Some people don’t even try
But some people know what their heart desires
Some people lead with a passionate fire
And some people know that they’re destined to fly
~ Katherine Lynn-Rose in Top of My School
Amidst the new chaos of the new curriculum implementation, a specific key change has been beginning to knock on students minds that can potentially affect how they perform in their academic activities. Academic excellence—a recognition that hundreds of students strive for and fight tooth and nail to get.
Like the lyrics in Top of My School, students who strive to the top, and dream to fly among hundreds. They exert efforts for them to be recognized and honored among their peers. To show fruit for all the work they’ve been putting.
According however to the new DepEd policy effective school year 2026-2027, recognitions and honors are being removed to give way to avoiding unhealthy competition. But was there really unhealthy competition in the first place?
Some students ride the wave of rankings and honors as a means to push through the hurdles of school—motivation to keep growing and showing academic excellence, to have their names announced among hundreds of students. To remove this is like being dropped in the sea with a million of different fishes, nothing to set you apart.
What does it take to get noticed and to fly high among the battlefield you conquered? Passion and effort reduced to waiting through different lines of names before your name is called to walk on the stage, all because unhealthy competition was prioritized before actual grit and work.
