FACULTY OF Arts and Letters (AB) Dean Prof. Melanie Turingan reminded Artlets graduates that it is not the adversities that would dictate the courses of their lives, but how they respond to them.
In her speech during this year’s AB solemn investiture, Turingan described the members of class 2025 as “resilient,” noting that the faced various hurdles like not experiencing an onsite welcome walk in 2021 and having their Baccalaureate Mass rescheduled because of bad weather.
“Always remember how you react to life’s adversity [because this], not adversity itself, will determine how your life story will unfold,” Turingan said on Monday, June 9.
“From entering and exiting the arch of the centuries, there were hurdles in the way. But still, you made it. In those four years, how would we describe class of 2025? For yours truly, the answer is resilient.”
Turingan quoted American author Andy Andrews who had described adversity as a “preparation for greatness” and who had remarked that “life is unpredictable.”
“For most of us, it’s a combination of beautiful highs and challenging lows, with some quite comfortable stages in between,” she added.
The class of 2025 had to conduct their Thomasian welcome walk online through a Minecraft server because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The class is also among the students who had to adjust to a hybrid setup after a year of online classes.
This year, the graduates’ last few remaining days in the University were marked by yet another setback, when the administration had to reschedule their Baccalaureate Mass from May 30 to May 31 after heavy rains soaked both the students and the open field. This forced seniors to continue the ceremonies inside the Quadricentennial Pavilion, a shift from the tradition of holding the event in the UST Open Field.
The AB dean described the change as an “unforgettable” moment, adding that college life is full of transitions.
“College life is exciting, nerve-wracking, intellectually and socially demanding, with matching additional more feelings on the side. As we walk down through memory lane, your batch witnessed the transition from online to on-site classes,” Turingan said.
“Keep with you the lessons and experience that you learned. Cherish all the memories, good or bad, sad or happy. Your college journey surely taught you life-changing lessons that you will forever keep,” she added.
According to Turingan, the University is not only a physical space for the students, but a place for transformation that includes developing competencies and gaining opportunities.
“Whatever life’s challenges you may face, it is better to do good than to feel good. This sum up how the faculty of arts and letters have molded you. To be a man of character, a person with integrity, perseverance, just, and most specially, filled with humility and gratitude,” the dean said.
A total of 707 Artlets graduated during the AB Solemn Investiture held at the Quadricentennial Pavilion, with 65% or 457 graduating with Latin honors.
The University will send off more than 7,000 graduates this year. F
