For College, Go Ateneo! (Part I)

Every time I hear about top high school recruits fussing over which college to play for (it is a sad reality that the question is always "Which college will Athlete A play for?" instead of "Which college will Athlete A study in?") I am always reminded of Spike Lee's "He Got Game". If you watched the film, try to remember the scene where Jesus Shuttlesworth (played by a surprisingly commendable Ray Allen) is told that the decision of which college to play for is the "most important decision of his life" or something like that. I never really experienced such a thing but I can understand where the recruiters are coming from. At least, I think I do. 

I would like to believe that despite their obvious intentions of having an extremely talented basketball player join their ranks, there exists this genuine compassion for Shuttlesworth's growth outside the basketball court. I would like to think that they are selling the education Shuttlesworth will have access to in as much as the possible contributions he can give to their basketball program. Of course, you can always watch the movie to see if you feel the same way. My point is that recruiters have to--and need to--emphasize the type of education and school culture their recruits will have access to and experience if he or she pledges to attend their alma mater. 

Whether he likes it or not, college will most likely be the last four or five years a swimmer has before hanging up his trunks. Being a professional swimmer in the Philippines is not a realistic career option for obvious reasons, the most compelling being the lack of support from governing bodies and swimming's lack of following in the country. That said, collegiate swimmers cannot simply float around in college since the lucrative life of a professional athlete is not waiting in the wings. 

In light of this reality check, here are a few reasons why high school seniors--both top recruits and average swimmers alike--should study in the Ateneo Loyola Schools.

The Vitruvian Man

1. Culture Curriculum.

A few weeks ago, my family and I watched Rivalry: The Musical. The running gag of the entire play was that Ateneans always use flowery and highfaluting words whereas La Sallians give it straight to the point. "What's the point of quoting Shakespeare when you can give it straight?" quips the La Sallian protagonist. As funny as that joke is, the question is valid. 

There is no denying that in the Ateneo, you will have more units of core subjects--which are mostly liberal arts--than major subjects. It is enough to drive one insane, truth be told.

Why do we have to take the basic subjects of English, Literature, Filipino and Natural Sciences in our freshman year when our friends in other schools are immediately taking their majors? Why do we take Sociology and Anthropology? Why do we have to study psychological disorders like Paranoia, Schizophrenia and Anti-Social behavior in Psychology 101? Why do we have to suffer through the endless readings and papers of our 9 units of History? What use will my 12 units of Philosophy and 12 units of Theology be if my career goal is to build my own company and be a millionaire by 30? And what the hell do these core subjects have to do with my swimming? And why, oh, why must I suffer through the dreaded Theology 131 orals with Fr. Dacanay? I must be crazy!

The answer is simple, young sirs and madams. To quote my high school Art Appreciation teacher, "We study the arts to have culture." Culture, young ones. That is what the Ateneo Loyola Schools is uniquely offering--the opportunity and venue to have a well-balanced character hinged upon the appreciation of the liberal arts which will compliment your mastery of the specialized disciplines your majors entail.

An Ateneo education will train you to see beauty in its purest form, in every form. 

If you put in the work and just put to heart all the poems, readings and verses, you will surprisingly find a lot of connections with what you are doing in your majors. 

Being a business major I was really interested on how Sun Tzu's Art of War, however controversial, was very much applicable in business. When Shakespeare was asking himself if he should "...compare thee to a summer's day?" I never realized that the wonder this sonnet was emoting can also mean the awe that washes over you when you successful pitch a campaign to a very jaded panel in a marketing defense. When Descartes said that, "I think therefore, I am" I took it as a reminder to carefully consider things first before making a crucial business decision in our thesis project instead of solely going by my gut with guns blazing. 

My point is this. An Ateneo education will give you a chance to grow as a person thanks to the holistic approach the curriculum is founded on. That is the value-added; that is what makes an Ateneo education unique. 

While the running joke in Rivalry holds true--that an Atenean will quote Shakespeare and a La Sallian will give it to you straight--my rebut is this.

Anyone can be blunt; it's very easy to do. But to precisely interpret and quote the likes Shakespeare, Marlowe, Henley and Whitman?

It takes culture to pull that off.  

Excellence is Magis; doing ordinary things extraordinarily

2. Excellence is a must.
Inasmuch as it is their ideal, excellence is not exclusively Jesuit. I am sure that this trait is espoused in every college in the world, not just in the country. But in the Ateneo, excellence is demanded not just in academics, but in every facet of one's life.

But what is excellence to begin with? How can one give a sound definition of a word which seems easy to understand but very difficult to explain. For the purposes of this post, I'll define excellence by introducing the Jesuit ideal.

Excellence is Magis; it entails one to do more than what is necessary by doing ordinary things in extraordinary ways. It means going over and beyond the normal. Simply put, excellence means doing more. 


Like in most schools, it is easy to just go with the motions in the Loyola Schools. With more than 3000 students roaming the campus, the temptation to keep one's head down and simple get by can be overwhelming at times. However, as much as you will want to sail along, you will find that you just can't. When everyone around you is working tooth-and-nail to maximize their potential--whether it be academic, athletic or extracurricular--that drive for excellence will eventually rub off you.

You will see your classmates toiling without promise of reward and you will ask yourself how they can do that. You will then challenge yourself to live up to the inspiration your classmates have given you to be excellent in everything that you do.

In the Ateneo, excellence is a must. No, wait, let me rephrase that.

In the Ateneo, striving to achieve excellence--not necessarily being excellent in everything and anything--is must. After all, the path you tread and steps you take to achieve excellence is what the Ateneo is keen on inasmuch as it values on the honors you bring.  




...to be continued


Take your Mark!