by Jessa Lastimosa, SAS Class 2010
St. Augustine School (SAS) has been my home for the past several years. From Elementary through to High School all I have known is SAS. The quaint school buildings, the Church, the lovely convent with its hallowed halls, the campus, the other students - my friends, my teachers. And now I am looking at my last year at SAS. Will I be able to say goodbye?

It is so hard to imagine that only three years ago I was a young freshman just starting out. Today marks my fourth and final year here. I don't know how I will survive life when I get done with high school. My mind and my heart can't seem to untangle the web of dreams that I have managed to spin and weave during my high school days.

Here I am with my fellow SAS Ai scholars, happy and honored to receive this certificate of achievement and a scholarship award from some of the most generous people I haven't even met. I am grateful to be sure to be the recipient of such an honor and privilege. This gift and assistance makes leaving Saint Augustine's School after this year even harder. How can I ever repay these wonderful people for their kindness?

My mother had tears in her eyes when she saw my certificate. "Why Jessa, you have never been given anything like that before?" she quipped half-jokingly. I have always brought home good report cards. But a certificate from an organization in the good old USA? My mother works way too hard these days. She is a single parent now that my dear father had passed away, gone ahead of us to the heavenly realm. I can just imagine how proud he would have been of my award, had he been here to see it. He would have hugged my mother for sure and we would have had a good, long, joyous laugh.

My other two friends - who also won scholarships in their senior year are Sharen Mae Munar (right) and Jonas Garcia (left). At the rehearsal reception they were very quiet. Specially Jonas, he still can't believe his good fortune. I knew Sharen Mae was ecstatic. She kept smiling and looking at her lapel pin that read, "Education is the Key to Success". How true. In reflection of the past three years of high school, what did we learn? Well, we have learned to be more responsible and to be grateful.

Jonas Garcia

We have certainly learned to hunger for learning with the kind of deep appreciation that what we have learned will come in handy as we come face to face with the future. Even now, in the hustle and bustle of the Town Fiesta, in the middle of all the celebrations and gaiety, I can't help but think of the future. What will it be like? What will life bring? I have a couple of targets, a couple of possibilities. I know that a college education financed by my mother is out of the question. Perhaps I will again get lucky and be sponsored by another kind benefactor. I am ready whenever I hear the clarion call. Off to the school of Nursing I will go or off to culinary school to become a chef. If nothing shows up in the immediate horizon, I will help my mother and perhaps as I wait for another opportunity something will develop. One thing for sure, I must keep my faith in the Lord. He will take care of me and my needs. When He calls, I will be ready!

Sharen Mae Munar