What Atom Araullo told Grade 6 students is actually great advice for adults
Our earliest lessons in life are gently shaped by our parents, or those who stand in their place. Then, teachers step in to give us structure and logic. But there is also a different kind of wisdom that comes from outside of those walls—take a journalist for example—someone whose profession is to ask questions, seek truth, and uncover stories.
On May 13, award-winning broadcast journalist Atom Araullo returned to his roots, speaking to the Ateneo Grade School Class of 2026 exactly 30 years after his own graduation from the campus.
In a transcript released on May 25, Araullo, shared only six lessons aimed at capturing the attention of the mostly Generation Alpha audience. His tidbits of wisdom range from childish tips to serious life advice.
While these pointers may be aimed at kids, us adults can learn a thing or two. Here are the six lessons Araullo shared:
Never trust a classmate who says, 'Bro, hindi ako nag-aral'
Who doesn't get bothered by that one student who claims not to have studied, only to end up getting the highest score in class? For Araullo, nothing beats preparation and studying to excel.
"Sa totoo lang, kahit ang mga genius, kailangan mag-aral. Talent is nice. Intelligence is nice. But if you want to do well in an exam, or in sports, or in music, or in anything worth doing, you have to prepare. There are no shortcuts," he said.
Dead animals do not belong inside your book
Araullo recalled an old superstition from his grade school days that involved placing a dead snake inside a book to supposedly absorb lessons faster. However, the experiment failed miserably as the the dead animal decomposed inside his bag, leaving a terrible smell and ruining his science book. He then used the story became his way of remind students to question information and think critically.
"So if you ever hear a tip like that… siguro… mag-aral ka na lang." he suggested.
Embrace the cringe
Cringe has been a buzzword, especially among Gen Z, to refer to embarassment or disgust. For Araullo, feeling and welcoming cringe is part of growth and is key to life's successes.
"Everything worth doing in life starts with a little bit of cringe. Kung hindi mo sasanayin ang sarili mo na mapahiya once in a while, ang dami mong hindi susubukan." Araullo exclaimed.
He shared that joining theater in school to the whim of his parents became one of the best decisions of his life because it taught him confidence and social skills.
"In life, you have to try things that you’re bad at. You might join a club and realize you’re not good yet. You might try a sport and lose badly. You might dance and immediately regret it. That’s okay. The cringe is temporary," he said.
It’s okay to admit when you don’t know something
For Araullo, the phrase “I don’t know" is very rarely blurted out phrase, even for grownups. But for him, saying it is a sign of humility and curiosity.
"If you don’t understand something, just say it. 'Sir, I don’t get it.' 'Ma'am, pwede pakiulit?' 'Bro, ano yung assignment?'" he said.
"But seriously, don’t be afraid to ask. Because the moment you accept that there are many things you don’t know, you become free to learn," he added.
Learn how to entertain yourself without relying on your phone
Another crucial life skill that is rare in the younger generation is to have fun away from gadgets. He noted that some of his best memories came from moments without a phone.
"Pag bored ka, hindi automatic na kailangan mong maghanap ng WiFi. Smartphones are amazing. Games are amazing. But if your whole life is on a screen, you will miss a lot," he said.
He emphasized the essence of having physically engaging, in-person activities, "You will remember the inside jokes only your section understood, the games you played outside for too long (yung tipong pawis na pawis na kayo pagbalik sa classroom, and the family moments that didn’t feel special at the time, but somehow became core memories."
Be careful what you get used to
Araullo ended his speech by emphasizing integrity and the importance of making good choices even in small situations.
"It’s tempting to always choose the easy option. When things get hard, you quit. When you get in trouble, you lie. When you make a mistake, you make excuses. When someone else is having a hard time, you pretend you don’t see it," the journalist said.
Araullo claimed that one's values—or lack of it—develop over time through small decisions, "If you get used to these things, dadalhin mo yan sa paglaki. So be careful."
"You don’t have to save the world before recess. Sometimes being good starts with very small things." he concluded.
