Who is an Atenean?

10 Tips on how to be a Good Student

by Neri de Guzman

There are certain behavior and characteristics that come with the term “college student” much more with the name “Atenean”. These expectations within a group are called social norms – the set of rules that govern how people interact with each other in a community. Norms can either be formal (written) or informal; it can also be subdivided into mores and folkways. Mores are rules that when not followed begets sanction or punishment, basically if one does not do this then that person is immoral. Folkways on the other hand are the less stringent rules of society, they are still expected to be followed but does not warrant much punishment if disobeyed.

By following these social norms, one may not only garner the respect and attention of his peers but also the pride and privilege of being one with the community. The first five on the list are the formal norms and the rest are the informal norms.

Rule 1: Never cheat.

Rule 2: Drug abuse is never the answer.

Rule 3: Never Plagiarize, even yourself.

Rule 4: Resist the urge to Vandalize.

Rule 5: Avoid PDA aka scandalous display of amorous behavior.

Rule 6: Always follow the dress code.

Rule 7: Be environment friendly (BYOB and CLAYGO).

Rule 8: Always, always respect the national anthem.

Rule 9: Avoid using curse words in everyday conversation.

Rule 10: Always wear your ID .

1) Never cheat

One of the mores in life, cheating is heavily frowned upon in society. May it be in academics, work, relationship, or even in games, cheating is unacceptable. An upstanding student should never degrade himself/herself to such abominable action. Not only is it unfair to the other party, it is also unfair to yourself since you invested so much in schooling as to become a better and more knowledgeable person only to have nothing in the end. It also fosters distrust in past, present and future relationships because that person can never really know if you are sincere in your words and actions.

2) Drug abuse is never the answer

A leading problem among the youth is drug abuse. The Ateneo does not condone such behavior in its students. In fact, random drug testing is employed on its students because the school knows that once a student takes that one hit then everyting goes downhill. Ironic that some students take drugs so that they can stay up all night for a test or a project only to find out that it can be counter-productive to their studies n the long-run - they get addicted, they cut classes, they fail to comply with their course requirements, and in the end they fail at school, they fail at life. As horrible and foreboding as it sounds, it can happen and it is happening to many students not just in here but globally.

3) Never Plagiarize, even yourself

Plagiarism is a big issue especially in the university. If one is caught plagiarizing, a sanction ranging from suspension to expulsion is made. One of the mores in the academy that should be taken seriously, plagiarism does not foster the correct study habits that a student should gain insight to from experience.

4) Resist the urge to Vandalize

One folkway in the academy is vandalizing. The age old debate in vandalism is “art or defacement?” Of course any straight laced student would tell you that it is defacement and it is because the school owns those properties on which one can write or carve anything on. It is very much disrespectful to the academy to do such things and a mark against the student’s character to succumb to such childish acts of self-expression.

5) Avoid PDA aka scandalous display of amorous behavior

One of the more common folkways that are broken in every day life, PDA (Public Display of Affection) makes the list. Although it is not that reprehensible of a behavior, it is still not appropriate to do in school or in any public setting. For one, school is a place to learn, make friends, and ready one’s self for the future not to have fun with your significant other. Holding hands is fine, a kiss on the cheek is also okay but there are limits to these kinds of display. The goal is to know what is appropriate or not, when it all boils down respect and basic decorum are the ones at play.

6) Always follow the dress code

A folkway that people always try to find a loophole in is following the dress code. It is one thing to look fashionable and chic but dress codes are there for a reason. By dressing properly, the image that one projects garners respect from his/her peers. Avoid wearing clothes that are too big or too small.

7) Be environment friendly (BYOB and CLAYGO)

There is a new trend among Ateneans, they now bring their baunans to school but this is not a statement this is Ateneo joining the green revolution. The Ateneo has always been an advocate for environmental protection, another of its projects are BYOB (Bring Your Own Baunan) and CLAYGO (Clean As You GO). BYOB aims to lessen the styrofoam use, reduce trash significantly, and teach the students to use washable food containers. CLAYGO on the other hand teaches students discipline to put away properly the utensils they used in eating. Discipline, courtesy, and respect are the values taught by these projects - values that are integral in life.

8) Always, always respect the national anthem

One of the most important mores not only in the university but also in the country is to stop whenever one hears the national anthem being played. In fact there are various provisions in our constitution about respect for the Philippine flag and our national anthem. In fact during 2008, it was passed that students have to sing out loud the national anthem instead of merely standing and listening to it. Although it wasn’t cleared after taht, at least it’s a start that Ateneans actually stop and stand upright when the national anthem plays

9) Avoid using curse words in everyday conversation

More and more curse words are being steadily inserted in everyday conversation. There isn’t a time that one wouldn’t hear of an exclamation of disgust, fear, or surprise expressed through offensive words. Though the feelings behind those words are not nefarious or scathing it is still not pleasant to hear such words out in public much less in an academic setting. The Ateneo is not only a prestigious school but a Jesuit school as well; it does not reflect well on the school to have students that use such informal language. This is a folkway.

10) Always wear your ID

Perhaps the most important folkway in a university student’s life is always wearing one’s ID. It does not only grant the student access to the important facilities in the school (i.e Library) it also serves as a measure of the student’s discipline. Wearing an ID should not be a task to be remembered but a habit ingrained through discipline. IDs do not only serve as identification for the student and the university it is also a symbol of respect for rules and regulations set by the school.

Summing it all up, an Atenean can also be defined by the rules he/ she adhere to, some of which may be formal or informal. In the end, it all comes down to respect - respect for the country, society, institution, fellow Ateneans and one’s self.