“Lumaki akong achiever, so feel ko all my life bawal matakot, bawal mapagod, bawal magkamali.”
The sem was coming to a close for UPD. Nicole was staring into the bilao of pansit she was holding, her mind deep in thought that she was helping organize a sem ender for ENC UPD in spite of the many unfinished requirements left. She knew she had a shot for summa cum laude, but the thought of it being realized seemed farther by the moment.
“Paano kung ipa-surrender ‘to ni God?”
It was a moment of uncertainty yet it was also a moment of decision. But, she knew the answer already.
It goes all the way back.
Community was not much of a priority when she first transferred from UPLB to UPD, so much so that only after a full year of settling did Nicole begin to connect once more. She would then meet Camille, who would journey with her to establish Nicole as a believer up until Nicole began to lead her own small group. She would come to know more people and gain key and life-giving relationships in that span.
God showed Nicole that the community He gave to her was one that would believe in her not just in academics or times of success but more so at moments of weakness, brokenness, and being lost. These were the relationships that showed to her what “extra mile” meant especially in serving one another. These were the people that spurred her on in faith to see God’s purposes beyond academics, but also persevered with her everyday to continually be excellent. That’s why God wanted her to fight for helping out in the ENC UPD sem ender because it was the kind of activity that builds community— the kind of community that she herself appreciates so much.
In her surrender of merely chasing such a prestigious distinction, she gained so much more.
“Because of our community, nandoon yung realization na may laude o wala, God’s plans and purpose for my life still stands. I am already loved. Hindi kailangang pagtrabahuhan.”
The pandemic robbed her of celebrating the end of her academic journey with the people who helped her along the way. It disappointed and demotivated her, but again, the community around her helped her see that while face-to-face graduation is irreplaceable, achieving summa cum laude is still worth celebrating.
Nowadays, Nicole is navigating the post-graduation life— yet another time of transition and uncertainty. Because of her achievement, she was offered many opportunities yet turned them down. Why? God told her to wait on Him.
And while she was obeying God, she can’t help but wonder if she wasted these many opportunities. Thankfully, the community that journeyed with her in campus continued to journey with her until now. Because of these people, she was able to process her decisions while waiting and to explore wisely and practically all the possible next steps. Lately, she’s made it a point to always ask God not only for wisdom and direction, but also for Him to send people her way.
“Everyday, I am grateful to these people who walk in faith and obedience, so that I, too, can pursue a life that is fully surrendered to God. Minsan, nakakapressure sabihin ang tagline na ‘change the campus, change the world.’ But we sometimes forget that we are not doing it alone. We do it with God. We do it as a community.”
Nicole is just one of the many stories of the students we are reaching out to in the campuses. Many of them have hopes and dreams and capabilities that really have the potential to impact the nation and the world. Yet, no story of success is perfect nor is achieved purely alone. When the voices of doubt, fear, and impossibility are at their loudest, who is there to speak life, peace, and faith? God has certainly made it apparent in Nicole’s life. Today, He is calling us, through this story, to do so also for a generation that hears so much, but needs the calming, securing, and directing voice of the Shepherd.
