TRUE CHANGE

TRUE CHANGE:

Is it the President’s duty- or our responsibility?
By: Justin Mae Lico Aguilar

I, a solitary civilian of this country, take pride and weep with honor to become one of our President’s strength. For me, a heart that does not have any fantasy, to be thrown in his position is a simple yet explicable thing on why God helped President Aquino win. A dream he made to live with. Filled with hope and not aspiration: not for power, fame or wealth.

Ambitious but with a true goal—he does not choose this track for him but for us. I agree with Michael Jordan, who believes that obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

All we have to do is be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle. Mr. Aquino is just like us, a man who stepped in his own feet to vote. Our fellow Filipinos, who stepped out their comfort zones, lived in harshness and give out all they can. Just to search for tranquility and change.

I know you do have in your minds, the sense of: “Change starts from our selves!” but that change is irrelevantly bumped by laziness-- “Easy to say but hard to do”. Just come to think of it, you come to school with what your parent’s work hard for. They push themselves to the limit just to find way to give you what you need and want. But do they get what we should repay in return?

Foolishness!--Starts with words, down to actions. Teens usually say “Kung yun ang ikasasaya niya, sige! Masaya na din ako” but happiness is not an option to change; Neither to success or even just to find courage. I know- I am neither far from a good daughter nor to a good friend or student. But at least I tried.

Me, I know I come to school to learn. But as I stepped in the class room, back to our first day as juniors, I took a deep breath and think twice before thinking I can do this. I said to myself: “this is it! No return, no exchange”. As days pass by, I still have a frail heart- Afraid to speak up and scared to be judged by the same old people, who loves to say what they want to say.

Peace. I want peace. I thought, by just sitting and looking around I can change. Until this very moment came, I now speak up words my heart dictates. Perhaps others find it nonsense, emotional or sarcastic. But it is true. But why bother listening?

A commercial marked in my mind. It says “sometimes we have to listen even if we don’t talk, even if you disagree. Because sometimes, we fix things by simply listening.” Those who think, change is President Benigno Aquino III duty, try looking deep in you. Do you know how to change, to follow and to listen?

If in your mind, you say “yes! Of course” then did you change your hobbit, taking it easy at home, watching TV or surfing the net, then come to school early, just to copy others preparation. I admit I do that.

How about simply asking a clue from your seatmate leading you to the correct answer for a certain question in an activity? Sure, I also did.

Just to get a high score, do you remember the times when you pursue to tell your teacher to consider your answer? I admit I did that.

I am not ashamed to tell you that. What’s the sense of hiding it? I don’t get the point when some denies doing it. Last week, I was laughing inside of me, when my teacher told us certain definitions of corruption. That’s the time when I realized that aiming for high grades leads me to corruption.

I, myself speak truth, that I get mad with those politicians who feeds his family by money he stole from his very own community. If change is a sickness, corruption is the virus. Nonetheless, scientists and doctors –which is us- is still in search for a cure.

Me, without noticing, I am guilty with that crime. And like those criminals I did it for my family, for my future and for myself. Change, I heard that several times. But I never really get it.

Until one day, I learned from this whole cycle (Changed, for short). You’ll find happiness through change. Without any mean of lifting my feet off the ground, I straightened my ways and start to change.

Those things that come into my mind, which I do as my mind says, now pass through a process of deep and critical thinking before I do it. If before, I get tired preparing and doing homework, now I can’t sit and relax without finishing them all. Before, I hate placing responsibilities in my shoulder, today I hold them in my hands. Those are simple things that are my steps to change.

Bottom line: don’t be like Homer Simpson who says: "If you really want something in this life, you have to work for it... Now quiet, they're about to announce the lottery numbers!" if before I don’t spend for things that does not benefit me, now even though it’s hard, I observed it all the time. Kindness, a positive attitude: but if too much, sometimes cause a different outcome. If you help someone to change, be sure that what you’re doing really helps.

My duties are my responsibilities. True change never comes to those who just say they can but it dwells to those who do what they can.

It is not only Pres. Aquino’s duty that counterparts change but it’s also us and our responsibility that will soon lead us there. Once again, listen, follow and stop what isn’t right. Your feet will count to our steps to the top of true change.

Wise but simple-- I want to be someone known for those characteristics. Be one and learn to work with us. True change- presidents duty and our responsibility!