How is it like to be a Santo Tomas Scholar?

How is it like to be a Santo Tomas Scholar?

(A Santo Tomas Scholar’s Perspective)

Tomasino_Scholar

To be a Thomasian is an opportunity; to be a scholar is a privilege; to be a Thomasian scholar is an identity; but to be a Santo Tomas Scholar, well, it is another story.

As it is stated in the 2009 Student Handbook:

            Santo Tomas de Aquino Scholarship

                        This scholarship is given to students with excellent academic performance.

            It seems too easy to be a Santo Tomas Scholar by the way it was illustrated through words but it does entail a lot of responsibilities. How is it like to be a Santo Tomas Scholar? – That I need to discover.

           

            A Valedictorian or a Salutatorian from high school gets this scholarship scheme the moment he enrols in the university. I graduated as the Class Salutatorian that’s why I was able to avail of this scholarship. At first, I never knew what to expect being a Santo Tomas Scholar. Would it open doors for me in the university or it would be otherwise?

            On the contents of the Student Handbook, particularly on the subject of UST Scholarship programs, one striking phrase made the distinction of a Santo Tomas Scholar from the other scholarship schemes: “Excellent Academic Performance.” Though “excellent” is quite vague and broad on what it wants to convey, it gives me the idea of almost targeting perfection: where I need to go beyond what is “Good” or in some cases “Very Good” to reach the numerical equivalent of “Excellent” which is 1.0.

            That simple statement puts great pressure on me. I am not really compelled to do so (always making 1.0 as my grade), but there are three things that push me to pursue it. One: we’re financially challenged and my scholarship is a great help. Two: my brothers are both cum laude in UST – that I need to equal or surpass through my scholarship. Three: I want to have an identity and my scholarship gives me that.

 At the very least, I just need to maintain an average grade of 1.75 but knowing 1.75 has only a “Good” equivalent remark, it is not enough. Despite the fact that I am having hard times getting best grades, it is worth it. There is no better illustration of joy than seeing my parents proud of me.  Yes, it’s my choice to be a scholar and it is also my choice now to make life less serious.

They say, “Weird is my taste; nerd is how I am; and introvert is my trait.” But being a scholar is not always a queer experience. I tend to get serious if it’s about studying but this doesn’t mean that social life is an almost disregarded aspect of my discovery years. It’s a rare chance though for me joining cliques and hanging out with friends but if it happens, every moment is worth keeping for. It is really about knowing what to prioritize and how to balance school life and social life.

Balancing for me is not even an issue – studying is studying and unwinding is unwinding. Seldom would you hear me talk and usually I become too formal. It’s not that I am apathetic with the laughter of the class, but it’s a matter of being composed and concentrated. Though composed and concentrated, I still do procrastinate at times– very not your normal Santo Tomas Scholar. I don’t know why but I produce better outputs when I cram.  I do realize how odd my lifestyle is, how introvert I get, and how geeky I become in school. But once I get a taste of freedom from school life, that realization becomes a history.

Considering the pressure my scholarship puts on me, there’s no way I wouldn’t explore the other side of the school world, the student organizations. School is always both a learning ground and a training ground. But there’s always this fear of eventual giving up when the academe calls knowing that it is still my priority. Sometimes, to take courage is to take risk. Not on books that I will learn everything, so I once in a while take the lead and experience how is it to be in the lime light.

It is really a choice to become a scholar but it is a great decision to be a Santo Tomas Scholar. It is never easy to prove that I am excellent. Time and effort must work with me. But being excellent is not always getting 1.0 as my grade or having memorized most of the content of my books. It’s more of doing the best out of every opportunity that comes my way and through it, I make an identity. An identity that is committed on becoming a competent professional that adheres to the ideals of a compassionate Christian.

I am a scholar. Yes, I am privileged. I am a Santo Tomas Scholar. Yes, it is my identity. But most importantly, I am a Thomasian. And I am proud of it.