8 Times School Pride Keeps You From Being The Best You Can Be
May 21, 2021 • Tim Henares
“We’re not for everyone.”
And with those words, another Twitter brouhaha erupted, thanks to Ateneo’s official Twitter account. The tweet has since been deleted, but arrogance is never a good look on an official Twitter account, and let’s face it, it’s not a good look on any of us, either.
A lot of us take pride in our school, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Being an Atenean is pretty cool. Being an Iskolar ng Bayan is quite an honor. UST has been around since forever. The problem is, sometimes, some people really sell themselves short when they do this. And here are just 8 ways they do that.
When it becomes your personality.
Being one-dimensional is never a good look. You may have graduated from, say, Harvard, but being “the Harvard graduate” isn’t that special when you realize how many Harvard graduates exist, to begin with. In a world with billions of people, why would you want to make your defining feature something as bland as what place you hung out with for 4 years or so.
When it makes you limit your options.
“An Atenean/LaSallian/etc would never be caught dead doing X!” These silly battle cries are empty and meaningless. Why “never?” What if it’s actually the best thing to do in a given set of circumstances? And yes, most of the time, that sentence is completed with “call centers,” which only goes to show how wildly insensitive statements like these inevitably are.
When it makes you see others as the enemy.
Some people really take the Ateneo-La Salle “rivalry” with wayyyy too much seriousness. If you’re one of those people, breathe. Relax. There are worse people in the world who deserve your revulsion. And it’s not because of what school they went to.
When it makes you fall into type.
“Ateneans are (this). LaSallians are (that). And don’t get me started on San Bedans, they’re all (something)!”
If hearing these stale, hacky jokes countless times makes you one day decide to own the stereotype even if it’s not really who you are as an individual, maybe this school spirit thing isn’t helping at all. Yes, that includes even positive stereotypes, particularly if they don’t actually apply to you.
When it makes you a gatekeeper.
“What’s wrong with today’s Ateneans? Why, in my day…”
The thing with people is, regardless of what school they go to, they’re simply not a monolith. Kids back then will be different from kids today the same way that kids back then were different from each other in the first place. School Spirit is great. It binds people together. But some people use that very same love for the buildings they used to walk in as an excuse to hate on people who walk those same halls today.
When it makes you care about institutions over people.
Think back to the latest scandal that plagued your school. Maybe some teachers were accused of sexually harassing students, and it has finally come to light. If your reaction was anything along the lines of “why did these students have to make this problem so public,” then you’re a part of the problem.
When it makes you remove options from your children.
“No son of mine is ever going to La Salle!”
Ummm, no. Let them choose where they want to go, especially if they’re qualified. Yes, even if they chose [Editor’s Note – mention that university’s name and you’re dead].
When it turns you into an @$$hole.
Some people can be terrible people for complex reasons. Being one just because you graduated from a certain school is probably one of the least compelling and most laughable reasons in contrast. So don’t be one.
Does any of this sound familiar to you? Sound off in the comments!
