The Problem With (Some) U.P. Students

The widely social media-circulated squabble between presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte and a UP Los Baños student has caught my attention, in the same manner that it has caught yours, and those of others. And this has driven me to write this article.

However, I will not fully devote my time on that now infamous altercation. I will just use it as a springboard for something that might be more interesting in my own estimate.

UP students in general, whichever campus they belong to, are perceived to be bright by many, if not all. After all, passing the UPCAT is like passing through a needle’s eye. It is the dream of most parents that their child become a UP student, so that the prestige of the university as the country’s premier institution of higher learning would rub off on their child’s curriculum vitae someday.

UP students are perceived not to be only bright, but very outspoken as well, most especially on issues that traverse from social, to economic, and to political. UP students are portrayed as activists, and such portrayal was put together during the Martial Law years precipitated by then President Marcos.

Student activism in UP has waned though.

And here lies the problem…..

Perhaps, the awe-inspiring feeling of being a UP student has overwhelmed the student form the Los Baños campus the wrong way.

Forgive me our dear iskolars ng bayan, but being a UP student does not translate to having that feeling of “entitlement”. Yes, being a UP student somehow gives that person that proverbial edge, but this does not mean that he or she can throw weight around.

Having the university ID is enough, and let it do the talking. There is no need to grandstand for your ID says it all.

It is perfectly permissible to be outspoken, but please deliver it with all humility and with utmost respect.

Duterte might be one of those hated presidential aspirants. And on your end, you are a mighty and proud UP student. But these two things do not give you the privilege to be boastful and arrogant towards the former, or any person for that matter.

For the UPLB student, take this time to do some recalibration and reflect on what happened. Prove us wrong with your future thoughts and actions.

Good luck to you my fellow Isko. You still have a bright future ahead of you.

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P.S.

This article is not meant to generalize.