Shee Jay Axyne Borinaga 
The phase of fighting for a place in the list has finally come to an end. Enough of worrying about your examination and interview results for you are now deemed qualified. Qualified to be the next generation who will take over the legacy of our university.
It was a rough patch during the admission process, and we applaud you for that because without any doubt admission is truly a total headache. Prior to that event, you may have also already heard countless of hearsays about this school which mostly circled around the controversy of school standards, pressure, and competition. However, let these not serve as a discouragement for a manifold of experiences lay ahead which will allow you to cultivate and shape you to be the true Tradesman that you are.
Some of you are anticipating for your first day, some are afraid, curious, and then there are those who are not anticipating at all for some reason. It is normal to feel how you are feeling right now, and you are not strange for feeling that way. It is unnecessary to ruin the element of surprise that you are meant to feel and encounter as you make your way on your freshman year. But a glimpse would not be such a bad idea.
You will be lost.
Not just in campus, but also lost in the culture, your thoughts, and your responsibilities. You will be lost in the novelty of things. However, one thing to keep in mind is to never get lost in making your way through the pedestrian lane when crossing the school grounds if you do not wish of getting reprimanded by our own hardworking campus guards. Please don’t get yelled at on your first day, it is too early for that.
You will ask a million questions.
Questions that you will ask to the faculty, your seniors, classmates, and most importantly, questions you will ask yourself. Alas, welcome the world of “ask now or you never get to ask again.” To be a freshman is to embark on a path of reflection. It is a way for you to discover and comprehend where you are now and how you are doing. And as a Tradesman, remember that you will not be spoon-fed but trained to find answers on your own efforts. Yes, no instructors that will baby you anymore.
Your eyes will be laid on your seniors.
The fate of those who are ahead of you will inevitably have a share in your dwellings. The fact that they serve as your role models, you will acquire the instinct to root for them. Thus, as they thrive, exhilaration will arise within you. And when witnessing them walking on thorns, it will feel like you are also walking with them. It is truly the “I will go through what they have been through” mindset. Spare yourself from insanity. You may be in the same program, but you walk on different paths.
A freshman is bound to experience a spectrum of emotions. Being a newbie, there will be countless times wherein you will feel stupid, confused, and overwhelmed. Countless times that you will feel like the system is cursing or making fun of you. Perhaps you may even despise being a Tradesman one day. However, there will also be countless times wherein you will feel victorious, happy, and grateful. And that is when you realize that everything was necessary to happen. Necessary for your development and the establishment of your identity not just as a freshman, but officially as a Tradesman. College is one thing, but to be a Tradesman is a whole different story. Don’t ask me why, for it is up to you to find out.
You made it.
You are one of us now.
