By Janina Calma

Lost in thought, are we?

The weeks leading up to the opening of classes immerse you in a myriad of emotions: excitement, worry, fear — but above all, anticipation. You wonder how your journey in the Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) will go; you get lost in little scenarios you expect to experience and the things you set out to do and be. But then again, when has things ever gone according to plan?

Your two-year stay here will send you stumbling over what you thought you knew and what you will learn. And as your new beginning looms near, it’s time to snap out of your daydreams so that all these lessons won’t always be a bolt from the blue. 

More than numbers

As a critical period before college, you might think that academics is the sole priority here. Scratch that — it is indeed important, but it is not all that matters!

ASHS is an avenue for holistic formation — building a strong academic foundation, bringing you closer to your faith, leading you towards discovering the path you’ll chart, or shaping you to face the big world. 

In fact, the extracurricular and organization culture here flourishes ardently: offering a wide range of communities that’ll cater to your favorite interests and the skills you hope to further develop. However, the lively world of organizations and committees does not entail that it is something you prioritize at the cost of others; you must learn to strike a balance between what you value and what you can handle. 

Besides finding the equilibrium of things, the ASHS instills different vital practices that’ll be useful even beyond the confines of your classroom. Discipline is one — value that teaches us the importance of focus and commitment to achieve our goal. Did you know that most assessments in different subjects account for extra points for following instructions? 

Yes, you’re not wrong in expecting that ASHS will be an academically rigorous institution, one that fosters excellence and pushes you to put your best foot forward. Yet, you mustn’t let your pursuit of scholastic merit hinder you from appreciating the holistic development ASHS wants you to grow into. 

Those who soar beside you

Dear junior, one of the fundamental truths here in ASHS is that it is an amalgam of diverse and talented students. To be frank, you will inevitably and inescapably be humbled. 

Those who compete and bag medals in international competitions will walk the same halls as you. There’ll be those who ace assessments without opening a book. You will meet people of different backgrounds who live different lives. 

Being surrounded by different types of people will make you question your place in this school. But coinciding with that truth is another fact: you were chosen — handpicked from thousands of excellent applicants — to be here for a reason. Though it may not always be obvious, you have a purpose; this is the place where you belong after all. 

The fleeting flight as a blue eagle

You will have days where twenty-four hours feels inadequate for the deadlines you have for the next day. You will have some that feel like they stretch too long as you await the wellness break or the weekend. But here’s the truth: your two-year stay here will fly by. 

Senior high school may seem like it’s only an extension of junior high, but it is actually a critical period of change, transition, and preparation. You’ve just settled in after your junior year, but soon you’ll be preparing to leave again.  It is all that you have before you take on college and soon, the world.  

Indeed, it’ll be a stumble and tumble navigating this new environment because things will rarely go according to plan. You will be broken down and rebuilt stronger.  And so let each bolt from the blue strike you, for it is in the unexpected that you learn to find your footing and spread your wings as a blue eagle.