ALUMNI

Shine Brightly Till The Journey's End
Frederick Tiu, School Treasurer

Posted Monday, 17-Jan-2005 9:55 AM

     Mr. Fred Tiu, Xavier School Treasurer shares his personal thoughts and experiences on the impact of being a Xavier awardee and how teachers and staff are instrumental in forming students to become men for others. He delivered this as a speech to faculty and staff during the launching of the Xavier Award 2004-2005 in the Grade School Department. He was awarded this prestigious citation in 1979.

      Good afternoon to everyone.

      Allow me to begin by saying that I am deeply honored to be invited to your gathering this afternoon. It is always a privilege for me to be asked to share some of my thoughts with you.

      Well, I never really thought that winning the Xavier Award so many years ago would still serve me well twenty-five years after high school graduation. Initially, I thought that the award would simply be helpful for me to get into a good college. Later on, I thought that, maybe, it would help me get a good first job. But that was it. After that, I figured that it would be something forgotten. Just like successful athletes of yesteryears, many of them are unknown today for how good they were back then - a faded memory is all they are.

      But I guess if you reflect about it, there is one flaw in this analogy. Whereas the successful athlete of yesteryears loses athletic prowess as he/she progresses in age, the Xavier Awardee of years past is expected to let his light shine even brighter as he gets older. Now, this is not an easy thing to do. For the Xavier Awardee, this poses a gigantic task, especially as he goes through life and its challenges.

      If every Xaverian is expected to adhere to the Xavier motto, “Let your light shine,” what more the Xavier Awardee. As Jesus told us in the Parable of the Faithful Servant, “Much more is required from the person to whom much more is given.” (Luke 12:48).

      I remember when I was a full-time student at the Asian Institute of Management taking up my MBA in 1986. I was a live-in student. Not unlike many of the Grade Seven Xavier China Experience (XCE) participants, it was the first time I lived away from home for an extended period of time. Moreover, I had just broken off with my girlfriend of three years because she wanted to get married and I wanted to take up graduate studies. Then, of course, there was always so much to read and so much to do. The reports and the casework were, to say the least, unbelievable!

      Despite my ambition of getting an MBA, for the first time in my life I felt alone and I felt lost. I did not know whether I still wanted to continue or just go back to work. I remember passing by the chapel every single morning and afternoon to ask God for His guidance. One day, on my birthday, he answered my prayer. It was already seven in the evening and I was in the dorm when I was told that I had a phone call. When I answered the phone, I was pleasantly surprised. It was Fr. Papilla. He greeted me with the usual “Happy Birthday, Freddie! How are you?” I took the opportunity and shared my misery with him. He didn't say much except remind me that, “Freddie, you are a Xaverian. If there is anyone who can do it, it is you, right?”

      That five minute conversation with Fr. Papilla gave me the strength and encouragement to move forward and face this particular obstacle in my life. Little did I know then that this was all that was needed to push me towards the finish line.

      Our dear Lord put each and every one of us here in Xavier School for a purpose. He has entrusted to each of you many young precious lives for you to help form. Just as we would like parents to look at their children as gifts from God, our students here in Xavier School are also gifts from God to you and me. In that sense, much is expected of each of us to be good caretakers of these precious gifts. An encouraging word, a pat on the shoulder, a simple greeting or a concerned question may mean a lot to them and push them towards their destinies.

      Yes, this week, the Grade School is launching the Xavier Award. Let me end by reminding everyone that the Xavier Award is as much a challenge to you, the faculty, as it is for our students.

      A pleasant day to all!
  

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