Friday, October 14, 2011

Consciousness Examen - Xavier Dorm

I would like to clarify that I did not create this because I am against the concerned people rather I would like to be, somewhat, an eye opener to my dorm mates.

Allow me to share and integrate some of my views as a graduating student and a resident of Xavier Honors' Dormitory for almost four years now with tonight's examen that is relative to my consciousness. To start with, let me share to you what was written in Manila Bulletin years ago which is entitled “ADNU’s best kept secret”. “Still and all, one of the best-kept secrets of the Ateneo de Naga University is the presence on this campus of an Honors Dorm that is home to 58 remarkable male and female student achievers. These dormers, housed mostly in the on-campus Xavier Dorm, follow a stringent schedule of daily activities. These hone them physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually to be model students who create a culture of excellence among the student population. These dormers are scholars who possess great potential yet might otherwise have been bereft of a college education due to grave financial constraints. But through the Honors Dorm Program, they have been taken in, given free board and lodging, and are being mentored closely so as to maintain high standards of performance both academically and in other formative elements.

Almost all of them know that I have experienced three supervisions in the dorm; Kuya Zero, Kuya Bibit and currently, Kuya Joel and majority also of the ladies have experienced two administrations, that of Ma’am Lil and ate Tin.

Kuya Zero is the ideal, strict and disciplined prefect and most of the times a Father. Kuya Bibit is a very loose and always out-of-reach prefect, a barkada should I say. Kuya Joel is a very busy, unpredictable prefect. Sometimes strict, but most of the times not... a brother should I say... but whether an older one or a younger one, that I do not know. Ma’am Lil is a female version of Kuya Zero but times 100% with being strict and KJ, a lady-guard in my imagination. Ate Tin, as I know her and based from hearsay, is a no pressure prefect and somewhat opposite to Ma’am Lil, more of being a counselor I must say.

With these descriptions and some observations in the dormitory, lucky are the ones who experienced and appreciated the administrations of Kuya Zero and Ma’am Lil. Yes, sometimes or most of the times, they're KJ or strict but now, have you realized the difference of the dormitories from before? Yes, I could say that it’s quite cleaner now but looking on a larger picture, Xavier Honors Dormitory for Men and Ladies before is incomparable. Kuya Zero and Ma’am Lil are just perfect epitomes of being a prefect. Through them, discipline was imparted to each and every resident of the dormitory. Through them, good feedbacks could be given to the dormers, to the dormitories. Through them, dormers were molded to what they should be. On the other hand, the three other prefects, looking on the positive side, test us to become and act as matured individuals in our respective dormitories that even without their presence, Xavier Honors Dormitory is Xavier Honors Dormitory. That even without their strict implementation of the rules, Xavier dormers can still be called and proudly be called University dormers.
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Since then, friendship has always been the most discussed issue in the dormitory. You know what guys, there’s a great difference with the set of dormers before and now. Before, it’s okay to joke to any of your fellow dormers as long as you know your limitations. You know when to stop. You know when someone is already hurt. But now, it seems that almost everyone is insensitive. Most of the dormers now are too busy chatting about other’s lives. Why not focus first on your studies? Make sure that you’re still qualified to stay for the next semester.

If one friendship has come to an end, then respect it. The words of regrets do not help. Do you know how irritating to see your quote-unquote friends maliciously stare at you? And the most disgusting of all, the nonsense assumptions that make the situation worse. Isn’t it a form of backbiting? If you’re really a friend, you would respect the decisions made, unless you’re just one of those gossipmongers.

Conflict about friendship, I believe, is inevitable with this environment, with this kind of people. Many personalities and behaviors mixed in one dormitory.
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Rules are made for the dormitories to be organized, to replace thought. If we know the rules, then we always know what to do even early in the morning, during study period or very late at night. I always remember when I was in my first year and Kuya Joel Laguerta was still the beadle. I and Mark Mandia were making a conversation as we go to church for the morning mass. After the mass, he warned us and reiterated that general silence should still be observed until the mass starts. That’s how strict the dorm was.

Ate Tin, as she always says, rules are just guide. But if we always treat it that way, then I believe sooner or later, the residents of the Xavier Honors Dormitories will never be the cream of the crop again. Why is that so? A very good example is our very own Xavier Honors Dorm – Men. Before, many of us could make it to President’s List or Dean’s List. Many dormers were being awarded during the ceremonies. Now, have you observed that for the past two years, only few of us were able to make it to the list, even Dean’s List?

As I see it, dormers who excel every semester become fewer and fewer because of not being strict with the rules or not observing the rules. Well, we all know that all of us should qualify at least for Dean’s List every semester for us to continue our scholarship in the dormitory. With Kuya Zero, all those who were in probationary status were given slip (I don’t know if it’s pink or blue because I did not receive one) to remind them that they must exert more effort in the next semester, otherwise, he will be thrown out of the dormitory. I believe, Ma’am Lil has the same implementation, or more strict rather. With the past two years, many of us have been relaxed because we know that Kuya Bibit cannot do it – to throw us out of the dormitory. If only Kuya Bibit became strict, many of the current dormers should have not been residing in the dorm right now. Now, I just do not know. Many considerations were given. Many of us have been spoiled. Many inconsistencies happened. Now that we only have the Final exams for this semester, evaluate ourselves, can we make it to the list? Do we still deserve to be called Xavier dormers? Do we still deserve to live and enjoy the privileges of being University dormers? Can we still justify that we, the so-called University dormers, are still the cream of the crop of this institution?

Lastly, think of this, how would you expect someone to respect you if you yourself do not know how to act properly in accordance with the rules and regulations of the dormitory, and the university?