Helping young students build their dreams, one kit at a time

Imagine a day when dreams take center stage and young students realize that they can make theirs happen. 

The “Off-the-Street, On-to-School 2024” Program, led by the Office of Counseling and Guidance, brought these students to this realization on July 27, 2024 as it transformed the UPLB Student Union Building into a vibrant place of hope for their dreams and ambitions.

The young students, ranging from grades 1 to 12, walked into the building, their eyes wide with excitement and curiosity. Their chatter and laughter filled the air as they eagerly awaited the day’s activities. For many of them, this was a rare opportunity to experience a sense of community and support, and they were determined to make the most of it.

The event, a collaboration between OCG and the UPLB GABAY Volunteer Corps, aimed to guide these young students in their educational journey and inspire and support them. 

Gabay is a socio-civic organization that serves UPLB through its advocacy toward quality and accessible basic student services and student empowerment for all students, especially freshies, shiftees, and transferees.

Through games, distribution of school supply kits, and intimate small group discussions, the volunteers sought to motivate, encourage, and empower the students, and help them nurture their aspirations and map out steps to achieve their dreams.

The school supply kits, common enough in outreach programs like this, meant a lot to the students for whom these were a luxury. To top this off, the interactions with the GABAY volunteers during the activities fired up their enthusiasm and inspired them to push on.  

The students eagerly participated in the activities, asking questions and sharing their thoughts and ideas. The small group discussions, led by the GABAY volunteers, provided a safe and supportive space for the students to open up about their hopes and fears, their dreams and aspirations.

One student, a quiet girl from grade 3, shyly shared her dreams of becoming a scientist. With the encouragement of her group mates and the GABAY volunteer, she began to see the possibilities and opportunities that lay ahead. Another student, a confident and outgoing boy from grade 10, spoke about his passion for music and his desire to become a professional musician. The group discussion helped him to identify the steps he needed to take to achieve his goal.

As the day drew to a close, the students left the building with big smiles on their faces, their hearts filled with hope and their minds buzzing with possibilities. For many of them, this was a day they would never forget, a day that would inspire them to work hard and pursue their dreams with determination and passion.

The “Off-the-Street, On-to-School” initiative is more than just a one-day event; it is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of collective effort and community involvement. It highlights the critical role that education plays in shaping a brighter, more equitable future, and the importance of nurturing dreams and aspirations in young minds. As the students walked away from the building, they brought with them a sense of hope and possibility, a sense that they were not alone in their journey and that there were people who cared about their future.