✍︎ Glezel Jane Ababa
Students are tired. Not just physically tired from sleepless nights and endless requirements, but emotionally drained from constantly trying to survive expectations, pressure, and self-doubt. In a world where success is often measured by grades, awards, and achievements, many students quietly ask themselves: “Am I really enough?”
This is why the word “Padayon” matters.
Majhema “Ema” Fua, a Visayan immigrant from Siquijor, Philippines, reminded the world of this powerful message during the San Joaquin Delta College 91st Annual Commencement Ceremony. Standing before thousands of graduates as the student government president, she proudly shared her Visayan roots and introduced a simple yet meaningful word: Padayon — to move forward, continue, and persevere.
Her message struck deeply because it reflects the reality many students face today. Academic life is no longer just about studying hard. Students battle anxiety, burnout, financial struggles, and the pressure to keep up with everyone else. Social media worsens this culture by making success appear instant and effortless. As a result, many young people feel left behind whenever they fail or move at a slower pace.
But Padayon challenges that mindset.
Success is not always about being the smartest person in the room. Sometimes, success simply means refusing to give up despite failure, exhaustion, and uncertainty. A failed exam does not define a student’s future. Taking longer to achieve a dream does not make someone less capable. Growth is not a race, yet society continues to treat it like one.
Majhema’s story proves that perseverance matters more than perfection. Coming from a small island in the Philippines and eventually leading a major American college shows that success is not limited by where someone starts. What truly matters is the willingness to keep moving forward even when the journey becomes difficult.
Students today need this reminder more than ever. They do not need to have everything figured out immediately. They do not need to constantly compare themselves to others who seem more successful. What they need is the courage to continue despite setbacks.
The message is simple: stop obsessing over being the best version of someone else. Focus instead on becoming stronger than the person you were yesterday. Take one step at a time. Rest if needed, but do not quit.
Because in the end, the students who succeed are not always the most talented — they are often the ones who chose to padayon.
Video Courtesy: https://fb.watch/Hm6tFgm3GY/?mibextid=adiEgM
