By Zach Cruz and Chester Cruz

A’s, B’s, and C’s may just be letters for many, but in the Ateneo de Manila Senior High School (ASHS), this set of letters gain a whole new meaning—for us Ateneans, these are indicators of our efforts and perseverance in our studies as well as deciding factors for our futures. The time has come yet again for the moment of truth, where the fruits of the students’ months of hard work, sleepless nights, and endless cups of coffee, finally ripen for a harvest. 

Last January 24, 2024, the Ateneo de Manila Senior High School (ASHS) officially released the first semester grades for the Academic Year 2023-2024. Through the Ateneo EduSuite, the final marks could be accessed from 8 AM to 9 AM. It was truly a nerve-wracking day for the ASHS students, even before the said time of the grades viewing. With every click continuously trying to log in, tension never left the air. 

This was a moment where every student unveiled their performance throughout their first five months in ASHS, and there are definitely different ways of how they reacted to and handled this part of their academic journey. Let’s take a look back at last January, in line with the recent release of the second semester midterm marks today.

Magis in the Form of Nervousness

A lot of students find the release of their final marks to be an anxious experience, with their hearts racing from the anxiety and the pressure of meeting expectations. As 8 AM drew closer, the hallways of ASHS were struck by a wave of nervousness, with students asking around about the anticipated moment. 

One way for them to ease this nervousness was through computing their grades beforehand to avoid the disappointment they might feel once they catch a glimpse of their academic marks. “Before viewing ng grades, medyo naging chill na lang, kasi sinubukan ko na i-compute ‘yung grades ko kaya alam ko na ano i-eexpect.” John Wyne Caliguiran from STEM 11 – San Vitores stated regarding his initial feeling before the grades viewing. Aside from managing expectations, some students’ way of easing their nervousness was through engaging in lighthearted conversations with their friends in an attempt to briefly relieve the burden of their anxiety.

The seconds ticked by painfully, the wait became nearly excruciating with each passing minute feeling like an eternity. And when the clock finally struck 8 AM, eager students and parents attempted to access the site to view their grades. However, their efforts proved futile as the overwhelming number of users caused the site to crash, resulting in a longer wait than expected for their grades to load.

Trish Elardo from STEM 11-Owen shared her experience with her classmates as they couldn’t access their marks. “During MIP, lahat sa classroom namin, nagpapanic lahat kasi hindi namin ma-view ‘yung grades,” she said.

The Subtle Art of Dedma 

On the opposite end of the spectrum comes the students who weren’t really bothered by the release of their first semester final marks. 

“Dedma“ is a Filipino slang from the abbreviation of “dead malice,” meaning paying no attention to a particular situation. Some students definitely learned the subtle art of dedma as they were unaffected by the approaching release of grades, opting for a laid back demeanor. “Chill lang, yes may very kaunting disappointment pero s’yempre nonchalant tayo,” a student from Grade 11 ABM said concerning their reaction after viewing their final marks. 

There were also some students who chose not to look up their grades out of a sincere lack of concern. Whether it was due to a firm belief in their academic performance for the first semester or a mindset that they shouldn’t stress over numerical assessments to evaluate themselves, it was also one way of handling this part of their academic journey. However, indifference is not the sole reason why some students decided not to view their own grades, there are also those who couldn’t bear to face reality. 

All’s Well that Ends Well: Happiness

For some, grades viewing proved to be a time of celebration. About 30 to 50 minutes past 8 AM, you would have probably heard some classmates gasp in surprise, jump from their seats, and let out sighs of relief upon seeing the Edusuite finally revealing the fruits of their five months of endless schoolwork—a huge contrast from the tense and draining atmosphere a few seconds prior. After all, who wouldn’t exclaim in joy upon seeing that their grades are just as—if not better—than expected? 

During break time, some would dash right off their seats to break the good news to their classmates and friends, all smiles as they cheer over the results of their studies: “Grabe! Nakapasa ako,” “Huy, straight A’s, oh,” and “Congrats! Deserve,” are just some of the things you might have heard over the course of the day.

“I feel proud of myself, I know that my grades are a reflection of my hard work and perseverance, and it’s good to see that it paid off,” a junior expressed. Truly, they do reflect the efforts we have poured in the past semester, and it is very heartwarming indeed to see your peers celebrate the letters all laid out on the Edusuite—a testament to the blood, sweat, and tears they have shed in their first semester journeys. 

We will never know what type of things they have been through to get those A’s all laid out across the board. Maybe some went through sleepless nights trying to get that concept note for Practical Research all accomplished, or maybe some emptied out two pens scribbling down notes for their long tests. Whatever it is, these efforts of our fellow Ateneans deserve to be commended—and hopefully even emulated. 

Doom and Gloom

In contrast, there may be some who could not help but frustratingly stomp in their seats or frown at the sight of their grades as the Edusuite finally loaded. Naturally, some ended up feeling a tad bit disappointed—or even sad—about their first semester marks due to many reasons.

Generally, their grades may simply be not what they expected them to be: a B instead of an A in a subject they thought they were excelling at, or maybe a single B+ that ruined their chances (which may have been just by a few points) of getting first honors. Overall, it’s very upsetting to see your hard work not reaching the standards you set.

You might have spotted some classmates or friends ranting to each other about how they might have been able to raise their grades if only they reviewed harder for that one quiz, or if they just recited more frequently in class. Maybe some were even too upset to talk about it—you never know. The good news is that the first semester is not the end of the world, and there is always room for improvement (the second semester).

Keeping Our Wings Up

Whatever emotions were felt: happy, sad, disappointed, nervous, dedma, or otherwise, our first semester marks are a reminder to break through our capabilities and soar to new heights. As the saying goes, there is always light at the end of the tunnel—hope, growth, and redemption for those who pour in their most sincere efforts as they continue with their studies. At the end of the day, all of us hopefully felt inspired and motivated to strive for more in the spirit of magis. 

“When I first saw my grades, I was relieved that I didn’t fail anything. Though after a bit, I realized that maybe I could still work harder and aim higher in the second semester to receive grades that I can be proud of,” a junior says about their realizations after seeing their grades, which inspired them to work harder in the next semester.

“I have always believed in the beauty of not always achieving the highest and best score the first time around; it gives you a window of improvement, and an inspiration to do and be better,” another student says. Indeed, the first semester is only half of the school year, and we have many more challenges to face ahead of the road as we dive into the middle of the second semester. We should see this as an opportunity to assess where we could do better and what we could do to be better—and by then, we are inspired to persevere.

In the end, whatever your grades were and whatever you felt, there is a lot of room for excellence. These marks are not the end of the world—there is still another half to the road yet to be traveled; it is only at the end of that road that we get to reap the true fruits of our year-long efforts and sacrifices. Let us view our grades as a challenge for us to keep our wings high and soar to higher heights—to live out the spirit of Magis and the five Cs, and eventually be satisfied with ourselves as we conclude the school year. The question is, are you willing to continue and take on this challenge?