Graduation and Liminality

by Kurt Cendana, 4 AB Development Studies, Minor in Sociology

If you look at the Loyola Schools calendar for SY 2010-2011, you will see that graduation is on March 25 and 26, 2011. That’s exactly 9 months from now. Your philosophy teacher joked the other day that you are similar to a woman conceiving and eventually giving birth, which is the culmination of four amazing years spent in Ateneo. In a lot of ways, that’s true. But on graduation day, you will also be a liminal being.

Liminality is a term made popular by anthropologist Victor Turner which means being in a transitional stage or being “in between.” Therefore, the status of the liminal individual is unsure and ambiguous. For example, an 18 year old female who is celebrating her debut tonight can be considered a liminal being – she is not anymore a girl, but not yet a woman (yup, like the Britney Spears song). Having a lucid dream can also be considered liminal – you’re dreaming but at the same time you’re awake (and you know that you’re dreaming).

In nine months, you have had finished all requirements that the Ateneo wants from you, but at the same time you aren’t detached from this institution that you have grown to love. If you’re in the Ateneo High School covered courts on March 25 or 26, you’re not anymore a student, but you are not yet part of the labor force. You are asked to go down that hill between the earth and sky, but the view from the top is too good to let go. You are asked to be a professional-for-Others, but you want to stay in the comfortable arms of Loyola. You are asked to be a light in the darkness, a hope in despair, or courage amidst fear.. But somehow, you aren’t sure. Parang kahapon lang, high school graduation mo.

When you think of all these on graduation day, think of liminality. And when you think about liminality, think of its positive function: it can make you move, it can make you act. Realizing that this ritual (graduation) is a sign of you being in between and of you transitioning is a good step towards meaningful action. Maybe action for you means saying yes to the company who wants to hire you, or maybe going to graduate school, or maybe updating your resume before submitting it to an organization.

On graduation day, you’re not here anymore, but you’re also not yet there. Ateneo has given you the proper tools to avoid being stuck in the liminal phase; I hope you use it for the improvement of the lives of your family, friends, and neighbors. It does not have to be big, but strive for the Magis, Ad Majorem dei Gloriam. Nine more months until you go down the hill, make them worthwhile.

This is me talking to myself, but I hope I reached you somehow. :)