QUIT? SAREH, CANT RELATE. I am having mixed feelings at the present trend amongst the plebes. In a span of barely two weeks, three of them resigned from the Academy. Their reason: Lack of interest. Investigating further, all of them suffered from homesickness. I cannot for the life of me relate why this would be so at a time when they have already been through so much already. The grueling one month probationary period, overcoming the doubts and fears that accompanies every end of liberty period when the oft knee-jerking question assails - magaabord pa ba ako?- in the critical first weeks of being fourthclassmen, the shift to the regimental system in living quarters, the adjustment at a semi military environment. I mean these and more passed already. And this just after the acquaintance party, just before the semester ends, just when they have already held on for the quarter of time it would take for them to be at the bottom. Truly, Im feeling bewilderment with a healthy dash of disconnect, wondering why this would be so. Sadness too. And a macabre sense that my world has turned pre-apocalyptic, events such as this with a genre all of its own (of which I will never find a name. EVER) unfolding as harbinger of dark times. Well OK the last part is exaggerating it a bit but theres one I have to say: back then our colleagues never resigned from lack of interest, always its cant tackle the training. Im saying that lightly and thats my last say on a dialogue that will run on nung-panahon-namin vein (of which I dont want to delve further, least you think Im old already which I vehemently deny. Im still young at heart hihihi). In introspection, I believe the reasons run deep. At this age when there are too many seemingly endless-bordering-on-the-mind-numbing choices for the young generation (net, movies, mall, places, where to eat, what to wear, what gadget to have etc etc), too many protective rights and all that for a childs school days since nursery, proliferation of stage-mothers (kontodo towellete and vicks dala para kay hijo), computer shop hangouts, and more, they fail to grasp important aspects in life. Some of these are: - There are things you need to fight for and endure before things get better. - That there is a need to be deprived so that you will gain more (and appreciate what you get in return too, like appreciate in deepest sense) - That sacrifices are essential for personal growth. To sum up: it seems theyre having it easy out there. And the memory of that big fat eazzzzy is the sirens call that beckons to them: come hither now poklat, outside the walls of that hard place, out here where DOTA is aplenty and junkfoods and skinny jeans abound. Resign na. I cant venture a guess on their mental processes but the call must be pretty melodious and alluring and so full of promises of the good, lackadaisical life. Halika na at ditoy hayahay.. it must be calling out... Could this be bad? Allow me to deviate a bit and tell a story of one of the sorriest countries in the world just a few decades ago. It was a poor agrarian country with little in the way of exploitable resources. But look at South Korea and the immense economic standing they have in the world stage now. Did it come easy? Of course not. Their only main resource is a citizenry hell bent on forging and shaping and making better a country by dint of hardwork. In one article I read it was written: South Koreas rags-to-riches story was rapid and, inevitably, wrenching, achieved through a fierce discipline that included routine thrashing and bullying of schoolchildren. Yup. Thats how they did it. By forcing their children to be obedient. To follow their elders in their work and moral ethics. That although they may have time for leisure, they must first earn it. And earn it hard, not easy. The gush of Miracle in Cell #7 melodrama captured and continues to capture the hearts of many, but can even a handful relate to the part where daughter bends knee and prostrated herself in front of her father? Thats how respectful they are of the ways of the past. So much so that it endures. It is like a fuel that continues to burn, unflickering. Father worked hard and endured heat in the fields, now I must endure the heat too, this time at the factories- so goes a mind of a young Korean worker ca. 1975. Father worked hard and endured the heat of the factory, now I must also endure the heat of the welding flames of the shipyard- so goes the mind of a young Korean worker ca. 1995. Father worked hard and endured the heat of the shipyard, now I must also endure the heat of the business it takes to sell my Samsung S50 cellphones- so goes the mind of a young Korean worker ca. 2025 You see? That nugget, it remained there. Planted still and continues to thrive even in the midst of progress. Where the path of the elders and predecessors held promise still, however much the lay of the landscape changed with the times. I may be rambling now and my writing is a bit off-course I know (I got glutened yesterday and suffering a bit of a fog in the mind department), but heres the deal: maybe, just maybe, it will do good if we dont pamper our children too much so that someday when they are faced with something that will determine whether they have mettle or not, they will discover that indeed they do. (Wow, superman pala ako- sabay ARMS ON THRUST... MOVE) AS such they will not quit, all because they knew from their Pa or Ma that sometimes things must be hard before it gets easy. Perhaps I could close by saying: Dont make them so soft that theyd readily ring the bell. Dont let them just take the easy way out when they have so much to hold on for still.. And because they didnt quit, a tactical officer of the slightly old school mold or someone of same vocation in whatever place similar with the Academy someday wont go about scratching his head while his mind exclaims: ANYARE? LOL. Huu huummm.. well, well. Time to sleep early, just needed to clear the cobwebs by thumping the keyboard. Hope a few got entertained ;) nyt nyt P, R, A, K, C, B, B and T. P.S. K-Poppers sana may napulot kayong lesson neh? hihihi!
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 13:02:41 +0000