By Gretch for Ateneo College Entrance Test

An author once wrote these evocative words, “I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity.” Our existence here on earth is not solely about victories, triumphs and successes. It is a common knowledge that without enduring the road filled with hardships, sorrows and adversities, we could never realize our goals. Our dreams would be unfulfilled, our hearts would be empty and our lives would undoubtedly go astray. We must try to overcome all our fears and all our inhibitions in order to accept, to learn and to grow.

Experiences in life come unexpectedly. It is from a terrible ordeal that I learned that not all things come in beautiful packages. At the tender age of twelve, a death in the family shattered my heart. My beloved father, who was the pillar of my soul, passed on to a better existence. The days following his demise were as hazy as the foggy mist during the cold and bitter winter mornings. I was in a state of disbelief and unawareness. No words could describe the hurt and the pain I was going through. The world, without my father’s constant love and guidance, seemed hopelessly beyond belief. I prayed, sincerely and wholeheartedly, for enlightenment and divine intervention. I asked the Heavenly Father for the grace to be able to rise above from these aches and pains that seem to pervade my heart. My petitions were answered. Suddenly, the tears stopped flowing and serenity once again ruled over my psyche. With the ceaseless help of my family, I finally felt at peace. This sense of tranquility I experienced was none like any other. I realized that life is but a succession of lessons, which must be lived in order to be understood.

This tribulation had been an eye-opener. I now see the world through a new perspective, through eyes that have conquered grief and anguish. It is with this newfound understanding that I was given the courage to face the truth. Life provides us with numerous challenges that at times may seem discouraging and impossible to handle. These challenges don’t intend to make us fall but instead they aim to help us grow and to change ourselves for the better. I, myself, became stronger spiritually and emotionally. From then on, I began to set my priorities straight. God became the core of my existence. He is the divine creator and the savior of all humanity. Out of his breath and image, we were formed. He is always there walking with us, side by side, through the path called life. Only during the most trying periods, does he not appear beside us but instead he carries us through. I found that eminent through my own experience. With prayer as my medium, I felt God’s shining presence in my life when I needed it most. He was the one who relieved me of my pains. I lifted up all my burdens to him and tried with all my heart to accept the reality of the situation. My father, I know, is now in His warm embrace, basking in the glow of His love.

I have emerged from this struggling stage with lessons to last me a lifetime. Though it is by far for me to forget the tremendous amount of sorrow this loss had given to my family, I am comforted by the thought that God knows our capacity perfectly and He had placed us here to succeed. I have learned by heart to walk through life in stride and to take it one step at a time. Each day is like a ray of hope, a new beginning, and a fresh chance to build a better tomorrow. I understood better the sanctity and the sacredness of life. Each person, I realized, is a gift from above and I will forever cherish him without any restraints. I have also learned the value of self-forgiveness, to take away any blame I had for the loss of my father. The strength and courage I now possess is greatly influenced by this. I can now face the challenges set in front of me with confidence that God, together with my father, will always be there guiding me in every step of the way.

This experience of mine may not be of glory or of honor. It can neither be boasted of nor taken pride upon. For me, an experience with prosperity is a great teacher, but an experience with adversity is even greater. Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant. I can humbly say that the bereavement of my father has defined me as a person today. It has made me grown stronger and wiser in every aspect of my life. It has taught me the importance of making the best out of everything and valuing those who I hold dear to my heart. Coping with death is not a trivial affair; it is a road filled with hardships that may be overcome with faith and encouragement. Death, as I comprehend it, is not a tragedy but a new beginning. I believe with all my heart that in the end, my father and I will be together again for all eternity.