By Anjelika Gentuya

By Kiera De Guzman

In a world driven by money, ambition, business, and power, every successful venture begins with something far simpler: imagination. The greatest minds, businessmen, and women all started as dreamers, carrying ideas long before they carried titles. Behind every business plan and financial forecast is a mind that first learned to imagine, to question, and to see beyond what already exists. It is within the quiet space of reading where this growth begins — where words nurture discipline, creativity, and vision long before success is ever measured.

Planting the seeds of our future with every word, every story, and every spark of imagination, literature plays a quiet but powerful role in shaping ABM students in not only how they think, but who they hope to become. Through books, they learn that growth is not only counted in profits or achievements, but in perspective, resilience, and the courage to turn ideas into reality.

The Poppy War series by R.F. Kuang.

Trigger Warning: Violence, Sexual Violence, Substance Abuse, Mental Health

Recommended by Sophia Caguiat of 11-Campion, “The Poppy War” trilogy is a gripping fantasy series inspired by 20th-century China and the Sino-Japanese Wars. This dark and intense saga delves into themes of identity, belonging, and destiny, while confronting the brutal realities of war, the dehumanization it brings, and the complexities of power.

“The way Kuang wrote about the themes of ambition, colonialism, and the cost of power made a really big impression on me.” Sophia had said, reflecting on how ambition can propel people toward success, yet also cause harm along the way. “It’s a sobering reminder that unchecked ambition can lead to destructive decisions, and how important it is to never lose sight of your own humanity in your pursuit of achievement.”  

This book offers profound insights, especially for ABM students looking to sharpen their decision-making and understand the real-world consequences of their choices. By immersing themselves in the story, students can witness how strategy, ethics, and leadership intersect—lessons that extend far beyond the classroom. 

She had explained that, “The Poppy War really underlines how seemingly innocuous decisions cause ripple effects that can be devastating for the people at the grassroots. It’s an excellent way to see how the concepts we learn in theory can play out and have played out throughout history.”

Alongside these lessons, Sophia discovered something even more vital: the value of maintaining one’s humanity in a world that often rewards cruelty. In real life, we encounter unjust situations that may tempt us, yet true wisdom lies in choosing compassion over mere success. Reflecting on this, she shared, “Reading this book made me reflect on the kind of person I want to become, which ultimately is someone who can remain compassionate, even when others are not.”

Reading opens a window into lives, experiences, and perspectives far different from our own, allowing us to step outside the limits of our personal worldview. To read is to walk in the shoes of characters whose circumstances and choices may be vastly different from ours, cultivating empathy and a deeper understanding of human nature. Reflecting on this, Sophia emphasized, “In a field like ABM, which is inextricably tied with understanding people, reading can help students clarify not only what they want to achieve, but who they want to become in the process.”  Through books, students are not just learning theories or strategies — they are learning how to navigate the complex tapestry of human behavior with awareness, compassion, and intentionality.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 

Trigger Warning: Violence, Death, War, Abuse, Suicide

A beautifully haunting novel set in Nazi Germany, at the start of World War II. “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak tells the story of Liesel, a young girl whose life is shaped by loss, fear, and the shadows of war. Amidst the cruelty and chaos of a world at war, Liesel finds an unexpected refuge in books — stealing them, treasuring them, and ultimately discovering in their pages a source of comfort and resilience that helps her endure life’s deepest tragedies. 

Recommended by Steph Acupado from 11-Borja, she shared how this book profoundly transformed her view of the world, especially through one essential truth: kindness. “It tells me in times of hardship, in times of when things just feel like they’re not going to get better, there is the small kindness and comforts,” she said, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, compassion can be the light that guides us forward.

“Since the theme of the book was finding comfort in literature, it shaped my personal ambition from wanting success in the form of finance and power to peace, in the simplest words,” she emphasized, showing just how profoundly this story reshaped her way of thinking. The novel helped her realize that what truly matters isn’t power or status, but passion and love for what you do. “The goal I now have is to find something I am passionate about, and though taking the arts path is not really stable, I chose ABM so I can stay true to myself while having a safety net. Managing the product I have: myself. I want to learn how to sell my talents and skills to make a living, basically, to stay true to my passion.”

And through this, we realize how reading not only expands our way of thinking, but also helps us find ourselves amidst it. Books stand as a mirror of who we are, a door to our soul, helping us discover ourselves in a world so fast-paced. Slowing us down and grounding us when times are hard. 

“The books we read are the reflection of who we are. ABM students can use reading to know themselves better. What are the things they are attracted to, the things that seem so hard. What gives them hope, what takes that away,” Steph had thoughtfully stated, expounding on books and the underlying connection we have to literature. “For example, if they read murder mysteries, they might be intrigued by the unknown and are problem solvers. If they read romance, they might be emotionally open and it’s easier to connect with people. It tremendously helps in marketing and sales in business. The only way we can know our goals is to know ourselves and then choose what we want to do better.”

This mirror of literature can steady us when life feels overwhelming, offering comfort, clarity, and a sense of belonging in moments of solitude and struggle. Through reading, we glimpse parts of ourselves we might never notice otherwise. In this way, books become more than just words on a page — they can open a door to your soul, inviting you to ask questions like “Who am I? Who do I dream of becoming?” and offering a quiet, grounding space in a world that never stops rushing forward.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Trigger Warning: Depression, Abuse, Misogyny, Homophobia, Gun Violence, Drugs, Suicide 

This is an exhilarating novel about two friends whose bond is deep and profound — often described as in love, yet never lovers — as they navigate life side by side. At its heart, the story follows two video game designers whose partnership spans decades, showing how success is rarely a straight path and is often built on a foundation of repeated failures, resilience, and creative risk. The narrative explores not just the games they create, but how their shared passions, conflicts, and personal growth shape who they become.

Marley Limbo of 11‑Campion shares how this book shifted her own perspective: “It’s a book that truly made me rethink what it means to be with others.” She explains how the story made her reflect on connection, collaboration, and the meaning of companionship. Reminding her that relationships and shared dreams can define us just as much as our individual ambitions.

“The book influenced my perspective of my goals; to treat them not as end destinations but rather a ‘restart’ where I can always improve and try again,” expounded Marley, showing how in her view, goals aren’t fixed finish lines but opportunities to begin again with more insight and resilience. “Success is often a series of restarts and long nights of hard work that no one sees. Because of it, I’m more ambitious about becoming the kind of person who can handle setbacks without giving up, which I think is the most important skill I’ll need in the future.”

Marley connected the themes of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow to her own strand in ABM by recognizing how the novel’s creative collaboration mirrors real‑world teamwork and the human side of building something meaningful. 

“As an ABM student, the book reminded me that there’s a ‘soul’ in every business. The characters weren’t just making products, they’re building worlds while still continuing to manage people’s feelings. It made me realize that if ever I eventually lead a team or start a business, I don’t want to be just a boss who looks at spreadsheets. I want to be someone who understands the creative spark and the hard work that goes into everything,” she had said, highlighting a lesson that goes beyond technical skills or profit margins, that leadership and success in any enterprise involve empathy, understanding, and respect for the creative process

And with the realizations, new perspectives, and lasting impacts that literature gives us, come valuable lessons learned — teaching us not just what to think, but how to think and feel. 

“The biggest lesson I took away is that failure is just a chance to play again,” Marley shared,
showing how the novel’s mindset shifted her outlook. To her, the way the characters keep returning to creation after every stumble, treating setbacks as opportunities to learn, made her realize that patience with herself is a skill worth developing. “In the book, they talk about how in a video game, you can die a thousand times but you always have another life. I’ve started applying that to my own life when I mess up a quiz or a presentation. I used to be a perfectionist who got discouraged easily, but now I’m trying to develop the habit of being more patient with myself.” 

As time constantly slips between our fingers, especially in the whirlwind of adolescence when we’re still figuring out who we are and who we are meant to be, books serve as steady guides along the way.

Marley expressed this insight clearly: “I think as ABM students, we are often told to be practical and realistic, but reading novels like this lets us dream a little bit and explore who we actually are outside of our chosen career paths. Reading helps us realize that our goals don’t have to look like everyone else’s. It gives us the language to explain our own ambitions, and it reminds us that we are humans first and students second.”

And as the world constantly pushes us to rush forward, books remind us to pause—to see ourselves more clearly, to understand others more deeply, and to grow not just in knowledge but in empathy, creativity, and self‑awareness. Ultimately, literature doesn’t just teach us about life, it teaches us how to live it.