Thomas Gorre, a graduate of the STEM-Life and Chemical Science substrand, delivered this address during the 25th Commencement Rites of the High School Department held at the LH Foundation Gymnasium of PAREF Springdale School last May 10, 2025.
Distinguished members of the Board of Trustees and the Management Committee, respected teachers, dear parents, classmates, friends, and honored guests—good afternoon to all.
Before anything else, please allow me to express my gratitude to the people who are the reason I am here today. First, I’d like to thank my teachers, who have been incredible educators and mentors. Special mention to our ever-caring adviser, Mr. Adan, for being the best Grade 12 adviser anyone could ask for; my mentor, Mr. Alquizar; and to Mr. Guinita, Mr. Boiles, Dr. Chan, and Mr. Quinto—not only for the lessons I will carry into the future, but for being great role models and sources of inspiration.
My biggest thanks go to my parents for always being there for me—for being the driving force that pushes me to do my best, and the steady rock I can always fall back to.
You’re probably guessing I’ll be thanking my classmates and friends next. Well, you’re right. In fact, half of this speech is about you guys—so don’t worry… you’ll get your time.
As we stand here today in our graduation garments, eyes beaming and spirits high, I will forgo the usual inspiring “let’s change the world” speech and instead invite you to take the next few minutes reflecting on the past.
Close your eyes and try to remember a moment in your school life when you really struggled. A time when you were stressed, overwhelmed, maybe even cried, or just felt like there was no end to this dark tunnel.
Was the first thing that came to mind research? Did I guess it right? Nahh, I’m just kidding.
But seriously—hold that moment in your mind. Now, open your eyes. Look around. Look at yourself.
You made it. Yes—you. And I think we all deserve a round of applause for that.
But what’s even more significant is realizing that overcoming those tough times helped us grow— into better students, better friends, better sons, and better people, whether it was learning from a mistake on an activity that helped you ace the next exam, or a perspective-shifting experience on this thing called life. It is important to recognize that difficulties are not just roadblocks—they’re opportunities to grow and learn. And as we take bigger steps out of our parents’ arms and out of the halls of Springdale, even bigger challenges await—like a hundred men vs. one gorilla.
In between those feelings of excitement for new experiences and what lies ahead, I bet many of us here are also waiting with sweaty palms and tapping feet. There will be moments when we feel anxious or scared as we approach a daunting task, a new experience, or, in this case, a giant leap into the unknown. But those are the moments where growth really happens—when we learn to embrace those challenges and push forward.
I believe each of us is a mosaic of not just our experiences, but also the people who’ve made a mark on our lives. I’m lucky to have had this amazing bunch of guys with me through this rollercoaster called high school—through endless PT weeks, mind-blowing lessons, and classroom decorating events we barely had time to prepare for.
Think about it: 12 years together, stuck in a classroom for 8 hours a day. We’ve seen each other at our best—and definitely at our worst. And yet, here we are, still standing side by side.
Our batch has always been close, but I think we got even closer in Grade 11 when we became a single class. Now, in a small classroom on the second floor, 29 unique individuals created what I proudly call an unbreakable bond.
Every day brought something new. One moment, someone would have the whole class bursting into laughter. And the next turns the classroom into a full-blown Olympics. On the left side—some version of seated volleyball with a makeshift net made out of chairs. On the right—an intense badminton rally. And the back features our top-notch Esports team as a football whizzes across the room.
I just realized I may have just sold out our entire class in front of the whole school. But don’t worry, Mr. Adan—we were always careful and made sure to clean up afterward.
I can honestly say I’ve had no boring days here these past two years.
I also want to take a moment to thank my closest friends—who were always there for me when I felt down, who reassured me when things looked tough, and who are the reason why I was able to make it out of high school sane. I’m grateful to have had people I could relate to and truly bond with as we navigated this whole “growing up” thing together.
But our class didn’t just have fun—we made our mark. We were Buwan ng Wika Pistang Bayan champions three years in a row. We successfully pulled off the ultimate birthday prank on Mr. Adan. And we will forever go down in history as “the most buotan batch of Springdale.”
The memories we have made, and the people we have met within these halls, have shaped who we are today.
There’s a saying: Carpe diem— meaning seize the day. A whole new world of opportunities is waiting for us. So as we jump into the next chapter of our lives headfirst, let us carry the values and lessons we’ve learned here. Now that you’ve walked this stage and officially become graduates, hold your heads high—but never forget the experiences and the people that brought you here.
Thank you.