Sabi nila, wala ka raw mararating.
Sabi din nila, hanggang “skills” na lang ang kaya mong matutunan at hindi ka nababagay sa section ko, kasi iba ka.
Tama sila sa kaibahan mo. Pero sa ibang pamamaraan ko nakita ito.
Iba ka talaga sa mga batang lumaki sa kaparehas na sitwasyon dahil kaya mong patunayan na kahit 16 ka na, wala kang takot sa kaalaman. Kahit na may mga hadlang na dumaan sa’yo, mapa-problema sa pamilya, o tungkol sa kondisyon mo, naniniwala ka pa rin na kaya mong abutin ang mga bagay na gusto mo at alam ko naman na gagawin mo ang lahat para maabot yun.
Ang pinakanakakatuwa sa lahat, ay yung marinig at makita na handa kang patunayan na mali ang lipunan sa pagtingin nila sa’yo.
Salamat dahil araw-araw ay pinapakita mo at pinapatunayan mo na lahat ay makakaya. Sana, ‘wag kang magsawang maniwala, dahil sa mga katulad mo din ako kumukuha ng lakas. Sabay tayong kumapit, walang mangyayari kung isa ay bibitaw sa mga pangarap.
‘Wag kang mag-aalala, sasamahan kita sa laban na ‘yon. Dahil ang laban mo, ay laban din ng 3-Campor, at laban ko rin.
Alvin, konting sulat, aral, basa na lang ay magkaka-M.D. na din sa dulo ng iyong pangalan. Walang madami sa taong gusto, walang sayang sa taong natututo. Ikaw ang nagpakita niyan sa akin at sana, ipagpatuloy mo lang hanggang sa makuha mo na ang stethoscope, ang scrubs suit at ang puting jacket.
Hanggang sa susunod ulit, Salamat at Mabuhay ka!
Ang sulat na ito ay binigay ni Teacher Sofia kay Alvin, isang teenager na may diagnosed learning disability at slightly visually impaired. Siya ang nakakuha ng pinakamataas na marka sa Makabayan, Filipino at EP.
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They said you won’t get anywhere.
They also said that all you can learn are “skills” and that you don’t belong in my section because you are different.
They were right about you not being like the others, but I realized that in a different manner.
You truly are different from the other kids who grew up in the same circumstances as you did because even though you are already 16 years old, you aren’t afraid of learning. Even though you have many obstacles thrown your way, whether they be about your family or your condition, you still believe you can achieve what you want for yourself and that you will do everything in your power to get there.
What makes me happiest is to see and hear you want to prove society wrong with regard to how they perceive you.
Thank you for showing me and proving to me every day that anything is possible. I hope you never grow tired of believing because I draw my strength from those like you. Let’s hold on to our goals together, because nothing will happen if even one of us lets go of our dreams.
Don’t worry. I’m in this battle with you because your battle is that of 3-Campor’s. It is my battle to fight, as well.
Alvin, you can have the letters M.D. at the end of your name just by studying, reading, and writing bit by bit. Nothing is too much for he who really wants it. You just proved that to me. I just hope you will keep going for it until you get your stethoscope, your scrub suit, and that white jacket.
Until next time, thank you, and long live your dreams!
Teacher Sofia wrote this letter for Alvin, one of her teenage students who is slightly visually impaired and was diagnosed with a learning disability. Alvin scored the highest in his class’s recent exam in Civics, Filipino, and Values.
Maria Sofia Amparo Santiago, 20, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Asian Studies from the University of Santo Tomas in 2013. She is one of eight Fellows teaching in Commonwealth Elementary School.