Jose Rizal as the Teacher of Filipino Youths
As a youth in today’s generation, I see Rizal as our teacher.
The youth is forever the next chapter in our story as a Filipino people. However, in our attempt to prove ourselves as Filipinos and as human beings, we are in a constant struggle with teaching the next generation that they cannot simply write our next chapter, but make the words worth reading. Dr. Jose Rizal knew how to do this. During his arbitrary detention in Dapitan, he devoted his energy to a select group of youth to which he had taught practical lessons for real world situations. The seemingly uncomplicated admissions process was at the same time, difficult as any. You could have been the smartest, richest, most qualified applicant and still not receive admission. Likewise, you could have been the most ignorant, most poor, most unqualified applicant and not receive admission as well. Dr. Rizal did not test the applicant in the subjects of Math, Science, Language, nor History, but the essential characteristic needed to excel in those subjects and in life. Dr. Jose Rizal tested courage.
We merely have to analyze the purpose of Dr. Rizal’s policy to understand what he felt the youth needed to possess. “It had everything to do with Rizal’s concept of education” and how courage leads to the youth’s motivation toward tomorrow. The first thing I noticed in Dr. Jose Rizal’s life was that he lived a simple one. He did not choose to have a luxurious life like the one the most of us have wanted. Even before he became under surveillance by the Spaniards, he had lived his life as simple as possible. I think it was the work of his parents that made him lived like this. I strongly believe that mostly their parents influence one’s lifestyle. I learned from the life of Rizal the importance of taking part of the parents to their children’s morals. The second thing that I observed from the life of Rizal was his calmness and ability to think rationally even in the most...
