Pathways graduates 15th batch of Trailblazers

Pathways’ 15th batch of participants marked the completion of their stay in the program this August 13th, 2023 where they graduated from being Pathways participants to now alumni called Trailblazers.

In Pathways tradition, the two-day Pabaon camp gives the students the chance to process their journey in the program and share the lessons they have come to realize in the course of their stay–their baon or takeaway. Batch 15 took the time to reflect on their journey from junior high school all the way to college including any detours they may have taken on August 6th and 13th. After looking back, they also made promises to their future selves and resolutions on how they can continue to commit to the Pathways core values.

On the second day of the camp, alumni and volunteers joined us in sending off the batch with wisdom that will be useful in the new chapters of their lives. Arch. Rovalie Tamayao from Batch 11 was invited to speak for the batch’s graduation as their former Alay Ni Ignacio (ANI) president. She reminded them that, even as they graduate, they will always have a home in Pathways.

We celebrated mass with Rev. Fr. Keith Buenaventura, our first priest from the 4th Batch of Trailblazers, who also shared his baon with the fresh graduates in his homily. He sent them off with the wisdom of always bringing in their best, not being afraid to make mistakes, and being a blessing to everyone.

On top of being the biggest Pathways batch so far with 83 graduates, Batch 15 truly is a one-of-a-kind group. The batch joined Pathways in their 9th Grade as the second batch of Pathways participants to have undergone the K-12 curriculum.

Having entered college in School Year 2019-2020, their transition into higher education was troubled by the enforcement of quarantine measures brought by the COVID-19 pandemic on top of the usual growing pains of culture shock and adjustment. In the middle of the pandemic, they joined us through different programs that took on an online form. They joined our online kumustahan sessions, the Young Leaders Discussion, values workshops like our Discernment Course, and even academies like the Virtual Corporate Career Academies with Swiss Re and Aiducation International. In this unique position, they also had the opportunity to be virtually mentored by international mentors from various companies in partnership with Aiducation International, with one of them even managing to meet her mentors in Switzerland.

While many of them will be ending their college days after only returning on-campus for their last year, we were more than happy to share the space with them again for their Pabaon. The path as participants may end here but, as Trailblazers, they are always welcome to return home to their friends and family here at Pathways.