LA Tenorio's Graduation Letter Of Thanks To The Ateneo De Manila University

Do you know how it feels to graduate from a great school as an athlete? If not, I have here LA Tenorio's letter to the Ateneo de Manila University. He gives us a glimpse of what it takes to go through the process up until that emotional point - graduation.

He entered the school as a simple person who loves nothing but to play basketball. He was 17 years old back then, a very young person who faced all the odds. From just being 5'7 in height and from just being a simple guy who came out of the San Beda Highschool basketball program, LA Tenorio was able to cope up with the tough academics while being an excellent pointguard in the UAAP. It's hard but LA managed to thrive. Here's the letter on how he did it. You can do it too!

Letter of Lewis Alfred Tenorio to the Ateneo Community
04 January 2006
Fr. Bienvenido F. Nebres, S.J.
President
Ateneo de Manila University
Dear Father Nebres and the Ateneo community,
I am writing this letter to the whole Ateneo community to express my appreciation for the support that you have bestowed upon me during the five years that I played for the school.

When I was in 4th year high school in San Beda, I did not seriously take the offer to play in the Ateneo. I thought that I would not survive the rigors of academic life. My impression was that Ateneo was for the elite. I thought I did not belong in the Ateneo.

There were many universities that were interested in recruiting me because of my basketball background in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). Many universities offered me an automatic spot in their line up, but I felt I needed to go to a school that would give me the necessary skills to prepare me for the future. Playing basketball is my life, but I also realized that nothing is forever and therefore I could not rely solely on this skill. A college diploma would surely help me if a career change would be needed. I wanted to play; that is and will always be my passion, but I also knew that I needed a solid education.

Two very important people convinced me to play for the Ateneo; Fr.Tito Caluag, the team chaplain of the Men’s basketball team and Mr. Arben Santos, the team manager. They promised me only two things: first, that I would be getting a scholarship, and second, that I would get a GOOD EDUCATION. Of all the schools that tried to recruit me, it was only Ateneo who offered me that. A day after that meeting, I did not hesitate to commit myself to the Ateneo. The talk made me realize that the Ateneo was the school for me.

When Ateneo allowed me to play basketball, I was not only given the chance to play the sport I love but it also gave me a shot at getting a good education. My parents influenced me a lot in choosing the university I would go to. They told me that my education is the only gift they can give that nobody else can take away.

I am very thankful that I made the right decision.

I would like to express my gratitude to the people who supported me all the way….
To you, Fr. Ben Nebres, S.J. who was always there for our team through both the good and the bad times; for all your support and help in whatever issue I wanted to talk about; for all your inspirational talks during practices even through your busy schedule and for just being there. I will never forget your consistent line in our talks, “We’re here to support you guys all the way. Win or lose it’s the school we choose”.

To Fr. Tito Caluag who was always there for me and my family. He gave me encouragement and strength especially during my first few years in the Ateneo when I had difficulty adjusting to a new environment. He advised me many times about how to balance my studies and basketball. Even though he is no longer in Ateneo in my last year, I know and I am very sure that he is always there for me and for my family. I will never forget all the things that he taught me and for all the support that he gave.

To Father Nemy Que, SJ, for all his help and support whenever I had difficulty with my studies. He was also there to help our team whenever we were having a hard time during games. I will never forget his lessons in Philosophy. And how can I forget the team’s ”lucky charm” who says mass before games?

To all my coaches—Joe Lipa, Joel Banal, Sandy Arespacochaga, Norman Black and the coaching staff, managers and the utility men, I would like to thank them for all their support and for consistently teaching me how to hone my skills in basketball. I will never forget all of them as I consider them to be my second family. I will not be here without their help. I hope our roads will cross again in the future.

To all my former teammates, thank you so much for the trust that you bestowed upon me, for accepting me as I am. I will always remember our gimmicks, dinners after games and practices, team buildings and of course the games. Through hard fought games we stood side by side. I hope we will see each other again in the future.

I thank all the administrators and all the offices for their full support- through text messages of good luck before the game and congratulations after the game. Also, thank you for your encouragement, win or lose.

Thank you to all my professors from first to fourth year for all their help; for their understanding whenever I had difficulty with the subject and for taking time to give me advice. Also, I would like to thank them for their patience and willingness to help me in my struggle to finish my studies. I also want to say sorry for the times that I could have performed better, yet failed to do so.

I would also like to thank the Ateneo Alumni who took their time to help the team and my family as well. Thank you for being there with me and my family through the good and bad times. I will not forget all that you did for me. I consider all of you family, even though we do not see much of each other.

To my fellow Ateneans — my classmates and friends— thank you for all your help in my classes; for all the photocopied materials and handouts that you gave me especially at times when I had to miss some of my classes. Thank you for the support that you have given me and for being there as my friends. I could not have made it through Ateneo without your help. Thank you also for the inspirational text messages before and after games. I will always remember the experience I have with you in the Ateneo.

I do not know how to return the favor, trust and support that all of you have given me.
And lastly, to everyone out there who may be curious about what life in the Ateneo is like and are considering applying in this school, this is what I can tell you.

You don’t have to be student to be in Ateneo from grade school to college to be called an Atenean. Not everyone can get a 3.35 QPI, nor can everyone be a varsity player to say you’re an Atenean. What it takes is, to have GOOD HEART, the WILL TO LEARN and the DESIRE TO BE TAUGHT. In my five years in Ateneo, knowing this was important in the teacher-student and coach-player relationship and even in life experiences. I gradually became a better student and a better athlete because I gained and developed the will to learn and the desire to be taught.

I would never have been a better athlete without seeking to be a better student at the same time. Being a student and an athlete is inseparable. This was the best way and this is the Ateneo way.
As I leave my classroom, our practice sessions, as I bid Ateneo goodbye, I will always remember the lessons I’ve learned. What Ateneo has taught me marks the beginning of my life as a new me—the better me.

I will graduate this March, with my head up high not because of what I have achieved academically, or as a basketball player but because I know that I deserve it. I am an ATENEAN, in mind and soul, and I am proud of it.

Ateneo, you have seen the better side of me as you have prepared me to be so in the last five years. Now, as I walk out of the gates of the Loyola Schools, I will strive to be the best because I owe it all to God, and to you, the Ateneo.

Sa inyo po lahat, Taos puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng Suporta at Pagmamahal na binigay ninyo sa akin at sa aking pamilya. Sana sa 5 taon ko po pamamalagi at pagsisilbi sa Ateneo, sana po napaligaya ko po kayo at naging inspirasyon po ako sa inyong lahat. Sana po patuloy ninyo po akong subaybayan saan man ako makarating.
MAHAL NA MAHAL KO PO KAYONG LAHAT!
MARAMING MARAMING SALAMAT PO!
Sincerely,
LEWIS ALFRED TENORIO