Educator tells her students “Be winners, not survivors”
LINGAYEN–Pupils should aspire to become “winners” and not mere “survivors” even in the game of life.
This was exhorted by Margarita V. Hamada, founder and directress of Harvent School based in Lingayen and Dagupan during the school’s Achievement Day last April 5.
She said the secret of “winners” is they do not work adding that they just “play, and they play hard”.
“Survivors”, on the other hand, are not as happy and are constantly “trying hard”.
She described the “survivors” as those who dread getting up in the morning to do what they consider as a “toiling sacrifice”, but they can’t quit. “Work is their refuge because they have nothing better to do,” she said.
In contrast, Hamada said the “winners” will look for what they love to do, and nothing else. “And they do this by studying themselves very well,” she pointed out.
A thorough self-examination can indicate where the “winners” excel—whether it’s cooking, gardening, rapping, mimicking, or star-gazing – and once they find their passion, she said they seldom fail because perfection results from their constant absorption in it.
“All of us have certain talents, but there are many who do not discover them and they go through life working, instead of playing and having fun, because schools and their elders train them to do as they are told, not to think and explore their own uniqueness,” she said.
She cited the likes of Beatles member John Lennon, who followed his passion for playing the guitar, and Bill Gates, who discovered his passion for computers while he was pursuing a college degree not related to computers.
Citing the good examples set by Lennon and Gates, Hamada also urged parents not to force their children to prepare for a particular career if they know their children have a passion for something else.
She concluded with two important tips for the students:
(1) Don’t work just for money. Material things can’t make you happy if you’re an unhappy, passionless person, who is feeling so empty,
(2) Don’t allow anyone to dictate your dreams for you. Your happiness is non-negotiable. You are here in the universe to win and not just to survive. The whole universe will rejoice with you as you have fun playing hard, mastering your gifts, and gifting the world with your expertise.—LM
