Atom Araullo Shares 6 Lessons He Wishes He Knew at 12

Atom Araullo returned to his alma mater, Ateneo de Manila University, to inspire a new generation of graduates as he delivered the commencement speech for its Grade 6 Students.

It was not his first time standing before graduates. As he shared, “It was more than 12 years ago, in 2014, when I was last invited to be a commencement speaker here in Ateneo. Back then, people still used Facebook. Flappy Bird was taking over everyone’s lives.”

Alfonso ‘Atom’ Araullo is now a multi-awarded broadcast journalist recognized both locally and internationally. He currently serves as the national Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). 

Despite his achievements, the broadcast journalist honestly admitted to university officials and students, “Medyo kabado ako ngayon.”

With a touch of humor, he transitioned into his speech.

“Honestly, I can’t always figure out why I keep getting invited to speak at events like this. It’s not as if I have some great wisdom to dispense. I guess it’s because I’m old. But being old can be a superpower. I have something that you don’t have yet: experience.”

“Since you are Grade 6 students, I’ll give you six things I wish I knew when I was your age. One lesson for every grade level you survived. Now, if you remember even just one or two things from this speech, we’re golden!” Atom continued.

“You all know this person. Before the test, sasabihin niya: “Bro, wala akong alam. Hindi ako nag-aral.” Tapos siya yung top sa exam.

So guess what: he probably studied. And if you’re not some kind of genius, trusting that guy will get you into trouble.

Sa totoo lang, kahit ang mga genius, kailangan mag-aral. Talent is nice. Intelligence is nice. But if you want to do well in an exam, or in sports, or in music, or in anything worth doing, you have to prepare.

There are no shortcuts.”

“Let me explain. When I was around six or seven years old (6-7!), dito mismo sa school, I heard a rumor from my classmates. Sabi nila, if you put a dried snake inside your book, you’ll absorb the lessons faster. You’ll become smarter.

Siyempre, naniwala ako.

One day, I saw a small, dead snake on campus, near where the Henry Lee Irwin Theater now stands. Wala pa siya dati. Sabi ko, this is it. This is my chance.

So I picked it up and placed it inside my science book.

A few days later, may napansin ako. Parang may amoy yung bag ko. Noong una, ang sabi ko, ako ba yun? May natapakan ba ako?

So I checked everything. Wala.

Then I opened my book.

Boom.

The snake had been decomposing inside.

I was so embarrassed, my book was ruined, and no, I did not become smarter.

So if you ever hear a tip like that, siguro, mag-aral ka na lang.

But there’s a bigger lesson there. Not everything you hear is true.

I know a lot of you like watching videos online. I can certainly relate. But the internet is full of all kinds of information. Some of it is useful. Some of it… is just wrong.

So don’t believe everything you see or hear. Ask questions. Think about it. Check if it makes sense. Use the critical thinking skills that you are learning in school.

Because whether it’s a rumor about a dead snake, or a random video online, remember: hindi lahat ng naririnig natin, totoo.”

“Everything worth doing in life starts with a little bit of cringe.

Kung hindi mo sasanayin ang sarili mo na mapahiya once in a while, ang dami mong hindi susubukan.

When I was in Grade 2, I was a painfully shy student. I didn’t have a lot of friends. And during recess, I would sometimes just feed the stray goats on campus. Yes, there were goats. Ateneo was a different place back then.

So ang ginawa ng papa ko, pinilit niya ako sumali sa Ateneo Children’s Theater, or ACT.

I didn’t want to, but I had to follow my dad.

During the audition, I was so nervous that I lost my voice. I had to sing in front of teachers and hundreds of other kids sounding like a distressed frog.

And somehow, I got the lead role.

Maybe my mom bribed someone (joke lang).

But joining theater became one of the best decisions of my life. Although technically, it was my parents’ decision.

Mula doon, natuto akong makipagkaibigan. Nagkaroon ako ng confidence. At higit sa lahat, natutuhan ko na okay lang mapahiya.

In life, you have to try things that you’re bad at. You might join a club and realize you’re not good yet. You might try a sport and lose badly. You might dance and immediately regret it.

That’s okay.

The cringe is temporary.

Remember, at your age, everybody is awkward. Kahit yung mukhang cool.

So don’t spend all your time trying to avoid embarrassment. You will regret not trying one day.

And the worst thing that can happen is that when you grow up, you’ll have a funny story to tell.

Trust me. I built a career out of it.”

“One of the most underrated life skills, even among adults, is saying ‘I don’t know.’

Ang simple pakinggan, pero ang hirap gawin.

Sometimes, we don’t ask questions because we think everyone else already gets it.

But here’s a secret: many times, they don’t.

So if you don’t understand something, just say it.

‘Sir, I don’t get it.’

‘Ma’am, pwede pakiulit?’

‘Bro, ano yung assignment?’

Actually, yung last question huwag niyong itatanong 10 minutes before class ha?

But seriously, don’t be afraid to ask.

Because the moment you accept that there are many things you don’t know, you become free to learn.

Humility and curiosity will get you far.

And to be clear, humility doesn’t mean thinking you’re not good enough or smart enough. It means knowing that you can always grow.”

“Pag bored ka, hindi automatic na kailangan mong maghanap ng Wi‑Fi.

Smartphones are amazing. Games are amazing. But if your whole life is on a screen, you will miss a lot.

If you ask me what my core memories are, almost none of them involve a cellphone.

You may not remember every game you played or video you watched. But you will remember the inside jokes only your section understood, the games you played outside for too long (yung tipong pawis na pawis na kayo pagbalik sa classroom), and the family moments that didn’t feel special at the time, but somehow became core memories.

And let me give you one very specific piece of advice: spend more time with your lolo and lola.

Listen to their stories.

One day, you’ll realize they were trying to tell you things you can never hear again.

Also, grandparents are very powerful allies. If your parents say no, sometimes Lolo and Lola will say yes.

Use this information responsibly.”

“It’s tempting to always choose the easy option.

When things get hard, you quit.

When you get in trouble, you lie.

When you make a mistake, you make excuses.

When someone else is having a hard time, you pretend you don’t see it.

If you get used to these things, dadalhin mo yan sa paglaki.

So be careful.

Don’t get used to quitting, because nothing worth doing ever comes easy.

You know those swimming and piano lessons, math drills, and practice essays that feel boring and difficult right now? When you grow up, those are some of the coolest skills to have.

Don’t get used to lying, because lying makes you weak. It makes people trust you less. And once people stop trusting you, it’s very hard to get that trust back.

Don’t get used to making excuses, because when you always blame other people, you stop growing. But when you acknowledge your shortcomings, that’s when you become better.

And don’t get used to looking away.

If someone is being left out, notice.

If someone is being laughed at, don’t make it worse.

If someone needs help, help if you can.

You don’t have to save the world before recess. Sometimes being good starts with very small things.

And that matters because all of you have been given so much. You have families who support you. Teachers who guide you. A school that has opened many doors for you.

Not everyone has that.”

Lastly, Atom reminds graduates not to rush growing up and to simply enjoy their youth.

“You have time. You have energy. You have friends beside you. You have parents, grandparents, teachers, and people who have guided you to this moment.

So don’t rush it.

Don’t be in a hurry to grow up.

But also, don’t waste it.

Try things. Fail a little. Ask questions. Go outside. Talk to people. Spend time with your lolo and lola.

And when you become cringe, which you will, embrace it.

But more than anything, be honest. Be fair. And use what you have learned not just for yourself, but for others.

You don’t have to have everything figured out.

You just have to keep moving forward. Step by step.”

Here’s another commencement speech for some inspiration, delivered by Lance Gokongwei.