will be able to navigate your path. To those in doubt and hopeless, remember that there will always be people to guide you and people to believe in you—you are here for a reason, own it. And lastly, to those who have found their home, always remember to leave a mark for future scholars—a memento to remind them that they are part of a bigger community and that the opportunity given to them can fulfill thousands of dreams for generations of scholars. 

Giants of the New World

  As minuscule these little beings are compared to the empty hues of space, they can still be giants of the world they settled in. Giants who will soon be the future leaders and teachers of the world they thrived in. 

  According to a scholar, Alyannah Buban, “Being a person for and with others, in which I share my knowledge with others, particularly the TD kids, and am open to others, is what I believe is my greatest contribution to the [ASHS] community”. One of the greatest gifts of knowledge is to be able to teach others as well—in a prime example of Alyannah—she was able to teach young children in hopes that they would too return this favor by bridging the knowledge attained to future generations. 

  Adding to that, Verafel Verdan, stated that “Through [my] encounters (with the TD Kids), I realized that they actually wanted to learn. This motivates me to teach them more and to urge them to apply and be one of the scholarship grantees in the future […] I hope that the future scholars who would teach these kids would also be considerate of their situations and make them feel welcomed”. Although knowledge shared is a precious gift, compassion will make teaching a valuable piece in nurturing the lives of the littles in earth’s common places—school. As tough as studying and teaching may be, it is one way for a person to be acquainted with the breath of life and to be able to use their knowledge in directing a path for those who will be the future giants of the world.

  With all there is, as the earth revolves continuously in the solar system, the littlest people that coincide in its atmosphere are also continuously progressing as the minuscule of time passes by. Although earth may have seen itself as ordinary and unparalleled to its planetary friends, the very existence of the littlest beings proved otherwise that earth was more than its blue, brown, and green features. Because, in a matter of life, earth was the only home of hosting peculiar beings. In the same way, just like the scholars who have seen themselves as futile and ordinary are proven otherwise when seen from someone’s eyes. And thus, to the scholars out there, no matter what you are, where you come from, and what you can do—always remember that you are more than just your title and that you can become anyone as long as you pour your heart into fulfilling your duty to fuel the dreams of thousands of generations of scholars. 

Do not let that SINAG falter. 

Thumbnail from Jerry Pavia