LEARN TO TAKE RISKS

ATHLETES NIGHT SPEECH
By Igi Maximo, Titan awardee



Mr. Ampiloquio, Mr. Mendoza, Mr. Rosal, Mr. Dante, Mr. Cabuguas, teachers and staff.  My dear parents and friends.  My fellow awardees.

Sport teaches me a lot of things.  Allow me to share them with you especially to the younger Titans.

The first one is to love your sport.  Never do it to please someone else.  It has to be your choice… it has to be your passion.

Defeats are like fire.  It can destroy or strengthen you, depending on your outlook in life.  But remember, the fire that melts the butter is the same fire that hardens the steel.

Champions are not made in the gym.  Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision.

The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. And remember, when you are not practicing, someone, somewhere, is practicing and when you meet him, he will win. This goes to show how important hard work and sacrifice is.

Being a student and an athlete at the same time is not easy … it takes a lot of hard work, sacrifice, determination and proper time management on both our school work and training schedules.  We could not have done this without the support of our parents and our school, PAREF Springdale.

In behalf of all the awardees, let me thank our school for giving us the opportunity to learn things outside the four walls of our classrooms.  You encourage us to explore on extra-curricular activities such as sports, without having to give up on our academics.  Your all-out support and understanding by excusing us from our classes yet allowing us to make up for our absences is such a privilege that not all student-athletes from other schools enjoy.

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This is probably the reason why most of us, Springdale athletes, if not all, excel in our sports.  We learned how to balance both our chosen sport and our studies.

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We thank you, teachers, for shaping our character and making us the kind of student-athletes that we are today.  We really appreciate and will forever be grateful for the opportunities you opened up for us not only academically but also in the field of sports.

And of course, to all our parents, we thank you for your unconditional love.  Thank you for the support and sacrifices you have given us to make things possible and for always being there for us, no matter what.

Let me end this by sharing with you my “3 Simple Rules in Life”:

- If you do not GO after what you want … you will never have it.
- If you do not ASK … the answer will always be a no.
- If you do not step FORWARD … you will always be in the same place.

Learn to TAKE risks … and see where your brave heart can take you!

God bless the Titans!  Good evening.