YOU CAN SMD

by Froilan Lakip

An Atenean is an Atenean. There should be a word for it, with plenty of descriptions. It maybe an adjetive, a noun, or may even be a verb (i.e. you’re ateneaning right now).

The Noun: You are an Atenean.

Technically speaking, you study or have studied in Ateneo. You may also work for the Ateneo. You enjoy and gradually accept the colors blue and white and find that most of your shirts are paired to this color. You are surrounded by elitist friends and you to in some form of way wish you had more. Being unable to do things weeks before the deadline is already considered cramming to you. You are proud of your school and rather brash about it. You dislike La Salle, in its every essence yet you still have friends from that inglorious school. Open your closet, you may not even have anything green there. If you wanted UP and ended up in Ateneo, chances are you were persuaded by your family. You follow your parents being a good mama’s boy or protected daddy’s girl. You believe that you can be a good part to society even though corrupt officials often come from your campus. No doubt, you can eat three times a day, and sometimes even more. You went and studied in Ateneo with the belief that when you graduate you will become rich and powerful. Most likely, that will happen for you will be given enough oppurtunities compared to your neighboring universities. People look up to you, cause you bear a name, a brand, that has been strongly protected by its alumni. Your actions run through as “Men and Women for others.” Notice the arrogance of this statement stating non-Ateneans are OTHERS. You have the tendency to be overconfident, but you can’t blame yourself because you are surrounded by people that believe in your goodness. You forget to humble yourself with achievements at times but you are not afraid to fail. And when you do, you’d usually cry a bit, throw a tantrum, say FML, and go on and stand up. Yes, believe it or not, you are a good person.

The Adjective: I live an Atenean way of life.

Being strong-willed, confident, and driven.

Being rich, or financially capable.

Being able to wear branded attire.

Being beautiful and/or charismatic

Non-commuting person [though this is gradually changing :]

Being holistic. Being forced to be holistic

Being very traditional, at times stuck and not innovative.

The Verb: I’m Ateneo-ing right now.

To simply put it, being Magis. It means being able to finish your work, do much more than what is asked for, and having time to enjoy a reward afterwards. Some people enjoy the rewards more than others but either way one things is for sure, you work hard and you work fast. The act of being spoonfed is being Atenean. You are hardworking but you do not necessarily work hard. Being Atenean, oppurtunities simply fall down before your feet and all you need to do is choose, despite the scarcity of things. Trying your best. Do we need to explain? Acting in Theory. What we mean by this is that Ateneans are more or less thinking people. They think before they make decisions, and their thoughts are often theory based from whoever Jesuit has taught them.

Credits: atenean.tumblr.com