Valedictory speech by Mikaela Irene Fudolig – UP Diliman Summa Cum Laude (2007)
Posted by: einsclass in UncategorizedTake not the road less traveled
One of the things that strike me as being very “UP Diliman” is the way UPD students can’t seem to stay on the pavement. From every street corner that bounds an unpaved piece of land, one will espy a narrow trail that cuts the corner, or leads from it. Every lawn around the buildings sports at least one of these paths, starting from a point nearest to the IKOT stop and ending at the nearest entry to the building. The trails are beaten on the grass by many pairs of feet wanting to save a fraction of a meter of traveling, no matter that doing so will exact some cost to the shoes, or, to the ubiquitous slippers, especially when the trails are new.
What do these paths say about us, UP students?
One could say that the UP student is enamored with Mathematics and Pythagoras, hence these triangles formed by the pavement and the path. Many among you would disagree.
Others could say that the UP student is naturally countercultural. And the refusal to use the pavement is just one of the myriads of ways to show his defiance of the order of things. This time, many would agree.
Still, others will say that the UP student is the model of today’s youth: they want everything easier, faster, now. The walkable paths appeal to them because they get to their destination faster, and presumably, with less effort. Now that is only partly true, and totally unfair.
These trails weren’t always walkable. No doubt they started as patches of grass, perhaps overgrown. Those who first walked them must have soiled their shoes, stubbed their toes, or had insects biting their legs, all in the immovable belief that the nearest distance between two points is a straight line. They might even have seen snakes cross their paths. But the soiled footwear, sore toes, and itchy legs started to conquer the grass. Other people, seeing the yet faint trail, followed. And as more and more walked the path, the grass gave in and stopped growing altogether, making the path more and more visible, more and more walkable.
The persistence of the paths pays tribute to those UP students who walked them first – the pioneers of the unbeaten tracks: the defiant and curious few who refuse the familiar and comfortable; the out-of-the-box thinkers who solve problems instead of fretting about them; the brave who dare do things differently, and open new opportunities to those who follow.
They say how one behaved in the past would determine how he behaves in the future. And as we leave the University, temporarily or for good, let us call on the pioneering, defiant, and brave spirit that built the paths to guide us in this next phase of our life.
We have been warned time and again. Our new world that they call “adulthood” is one that’s full of compromises, where success is determined more by the ability to belong than by the ability to think, where it is much easier to do as everyone else does. Daily we are bombarded with so much news of despair about the state of our nation, and the apparent, perverse sense of satisfaction our politicians get from vilifying our state of affairs. It is fashionable to migrate to other countries to work in deceptively high-paying jobs like nursing and teaching, forgetting that even at their favored work destinations, nurses and teachers are some of the lowest paid professionals. The lure of high and immediate monetary benefits in some low-end outsourcing jobs has drawn even some of the brightest UP students away from both industry and university teaching to which they would have been better suited.
Like the sidewalks and pavement, these paths are the easiest to take.
But, like the sidewalks and pavement, these paths take longer to traverse, just as individual successes do not always make for national progress. The unceasing critic could get elected, but not get the job done. The immigrant could get his visa, but disappear from our brainpower pool. The highly paid employee would be underutilized for his skills, and pine to get the job he truly wants, but is now out of his reach. And the country, and we, are poorer because of these.
Today, the nation needs brave, defiant pioneers to reverse our nation’s slide to despair. Today, we must call upon the spirit that beat the tracks. Today, we must present an alternative way of doing things.
Do NOT just take courage, for courage is not enough. Instead, be BRAVE! It will take bravery to go against popular wisdom, against the clichéd expectations of family and friends. It will take bravery to gamble your future by staying in the country and try to make a prosperous life here. It might help if for a start, we try to see why our Korean friends are flocking to our country. Why, as many of us line up for immigrant visas in various embassies, they get themselves naturalized and settle here. Do they know something we don’t?
Do NOT just be strong in your convictions, for strength is not enough. Instead, DEFY the pressure to lead a comfortable, but middling life. Let us lead this country from the despair of mediocrity. Let us not seek to do well, but strive to EXCEL in everything that we do. This, so others will see us as a nation of brains of the highest quality, not just of brawn that could be had for cheap.
Take NOT the road less traveled. Rather, MAKE new roads, BLAZE new trails, FIND new routes to your dreams. Unlike the track-beaters in campus who see where they’re going, we may not know how far we can go. But if we are brave, defiant searchers of excellence, we will go far. Explore possibilities, that others may get a similar chance. I have tried it myself. And I’m speaking to you now.
But talk is cheap, they say. And so I put my money where my mouth is. Today, I place myself in the service of the University, if it will have me. I would like to teach, to share knowledge, and perhaps to be an example to new UP students in thinking and striving beyond the limits of the possible. This may only be a small disturbance in the grass. But I hope you’ll come with me, and trample a new path.
Good evening, everyone.
By Mikaela Irene Fudolig
UP Graduation 22 April 2007
The following questions should be answered in your comments:
1. What is your initial reaction or thoughts upon reading her speech?
2. Which part of her speech strikes you most? Why?
3. How does she express patriotism and how will she show it?
Please don’t forget to write your complete name when you post your comment.
Entries (RSS)
August 8th, 2007 at 6:48 am
1. im amaze with her speech especially when he said strength is not the only way to achieve and do not just take courage be brave im amaze because every word that said in the speechh tells something on what teenagers can make to our nation
2. the part when she said that make your own way to achieve and be successful you have to be unique to commit your ambitions and plans
3. through saying about filipino teens and saying that they are the solution because she said that today we need good students sothat our country will be successful w/c means she is concerned about the happenings in our country
August 10th, 2007 at 1:21 am
1. I was very impressed of her spech.
2. Do NOT just take courage, for courage is not enough. Instead, be BRAVE!becusa i am very shy to new people I meetjust like when i enterd our room. I don’t know any one yet. just then i met Kath and her other classmates when she was in elementary.
3. She places her self in the service of the university. she would like yo yeach and share her knowledge to other students. She also said that she would not leave the country instead, she would help the country to be progressive.
August 11th, 2007 at 12:22 am
1.) Mikaela is so great and she talks excellently. Everything she said is true.what knowledge she absorbed from the university were not wasted because she’s very interested to share it, and to be a model of her fellow UP students. In her talk, i understand that she wants us to survive, don’t stop dreaming, help our people and to develop our country.
2.) the 12th paragraph strikes me most because it is true that our country was in despair. we should not just sit in the corner and wait for country’s progress, but instead we must be brave enough, be wise and help one another.
3.)she expresses patriotism in a way that she was able to put stress “It will take bravery to gamble your future by staying in the country and try to make a prosperous life here”.it is a challenge to all listeners; to the students. It only means that she is really concern with her own country. she will show it by teaching students, sharing her knowledge and skills and being a very good example to the new UP students in striving and reaching for their life’s goals.
August 11th, 2007 at 4:39 am
1. for me I’m amaze to her speech not only to her speech but also to her because of the sayings in her speech its impressing
2. when she said that you need to make your own road meaning that you are the one who makes your own feature so you have to be strong and brave
3. she expresses it through his concerns about our country and saying to the students that they have to make their own and she said that she will work here in the country and not in abroad
August 11th, 2007 at 4:41 am
mam ung pangalawang nka post dyan ung 2nay hindi ung isa
August 11th, 2007 at 5:04 am
1. I like her speech its nice to hear and impressive,powerful,and she have a plan 4 the future and she said take not the road less traveled, rather make new roads. like she is saying learn to make own way.
2. I like the almost last pharagraphs, bec.like i was saying take not the road less traveled, rather make new roads dont umasa sa iba, make your own way and she said find new routes 4 your dream and be good citizen of our country.
3. She express patriotism by take caring of our country and she is saying to her school mates dont destry suroundings.
August 11th, 2007 at 5:04 am
1.)I like her speech. because her speech is nice, beautiful to be hear by many people. I like her speech, because it is very impressive and she have a plan in the future and also in very thing that you do you should always make your own way. I like also her speech, because you will learn so much because of the good morals on her speech.
2.)I like the 11th paragraph, just like what she say “Do not just take courage, for courage is not enough. Instead be BRAVE!” I like that part, because it tells that in every thing that you do don’t be afraid, instead be brave always just like: when your mother or your father was hold-uped, yes, of course help her/him don’t be afraid tell to the police that bad men hold-up your mother or your father. Just like that. Bravery will bring you to safety.
3.)She expresses the patriotism by telling in the whole UP, what they will do to love our country more and more. And she will show patriotism by being responsible, don’t let the surroundings untidy and dirty, love our natural resources that we have here, and love other people or to cooperate in the activities that the government will tell. and most of all always pray to God to protect our country.
August 11th, 2007 at 6:02 am
1.I feel that someday I will try to be a valedictorian but I know I cannot reach that position.
2.Paragraph 13.It tells to us that be brave to everything.
3.She express her patriotism by describing our country that there are many jobs here in the Philippines and why other people likes to work in other countries.And she choose to be a teacher to share her knowledge and to be a good example to new UP students.And she likes to work here in the Philippines.
August 11th, 2007 at 8:05 am
Hi ma’am! This is my comment:
1) I am truly amazed in reading her speech because Mikaela is very intelligent and a good example too. She really deserves what she got right now because she studied hard for it and she became successful and i know for sure that she will not be hardened to get a job because many companies will get her when she is looking for a job and as a result their company will be successful too because they’ve got the right person.
2) Take NOT the road less traveled. Rather, MAKE new roads, BLAZE new trails, FIND new routes to your dreams. Unlike the track-beaters in campus who see where they’re going, we may not know how far we can go. But if we are brave, defiant searchers of excellence, we will go far. Explore possibilities, that others may get a similar chance. I have tried it myself. And I’m speaking to you now.
Because it gives me much courage to go on my own and not just depending on other persons or to our parents who are there and we should know what to do because not all the time our parents and friends are with us.
3) She expressed it wonderfully by saying words that are wonderful. She can show it by doing what is right and good and many would like to follow her because she did it right and successfully so we should do what is right and good to be successful and maybe we would be like her.
August 11th, 2007 at 10:03 am
1.My initial reaction or thought in her speech is she wanted that those new up student’s will be brave to do their own goals and to encourage them to pursue their dreams, he also tell that you must do your own way to be I good or wise citizen of this country than do those other things that keeps you down. She also introduced the advantages of those up students in our country, in getting a job and many more. I thought that if will be a up students job, social status can help us with the knowledge that I can get in up. I will be also brave enough to face those trials I will encounter in studying at up diliman.
2.The part of the speech that strikes me most is she told that we made our own track in pursuing my goals or dreams and to be brave for those new trials I will be encounter in the future and also now in my present. The reason why I chose this line in her speech because it encourage, give me strength to made my own way to be independent for my goals to achieve.
3.she express her patriotism by sharing her experience, her knowledge to help our country to progress, her ways in terms of the true attitude that a person or a student must have in our country. She show it by her determination to pursue her dreams and to help our country to progress today.
August 11th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
1)I am very inspired of her speech because if you will read her speech you can see that she is very educated, I am very very inspired and even thoug I am not one of her family member I am vrey proud of her because of this I will study more.
2)The fifth to the last paragraph, because for me on this paragraph she explain the ne4eds of our country.You will see that she was the rigth person to be a valedictorianof their school,she is very educated.
3)By giving the readers a knowledge and inspire all of them by her speech all of the paragraph has a very nice meanings to all of us
August 11th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Gil Dominique C. Alvarez
1)My reaction about the speech of Mikaela Fudolig is I was surprise about that because she is so great. I am so glad to read the speech of the Suma Cum Laude.
2)the part of the speech that strikes me most is the 15th paragraph because I think his vocabulary is wider from me and I don’t understand her speech in the 15th paragraph because the words in the 15th paragraph are I can’t understand.
3)She express the patriotism by showing emotions in her speech and she is bettter than her classmates.
ThankYou!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 11th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
1.My reactions to her speech is absolutely wonderful and inspiring. She’s a very intelligent and brave girl. She’s one of a kind. She show patriotism in our country.
2.When she said these lines “Do NOT just take courage, for courage is not enough. Instead, be BRAVE! Do NOT just be strong in your convictions, for strength is not enough. Instead, DEFY the pressure to lead a comfortable, but middling life.” It strike me most because I realize what she was talking for. She is so good, I swear.
3. She show patriotism by persuing people that do not leave the country for just financial problems ’cause it brings our country to be poor in employers. She show it by working at UP as a teacher to share her knowledge and to be an example of the up students.
August 11th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
1.)her speech was very nice, i appreciated it. She is very intelligent
2.)TKE NOT the road less traveled. rather, MAKE new roads,BLZE new trails, FIND routes to your dreams.
: it means going straight to my study. I will study well until i reach the goal of success and be a good model to everyone.
3.)be brave to face all my challenges in life.
HOPE is my strength and GOD IS MY GUIDE.
August 12th, 2007 at 12:01 am
1.) Her speech was very nice.I appreciated it, she is intelligent.
2.) Take NOT the road less traveled. Rather., MAKE new roads, BLAZE new trails, FIND new routes to yopur dreams.
:it means going straight to my study. I will study well until i reach the goal of success and be a good model to everyone.
3.) Be brave to face all the challenges in my life.
HOPE is my strength and GOD IS MY GUIDE.
Maam i edited my first answers because there were some words that were misspelled.
-THANK YOU-
August 12th, 2007 at 12:18 am
Evangel Jenesis L. Villa
1. After reading her speech I was inspired on how she used words and sentences for it is really an inspiration for me and everybody who read and understand her speech.
2. In the 15th paragraph, because it says that we must be brave to start and enter new paths unlike some people who sees where they are going and it also says that we must be brave to enter a path even thou you don’t know where or when you’re going to end it.
3. I think she’s trying to say that she is going to stay in her own land..
August 12th, 2007 at 2:29 am
jaycee de guzman
1.)my reaction or thoughts about her speech is she’s always talking about what is up diliman to others? i mean she’s proud to up diliman student that there are the model to other, i agreed about that but one thing i think not all the student are the model to immitating them. i know that because im also student…. so not all of them is rule model to us. im not saying that there are all of them. but the reaction is i proud to mikaela and i hope someday i will be like her.
2.)”do NOT just take COURAGE,for courage. instead,be BRAVE it will take BRAVERY to go against popular wisdom,against the cliched expectation of family and friends.It will take bravery to gamble your future by staying in the country and try to make a prosperous life here.It might help if for start.”
WHY? i like this part of her speech because it make feel to fight against the struggle came to me right now as a student. saying BRAVE is not enough to be a FIGTHER you need to put all of those thing that you learn into your heart to be perfect BRAVE.No matter what other say to you.
3.)the patriotism of her speech is “the nation needs brave, defiant pioneers to reverse our nation’s slide to despair. today, you must call upon the spirit that beat the tracks. today, we must present an alternative way of doing things.”
she’ express her patriotism by choosing to serve filipino people’s to share her knowledge to them and to be a model in up students striving beyond the limits of the possible.
August 12th, 2007 at 3:21 am
1) I
August 12th, 2007 at 3:41 am
1) I thought that she were a very intelligent person and she’s speech is good. And I thought that she is very brave to face many problems.
2) The part when she says that “DO NOT just take the courage, for courage is not enough. Instead, be BRAVE! Because it is very true that be brave and you to be able to face many problems.
3) Her explanation here in the middle part is other people here in our country migrates abroad to become reach. She will not go abroad and get job there.
August 12th, 2007 at 4:14 am
Jedidiah B. Perez
Answers:
1.I am very impressed with her speech because she said that bravery will take to gamble your future. I was also inspired to study hard. She mentioned the reality of what is going on in the Philippines at present. Our country is known for the OFWs. This is the reason why it is becoming poorer because those who are very bright goes to other countries to work and serve people of different nationality. So stressed the importance of serving the nation.
2.The 2nd to the last paragraph.Because for me,this paragraph means that you will be the one who make your own destiny.Not your mother,not your father,but you. And whatever you chose, it will be your own decision. Because no one knows you better that yourself. Do not follow the dream of others.
3. She graduated on top of her class so surely there are foreign companies who offered jobs to her. She quote here that she will choose to work here than to work to abroad. This is an evidence of her patriotism because she wants to serve her country first and be a molder of the young minds. Surely, if I will be given a chance to study in UP, I will look forward to her being my teacher.
August 12th, 2007 at 4:15 am
Arben Ngarangad I-Einstein
1) her speach was very beautiful.I imagined what I read in her speach.Her speach was very unique from others.
2)When she say this:
Take NOT the road less traveled. Rather, MAKE new roads, BLAZE new trails, FIND new routes to your dreams. Unlike the track-beaters in campus who see where they’re going, we may not know how far we can go. But if we are brave, defiant searchers of excellence, we will go far. Explore possibilities, that others may get a similar chance. I have tried it myself. And I’m speaking to you now.
3)she express patriotism in her speach, and I express my patriotism by doing what she say and what she did.
0
August 12th, 2007 at 4:35 am
1.I am touch and inspired in her speech.
2.The last paragraph because she said that all dreams may come true just do our best.
3.By staying here in the Philippines where she know she belong.Take not the road less travelled.
August 12th, 2007 at 4:36 am
1.I am touch and inspired in her speech.
2.The last paragraph because she said that all dreams may come true just do our best.
3.By staying here in the Philippines where she know she belong.Take not the road less travelled.
August 12th, 2007 at 6:10 am
1.) very impressing, i like her speech, for me her speech is so unique to the other speech i heard.
2.) take not the road less traveled, rather, make new roads, blaze new trails, find new routes to your dreams, because if you think well you will notice what she is taking about is dont mind what other doing just think on your own.
3.) she show patriotism when she diside to stayto her own country and work to her co-filipio.
August 12th, 2007 at 6:28 am
1.)She is very intelligent and she is using her intelligence in patriotism to our country.I can’t believe that in young age She has a very beautiful mind and a very good heart for the country.
2.)When she said take not the road less traveled.
She is willing to work and help our country although she can get a good job in other countries.
3.)She will work here in the philippine’s for the sake of our own country.She is a true Filipino.
August 12th, 2007 at 8:25 am
1. I was touch on the speech of Ms. Mikaela Irene because she is not speaking for herself but for the whole UP students. She is not talking about her achievements but rather about the UP students that serve as her foundation to be a more matured person aving a lot of achievements.Lastly, she was very brave young lady with the heart for a true UP student.
2. “Do NOT just be strong in your convictions, for strength is not enough. Instead, DEFY the pressure to lead a comfortable, but middling life. Let us lead this country from the despair of mediocrity. Let us not seek to do well, but strive to EXCEL in everything that we do. This, so others will see us as a nation of brains of the highest quality, not just of brawn that could be had for cheap.”
I chose this part because it has something to do with our nation.Truly, we cannot fully achieve our goals by just merely using our power among others but through seeking for our true ability that could contribute not just for ourself but also for our nation.
3. She expresses the act of patriotism by knocking into every Filipinos what is the true meanig of a true Filipino. She wants us to believe in ourselves so it with our country for it have things that we don’t know that can give us we are not expecting.
August 12th, 2007 at 8:58 am
The following questions should be answered in your comments:
1. What is your initial reaction or thoughts upon reading her speech?
My first reaction is that this speech is so beautiful that there so many things that i’ve learned in her speech as i read it seriously. My question to myself can i do it?
2. Which part of her speech strikes you most? Why?
Take NOT the road less traveled. Rather,MAKE new roads, BLAZE new trails, FIND new routes to your dreams. Unlike the track-beaters in campus who see where they’re going, we may not know how far we can go. But if we are brave, defiant searchers of excellence, we will go far. Explore possibilities, that others may get a similar chance. I have tried it myself. And I’m speaking to you now.
This is the one that strike me because this part of the speech is the one that inspire me most to reach my dream.
3. How does she express patriotism and how will she show it?
She expresses patriotism in telling her audience about migration. They take courses like nursing and teaching to work abroad and earn much than staying here in the Philippines. And that it is not good to migrate in the other country and leave our country forever….
August 12th, 2007 at 10:26 am
1. My reaction when I read the speech:
At the beginning I thought the speaker is just an ordinary woman. But as I come reading the speech until the end. I found out that she is a woman of character. She is patriotic. She likes to give her best share to make our country a better place to live in. She likes to teach in UP to share her dreams to the youth she wants to inspire the youth to stay in our country and spent their lives here. She wants to help build a better Philippines.
2. Seemed to this last paragraph strikes me most. This part gives inspiration to the youth to work here. She is honoring our country and make more progressive.
3. She express her patriotism by persuading the youth to stay and work here in our country and give their best., the speaker is very hopeful that this country will raise again to greatness if the youth will contribute to make it progressive.
She shows here patriotism by giving her promise that she will teach at UP to share her ideas, talents to the Filipinos youth.
August 13th, 2007 at 12:22 am
1)I am amazed at her young age she is very unique at her speech.
2)It means that make new roads for your dreams come true.
3)She express patriotism by saying her audience
that they must stay here to work, most of them are taking caurses to serve in other country to her much more money.
August 13th, 2007 at 7:56 am
Jean Lorraine Carreon
1.for me,i’m impressed and inspired.when i read it.
2.”Do NOT just be strong in your convictions, for strength is not enough. Instead, DEFY the pressure to lead a comfortable, but middling life. Let us lead this country from the despair of mediocrity. Let us not seek to do well, but strive to EXCEL in everything that we do. This, so others will see us as a nation of brains of the highest quality, not just of brawn that could be had for cheap.”because it gives me a knowledge an inspired me.
3.she show by the means of “serving her mother land”she want to share her knowledge in every students.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:47 am
1. When I’m reading her valedictory speech,I’m touched because her speech is very different from the other speeches. She tells what happened to her life behind this succesful event of her life, and she also gives advice to the other students to study well to fulfill our dreams, our tomorrow’s life.
2. “Do NOT just take courage, for courage is not enough. Instead, be BRAVE! It will take bravery to go against popular wisdom, against the clichéd expectations of family and friends. It will take bravery to gamble your future by staying in the country and try to make a prosperous life here. It might help if for a start, we try to see why our Korean friends are flocking to our country. Why, as many of us line up for immigrant visas in various embassies, they get themselves naturalized and settle here. Do they know something we don’t?” Mam this is my answer because when I red it i’m touched, and she gives inspiration to all students.
3. When she was encouraging the filipino youth to work in this country, she tells that even she is the su ma cum laude in UP, she wants to work here in the Philippines because she love her own country and it is her desire to help the Filipino people what ever his job, the important is she lives with her country…
August 18th, 2007 at 6:16 am
1. It is very inspiring. I learn so much from it.
2.Take NOT the road less traveled. Rather, MAKE new roads, BLAZE new trails, FIND new routes to your dreams. Because it gives lesson for me.I should make my own journey.
3.She express it by working here in the Philippines even she has a good oppurtunity abroad. She never leave our country.
August 19th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
1.When i was reading his speech I’m so very impressand amaze.
2.Take NOT the road less traveled. Rather, MAKE new roads, BLAZE new trails, FIND new routes to your dreams.and even the:I put my money where my mouth is. It is because it was very inspiring and it gives a lesson for me.
3. She express it by working here in the Philippine even she can get a nice job in other country. She will not live her country. And she promise will share her knowledge to the other filipino youth.
August 25th, 2007 at 11:38 pm
1. Its good to read because it gives inspiration to the readers, it tell that we make our own road to our dreams.
2. When she say that take the road less traveled, because it says that we need to do our own road to
our dreams, do not copy the others.
3. She expressed it by sharing her knowledge to other she is not selfish.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:29 am
1. It is all about the positive and negative sides thinking of student life of up. UPians used to practice short cuts, the easier ways and if possible the fastest.
2. WHAT STRIKES me most is the emphasis of a pioneering team. These are the leader who can sacrificially leave their comfort zone just to bravely show that they are part of the solution, leaving a good guidance for the next generation and open opportunities a new to those who will not comprise.
3. She show it by experienced. She stay herself in the university teaching and sharing the knowledge that on this last days “wisdom will upgrade” and ” NO KNOWLEDGE NO POWER”.
September 19th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
awan {}{}
September 29th, 2007 at 7:04 am
hndi k alam
October 29th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
1. For me her speech is good ,because she shows her love for the country and for its people..
2. But talk is cheap, they say. And so I put my money where my mouth is. Today, I place myself in the service of the University, if it will have me. I would like to teach, to share knowledge, and perhaps to be an example to new UP students in thinking and striving beyond the limits of the possible. This may only be a small disturbance in the grass. But I hope you’ll come with me, and trample a new path. Because she shows her love for her country and school.
3. She showed it by staying here in our country to help her school mates by teaching them what she learned from her teachers.