Draped in maroon, Maria Anna Klarissa F. Sardea walked across the Quezon Convention Center stage with her smile bright beneath the spotlight and only few knew the quiet strength beneath her robe—the memory of hospital nights, the battle with a life-altering condition now behind her, and the silent vow she made to reach this day.
Back in 2019, she was just a quiet force—shy, kind, and always clutching her notes like a lifeline. Her eyes sparkled not just with curiosity, but with the quiet fire of a girl determined to rewrite her story. Finishing senior high, finding the right college path, earning a decent job—these were not just dreams. They were blueprints etched in her mind, the steps she vowed to take to climb out of life’s tight corners and into her own light.
Yet, behind it all, there lingers a soul-crushing truth. A huge hurdle that hindered her plans. An existential thought that echoed vehemently in her colorless room.
“Is there still hope? Am I going to leave this world without figuring out what my dreams are?” she thought to herself during her surgery to remove a growing mass in her body.
At that moment, she felt like everything that she had planned in the future would crumble down into nothing just because of her unwanted life-threatening disease and because of that she stopped.
Life turned into an unexpected event. She became a dropout. A year of silence, slow recovery, and endless tears soaked her pillow in the middle of the night.
But with a small gesture between her fingers and continuous affirmative words, she rose to fight for her dreams once again.
Reflecting on her journey, she came to understand that life was never meant to be a race. Each person walks a distinct path, with stops and destinations shaped by their own hopes, choices, and priorities. Though lives may intersect, the endings are as unique as the individuals who live them.
Coming to terms with this truth had not been easy. Accustomed to plans unraveling beyond her control, she struggled with letting go. Yet amid the uncertainty, her ever-loving family remained her constant—guiding her through life’s twists and holding her hand during the darkest chapters. It was their unwavering presence that helped her reclaim her strength. In that quiet moment of clarity, she knew her life held meaning because of them. And with that, she stepped forward, ready to chase fulfillment at her own pace.
It might not be the same as it used to be. She might not be the most influential student in the university. But with the best of her abilities, she navigated her way back, performed well in academics, and actively participated in seminars, workshops, and organizational work as a member of Psychological Society.
“It has become that little line that helped us overcome battles and save us from the darkness that no one knew about. To all my fellow graduates who endured and suffered silently, if no one ever told you this, I am so proud of you. I am proud of you for continuously trying despite losing the spark and enthusiasm you once had. And most importantly, I am proud of what you have become,” she affirmed the graduates of class 2025.
Aside from her strong independent nature, she also expressed her gratitude for the support that she had received from her parents, best friend, college friends, and alma mater.
Further emphasizing that the goal was never to feel superior and receive a Latin Honor but to gain genuine connections among her peers, the memories, the sleepless nights, the shoulders to lean on, and the mornings she chose to fight even if she had to drag herself out of bed.
Despite going through relapse and failing to see the significant improvements over time because of the expectation of others, she learned to surround herself with people who choose to keep their hearts no matter what and to remember that growth takes the form of what your being needs the most.
By 2025, she stood in the Quezon Convention Center wrapped in maroon and the promise of a future hard-won. Her cap crowned her story, her gown, a symbol of sleepless nights and silent perseverance. Graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation–Lucena, she stood not just as a scholar, but as a survivor.
The girl she was in 2019 had blossomed into a woman who carried grace, grit, and a fire no hardship could dim.
