HOMOVIATOR

warren joseph canada

How different USLS is from what it was when I was still a student. The coliseum that we have now used to be the wooden gymnasium. The Miguel and Solomon Halls were the high school turf and Room 10 was where the science laboratories were located. That was when I was in college. There were no LCD/LED projectors in the rooms yet. There wasn't even the overhead projector. And the college uniform was not even close to what the students are wearing now.

But one thing holds true, despite the changes in the facade and buildings of USLS. And that is thrust and mission of the school which is to Teach Minds, Touch Hearts, and Transform Lives.

When I was still a college student this thrust was already instilled in me. Our teachers, who, even without the technology we are experiencing today, would discuss their lessons and enrich our minds with knowledge and their stories. Their "chalk talk" would cover one end of the board to the other, writing down the things we needed to remember and notes we had to copy. The experience was not for diploma's sake but also to learn the values of discipline, perseverance and the value of our education.

But the school didn't just cater to that. With the various community immersion programs, outreaches, exposures, recollections and school activities, we also learned to give and share what we have, from our material resources to our knowledge, time and self. It brought lessons on life, how blessed we were with opportunities, and how we can share. It developed our skills, made us realize our potentials and strengthened our relationships, with God, with others and with ourselves.

All these (and more) affected who I am today. What I have to share is a product of the formation I had when I was a student here in La Salle. Thus, it is a greater privilege to be one of the formators of teaching minds, touching hearts, transforming lives.

I am not anymore the student who would just copy the notes or the participant in a recollection where I share my thoughts, or an actor in my humanities class. Instead, I am given the responsibility to be the living example of the thrust. That whenever I discuss my lessons in Philosophy, students will not just learn to pass the subject but learn from the subject and imbibe discipline, perseverance and value of education.

Whenever I facilitate the recollection, I will be able to bring the students closer to God and realize how blessed they are with what they have and are experiencing, and inspire them to share their blessings. With that, I hope that I am an influence in making sure that they are Lasallian Christians, living the thrust, charisms and values that our Founder has inspired.

The school grounds may have changed so much. The teachers are different too. And there are more activities and student organizations now. But the thrust and mission remains, to Teaching Minds, Touching Hearts, Transforming Lives, the essence of a Lasallian. And I am proud to say that I have experienced the best of both formation, as a student and as one of the student formators in CELAM. And years from now, the buildings may change, people will come and go, but one thing that holds true, that distinguishes us from the rest, because we are not just Lasallians, but we are Lasallians who teach minds, touch hearts and transform lives. 100 years and beyond, this will never change.

Live Jesus in our hearts, Forever!