I couldn’t help but feel “kilig” after reading Anna Cristina Tuazon’s excerpt as a commencement speaker (“Dear graduates of 2024,” Safe Space, 6/6/24).I have hardly moved on from how Tuazon narrated meeting the four students along her way, namely the “achiever,” “self-doubter,” “breadwinner,” and “wanderer.” Interestingly enough, the stories of the “achiever” and “self-doubter” resonated with me deeply.
I appreciate how she prominently defined the two and gave words to ponder: “To all achievers and self-doubters, I want to assure you it is okay to be simply human, not superhuman. Go ahead and make mistakes. You learn and grow when you make them. Knowing how to recover from mistakes is more useful than being perfect. Only through them can you learn how to take accountability for your actions, an essential ingredient to maturity and wisdom.”
I will be forever grateful for Tuazon’s words, especially this part: “Commencement speakers give what is hoped to be memorable life advice for those about to venture into the real world.”
Jhon Steven C. Espenido,
Surigao City