On the morning of June 19, the halls of Leyte Academic Center echoed with the sounds of triumph as EVSU’s main campus celebrated the 2nd day of its commencement exercises with heartfelt solemnity. The day commencement rites were for the graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the College of Business and Entrepreneurship (COBE).

In her commencement speech, Dr. Meylene C. Rosales, Regional Director of NEDA RO8, urged the graduates to not live a life of complacency, to pursue lifelong learning, and to step out of their comfort zones. “Don’t be afraid to go out into unfamiliar territory. Don’t be scared of change,” she stated.

The heavy rain served as a poignant reminder of the challenges and struggles that these graduates overcame. Though somewhat muffled by the downpour, the unabating sound of victory was embodied by the 763 graduates of CAS and COBE’s class of 2024. Gratitude and warmth gleamed from the faces of the many graduates and their loved ones, who were present to witness this important milestone.

Entering college during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the graduates of the class of 2024 are no strangers to adversity. From adapting to the sudden shift in learning modality, surviving through the dangers posed by the pandemic and its drastic impact to the economy, their college journey has been etched with resilience and determination. The somber weather, rather than dampening the mood of the event, seemed to symbolize the trials they have won, making their achievements all the more meaningful.

As diplomas were handed out, each name that was called served as a reminder of how these individual stories culminate into collective triumphs.