CHANGE COULD be such a two-faced experience. On one hand, you are so excited to start a new chapter in your life, and on the other, you are scared of the uncertainty that change brings. That is what I felt when transferring into the Ateneo de Manila University.
Coming into my first semester in the Ateneo, I looked forward to a plethora of things, yet one that stood out was being able to study in my dream school. However, my enthusiasm immediately faced a hard-hitting reality that I frankly had anticipated but was still not ready for: Being a transfer student in the Ateneo entailed that I had to go back to freshman year.
Coupled with a harsh restart, irregular students like myself were put into transferee blocks composed of different people from a variety of courses. Contrary to regularly assigned blocks, which created easier avenues for freshmen to bond and create friendships with their peers, our first few weeks as a transferee block posed a difficult situation. As we had to take different classes, we never really got to speak to one another. Seemingly, it was every person for themselves.
Alongside the struggle of acclimating myself to the school, it was even harder for me to find my own footing in such an extroverted course like Communication. Since most of my coursemates came from the recently graduated class in high school, I and a few other people were considered the “newcomers” in the batch. Given this initial unfamiliarity with my peers, I was usually the last one getting picked in groupings. Most of the time, I would be the one to approach people and ask them if I could be a part of their bunch.
As a person who presents himself as always positive and happy-go-lucky, this sudden shift to isolation was really hard at first. I could recount numerous nights during my sophomore year in college just breaking down, crying, and questioning if I belonged in a school like the Ateneo.
However, if being in Katipunan had taught me one thing, it is that time is the most precious gift that we could ever receive in life. The years have passed by, and I am about to graduate in a few weeks. Now that I am older and have learned to appreciate the mundane, these past few months have made me reminisce about my time in the Ateneo. Truly, one only has a finite amount of time as a college student.
With that in mind, I constantly reminded myself that I once dreamed of being in the position I was and still am in. I recalled the small but meaningful moments I looked forward to when I filled up those transfer application papers: walking along Red Brick Road, eating in Gonzaga, and even seeing the Church of Gesù every day.
Another special aspect of the Ateneo that made me feel like I belonged to the community is its vibrant organizational culture. Through joining organizations such as RC LIFE Loyola and The GUIDON, and even becoming a student manager for the Ateneo Men’s Football Team (AMFT), I was able to come out of my shell little by little and eventually make the most out of my stay on the hill.
As I ascend to another phase of my life, I continue carrying with me my narrative as a transferee, which I hope can resonate with those who will walk these halls after me: It is okay to be uncertain and alone.
It is in this stillness that you will really get to know yourself, allowing your mind to wander into an endless world of possibilities—that world is the Ateneo.
Juris is a Communication senior expecting to graduate in 2024. He is also taking a Minor in Public Management. Choosing to pursue the Journalism Track, he strongly advocates for equal coverage of all sporting disciplines, most importantly the championing of women’s sports in the country.
Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed by the opinion writer do not necessarily state or reflect those of the publication.
