Page 15 - The Flame

Catharsis

JENNIFER M. ORILLAZA, Editor in Chief
Serendipity at its best

the publication year as well) be- Brought by this, controversies expectations.
gan, the consequences of my ac- spread once in while, always plac- To my favorite class, Jrn4, thank
tion started to haunt me. Fulfilling ing my journalistic judgment to you for lighting up my days through
my responsibilities as a graduating the test. It was not easy for I was the crazy jokes you spill during bor-
student and a campus journalist always torn between fulfilling my ing class hours. Thank you for keep-
(not to mention my role as a daugh- responsibility to inform the Artlets ing me sane and showing me that
ter) was quite stressing, especially community and risking myself to education is best acquired through
when the responsibilities I juggled the publication of sensitive stories. friendship instead of competition.
I must say that my short stint
To my “Basag” people and all
started to fall all at the same time.
A But every time I sulk into stress and here at this publication taught me my other friends, I will never for-
FORMER editor of mine
get our nights of booze and party.
once told me that every little
an important journalistic lesson
pressure, I just try to remember
thing we experience in life is
future: to bite off only what I can
my day-to-day endeavors and for
and I eventually find my stubborn
brought by “a combination of sheer what my former editor told me, I can apply wherever I go in the Thank you for helping me balance
coincidence and the choices that self not giving in to the comforts of chew. Those with radical minds making my days in the University
we make.” I used to share the same quitting. may brand this perception as a unforgettable through our “basag”
sentiments with her, but failed to I guess, exhaustion may at form of cowardice, but I see it as stories.
admit it, probably because of being times get the last remaining faith a smart move of knowing when to To my best buddies, Jhiz and Eli,
too afraid to stand by the choices we have in ourselves. Despite this, fight and when to put one’s guard who have both seen me at my best
that I made. life remains cruel for the faint- down. and worst state, my deepest grati-
Facing this academic year was hearted, so every inch of strength To the junior staff of this pub- tude goes to the both of you for let-
quite hard for me because of too you can muster must be given off to lication, may you ignite the Flame ting me know myself more through
much reluctance to accept the re- win over the challenge and emerge even brighter, maximize every op- the unique friendship we share.
sponsibility given to me. As I was victorious. portunity, and never forget to nur- To Jhiz, who has been my greatest
appointed editor in chief of this Perhaps, Herbert Spencer’s ture healthy relationship with one friend and critic, thank you for help-
publication, I expressed doubts coined term “survival of the fittest” another. Thank you for coping with ing me sheer away from skepticism
over myself if I can really handle the rings true for all of us. The world my insanity. and for helping me improve my per-
task together with the demands of leaves no space for the weakling. To my co-editors, the working sonality in all means possible. To
my studies and other affiliations. Every time you fall as a victim of relationship we have established Eli, who has been the greatest “ate”
The decision to accept it took quite your soft heart, all you have to do may have its flaws, but I would I never had, thank you for bearing
awhile to materialize as I became is to mask the dilemma with indif- still like to express my gratitude for with all of my rants and for standing
scared of the many things that I ference and decide to carry things complying with all of my naggings by me whenever I lose myself.
might sacrifice for its sake. on for everything “will soon pass.” and rantings. Thank you for mak- To my family, Papa, Mama, and
Back when I was still a college Now that our destined time to ing my stint here at the Flame en- Kuya, no words can suffice my grati-
freshman, I instilled in my mind a leave is nearing, I am again faced joyable and fun-filled. My deepest tude for all your love and support.
goal that forced me to exceed my with a janus-faced dilemma—not appreciation goes to Nickky, thank To Papa, thank you for being by my
limits, probably caused by a frustra- knowing how to detach from the you for standing by me whenever side in all of my endeavors and for
tion I experienced in high school. It things I have clung on for the past I am confounded by difficult situa- never failing to teach me what is
was an aim almost close to sheer four years and where to go after I tions. I hope to keep our friendship right and wrong. To Mama, thank
perfection as I allowed my mun- leave the walls of Santo Tomas. alive even after graduation. you for being the proudest mother
dane and naïve side take over my I must admit that the years I To our adviser, Sir Nestor Cu- one can ever have and for filling our
entire identity. spent in this University prepared artero, thank you Sir for giving us home with love and care. To Kuya,
I survived a couple of years for me well for the professional chal- healthy advices in handling the my one-and-only buddy in all sorts
the attainment of that goal, but to lenges ahead. But as I assess my- affairs of the Flame. Everything I of trip, thank you for being ever-
no avail. Indeed, I accomplished self—both in terms of rationality have learned in this publication will supportive and fun-loving. I love all
some but at the expense of some- and maturity in all aspects—I can be etched in my memory to aid me of you more than anything else in
thing more worthwhile. It was just hardly say that I am already pre- in my future endeavors. the world.
recently when I decided to cut off pared to face the ambiguous world To my former editors, Ate Quin- And of course to God, who has
that insanity and try to loosen up that awaits me. ia, Kuya Robin, Ate Iris, and Ate been the witness in all of my strug-
a bit. I then realized that slacking I would like to believe that ma- Rose-An, a great part of who I am gles, thank you for making the im-
off at times can bring a great sense turity comes along with uncertain- now is because of the influences possible possible. You have always
of freedom in an aspiring writer’s ty. It is not like any other skill that I gained from you. Thank you for reigned supreme over my fears and
tired spirit. is honed through constant practice, teaching me journalistic lessons I doubts and everything I have now
Then the dilemma resurfaced but is an art acquired through years never learned inside the classroom. will never be mine if not because
as I was about to enter my senior and years of diverse experiences To those professors who left of you.
year in college. The opportunity for and lessons. a mark in my college days, Ma’am No matter how sacrificial and
great learning was at hand. Being I always tend to compare this Aurora Tuble and Sir Jeremaiah tedious a writer’s job can be, pas-
the hard-headed masochist that Faculty with the various affairs of Opiniano, I will always be thankful sion will always reign supreme over
I was, I decided to grab it without the country for it has always been for meeting great mentors like you. any kind of exhaustion. The tip of
carefully analyzing the situation. confounded by many issues, most Thank you for believing in me even my pen will continue to scribble
When the academic year (and of which are political in nature. at times when I fail to meet your whatever is in store for me ahead. F
FLAME | 15