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| KayAn Betita Palma, preparing for the contest |
One day she returned home from a school contest and cried before her mother for she was the only one in their team who did not win. We tried to console and comfort her, that it was just a contest and there will always be losers. We told her in tones which expressed unyielding optimism that such day was her turn to lose, but that she need not despair of the defeat for there are yet more contests to come as she moves her way forward on her journey to success. As a young woman, she had been taught in the family, and she knew it by herself as she listens to Apostles and Prophets that “One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final” (Thomas S. Monson).
She had been a gifted child. She had other talents that are hidden within her coil. In her academic journey she had been a consistent honor student from kindergarten until her elementary graduation and on to her grades 7-8 in high school. She knew as she was taught that it is impossible for her to attain the highest honors if her efforts are only equal to a lower rank. Yet she is trying her best wanting to make it to the top. However, she understood that there are limits to her energy and level of excellence, which at times are affected by circumstantial obstructions and barriers. But her courage is ever strong and her faith vibrant.
Her motivation and inspiration comes right from the accomplishments of her bemedaled maternal aunt, who also was an alumnus to both her elementary and high school Alma Maters. She also wished that she will find her way to qualify in one of the premier universities where her aunt graduated Cum Laude. We taught her however that it is not the marks that count but the consistent honest effort and determination that accurately pilot one to his or her destined success and glory.
She had been a gifted child. She had other talents that are hidden within her coil. In her academic journey she had been a consistent honor student from kindergarten until her elementary graduation and on to her grades 7-8 in high school. She knew as she was taught that it is impossible for her to attain the highest honors if her efforts are only equal to a lower rank. Yet she is trying her best wanting to make it to the top. However, she understood that there are limits to her energy and level of excellence, which at times are affected by circumstantial obstructions and barriers. But her courage is ever strong and her faith vibrant.
Her motivation and inspiration comes right from the accomplishments of her bemedaled maternal aunt, who also was an alumnus to both her elementary and high school Alma Maters. She also wished that she will find her way to qualify in one of the premier universities where her aunt graduated Cum Laude. We taught her however that it is not the marks that count but the consistent honest effort and determination that accurately pilot one to his or her destined success and glory.
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| Getting ready for the National Science quiz - Grade 9 level |
Given another chance in a Science quiz, she was ranked only for a second place which should not have qualified her to participate in a national competition. But providence gave place and she was given the chance to compete in the National Science quiz---National Children’s Science Congress---held in Laguna where she placed second for Grade 9 level; and the National Environmental quiz---National Science Quest---held in Baguio City where she was awarded the third place, grade 9 level. As she relish and savor the joy of her national achievement, she now acknowledged the fact of the familiar and oft quoted statement, ”Faith in God includes faith in God’s timing” (Neal A. Maxwell).
In expressions of sincere gratitude she wrote and posted on her Facebook account: “I am tremendously grateful to Heavenly Father, to my family especially my parents, my coaches, and to everyone for guiding and supporting me financially, morally and spiritually. I wouldn't have garnered all of these awards without you.” Indeed, with her, we in the grandfamily of KayAn, likewise express our most sincere thanks to her ever highly qualified coaches and teachers---Ms. Floramyr P. Sarvida, Ms. Ludem C. Bacolod, Ms. Lydia P. Lavares and the rest of the team chaperons---without whose unbending determination and overpowering energies to lead their students to excellence, the children should not have attained the joy and glory of the finish line in their most recent academic race. These multi-awarded teachers, even in international awarding halls, deserve our respect and accolade.
In expressions of sincere gratitude she wrote and posted on her Facebook account: “I am tremendously grateful to Heavenly Father, to my family especially my parents, my coaches, and to everyone for guiding and supporting me financially, morally and spiritually. I wouldn't have garnered all of these awards without you.” Indeed, with her, we in the grandfamily of KayAn, likewise express our most sincere thanks to her ever highly qualified coaches and teachers---Ms. Floramyr P. Sarvida, Ms. Ludem C. Bacolod, Ms. Lydia P. Lavares and the rest of the team chaperons---without whose unbending determination and overpowering energies to lead their students to excellence, the children should not have attained the joy and glory of the finish line in their most recent academic race. These multi-awarded teachers, even in international awarding halls, deserve our respect and accolade.
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| With one of her best qualified coaches--- Ms. Floramyr P. Sarvida |
Together with KayAn, other SNNHS students were also awarded medals and trophies for winning in the contests. To them we express our warmest congratulations!
KayAn is still young at age 15. Her life’s journey is still long and winding. She knew that this life is a contest, a trial and a test. There will still be more defeats and wins, failures and successes, battles and victories, but as in her study of the Old Testament in the Seminary she knew as did the preacher in the Book of Ecclesiastes, “...that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Yes, there will be sorrows in defeats and joys in winnings; there will be despairs attendant to failures and laurels that come of success; there will still be more Goliaths to battle but evermore Davids to win the needed victories. For in every defeat, every failure, every battle, there will come the joy of trying again and again. Perhaps in the coming many laps of her continued race in life, she will eventually find meaning from the words of an unknown author of the poem Champion:
The average runner runs
until the breath in him is gone,
But the champion has the iron will
that makes him carry on.
For rest the average runner begs
when limp his muscles grow,
But the champion runs on leaden legs,
his courage makes him go.
The average man's complacent
when he's done his best to score,
But the champion does his best,
and then he does a little more.
(Author Unknown)
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| The SNNHS team and their humble national achievements |
During one of our family home evenings, we discussed about the importance of individual plans and goals. I explained to the children that goals and objective are the links that connect our best efforts to our achievements. One could not attain a wish to study in a premier university if the effort is only equivalent for a local college. One could not progress to the highest attainable degree if the toil and slog is only for an average vocational attainment. One could not achieve the glory and wonder of success if the sweat of labor is measly and inadequate. One could not obtain the full blessings from God with superficial obedience to His Commandments. It is only in rising from every fall; overcoming daunting failures; and swimming against the heaving waves of life’s stormy seas that one could find greatest delight in the glory of triumph and victory. It is only by obedience to God’s unenforceable laws that predicated blessings are poured out in bountiful abundance. I am sure that KayAn will have these truths always kept in the cellar of her mind and written in the tablet of her heart.
WE EXPRESSS OUR WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR BELOVED GRANDDAUGHTER KAYAN AND THE SNNHS TEAM FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY ACHIEVEMENTS!
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