(Addressed delivered by Ms. Ma. Angelita S. Espinoza during the Harvent Schools Achievers’ Day, 31 March 2012, Sison Auditorium, Lingayen, Pangasinan)

Our beloved directress Mrs. Margarita V. Hamada, teachers and staff of Harvent School, dear parents, independent readers, achievers of 2012, visitors, ladies and gentlemen.

When Mrs. Hamada asked me to be your guest speaker on this remarkable occasion in your lives, your Achievers day, I undoubtedly said “yes”. Yes, I was nervous and overwhelmed but I told myself how proud and privileged I am to come back here and speak on how Harvent School has molded me into who and what I am today. It is also my honor to celebrate with you, my dear graduates, Achiever’s Day which marks the culmination of your year of joyful learning. This day also marks your entry into the next chapter of your life.

Everything in our life is a risk and would you all agree in this saying? I was a transferee here in Harvent and after the school’s evaluation, I was placed in the class of Grade 3 and my history here begins. You may wonder why we, my siblings and I transferred. It is because my parents did not see any progress in us. Hearing about Harvent School’s distinctive one-on-one method of teaching and its non-graded system of instruction, our parents handed us over to Harvent School, declaring “Here are our children and we entrust their learning in your hands”. You know what- this was a risk they won.

From that day onwards, every day we would come home with a smile on our faces because we mastered some new skills from our new school. Without the burden of home work, we enjoyed family time at home. We learned while we experienced freedom, we learned at our own pace, we learned not only for the sake of high grades and the pressure of being number one, we learned for the joy of learning and mastering those powerful skills. This is the Harvent way, teaching us the most important skills without robbing us of our childhood.

I also say to you my dear parents, that handing your child to Harvent School is the best decision you’ve made for them. Be proud of your decision as my parents are. Why, who wouldn’t be proud? All of your sacrifices, hardships and endeavors has paid off. Look at your child compose journal entries- the young authors of the Magic Pencil! Look at them dance and memorize the steps to present to you on every Achievers’ Day. Listen to them speak in English with clear pronunciation and diction. Who would not be proud? This is Harvent’s gift to us, its legacy that distinguishes us from other people. I will always be proud of this. Thank you Harvent School. Therefore it is just duly right to salute the founder and directress of this institution, Mrs. Margarita V. Hamada, for materializing her dream and letting us experience basic education the Harvent way.

Who and what I am now is also because of the competent and well-chosen teachers of Mrs. Hamada. They are exemplary and innovative, driven by the passion to make the most in us, for us to be the achievers that we are. To my former teachers, Ms. Marilyn, Ms. Marianne, Ms. Chat, Ms. Tania, Sir Raymond, and to all the teachers and staff, especially our security guard, Ate Shirley, I salute you and thank you for everything, may it be academic or non-academic.

Not only did I learn here about books and solving math problems. Harvent also inculcated in me life values that are needed in my everyday life. Here I learned to be confident in what I do and how I carry myself. I learned to be humble through my achievements and most importantly, I learned to dream. Dream no small dream my dear graduates. In the end, it’s not the size of your paycheck in the future or your status in life that matters – it’s the size of your dream – and the small steps you take everyday to make your dream real. This day is a marker which confirms that you are a step closer to what your dream is. Your journey is far from over, as mine still is. I learned that you may not be the wealthiest, the prettiest, the smartest but you can be the dreamer who does not only dream but wakes up and does everything with perseverance, determination, and faith in Him.

I congratulate you achievers, you are here not only because you are the best in reading or in writing. You are also here because you are ready from your years of endeavor here in Harvent. You are the pride of your parents and the school because you have done all your work alone and at your own pace. You have acquired the needed skills and are now equipped with the weapon of knowledge handed to you by our school. And now Harvent is letting you go, letting you spread your wings some more.

Before I step down the stage, I want to share a story….

A partially deaf boy trudged into his home one day after school. In his hand, he carried a note. It was a note from school officials, suggesting that his parents remove him from school. According to those wise officials, this boy was too stupid to learn.

Upon reading the note, the boy’s mother vowed, “My son Tom isn’t too stupid to learn. I’ll teach him myself.” And that is exactly what she did.

Many years later when Tom died, many Americans paid tribute to him by turning off their lights for one full minute. This was a fitting tribute, for Tom Edison invented the light bulb – along with motion pictures and the phonograph. In all, he was credited with more than a thousand patents.

The journey you started does not stop here; continue to strive and dream. Knowledge is everywhere and with the skills you possess, your dream will come true. This promise I leave to you. Congratulations to all and mabuhay.

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