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Icarus van Acker changed his profile picture.
April 18

Mandatory update of profile picture for my upcoming graduation, with matching lengthy caption (and by "mandatory", I mean my girlfriend made me do it...)

——

I can still remember being so hesitant to choose Creative Writing as my course in college. A huge part of it was because my siblings followed our parents' career paths — my Ate Genie took up Architecture, same as our dad, and my Ate Leigh took up Accountancy, same as our mom. That made me, the youngest, the odd one out.

But whatever doubt I had was immediately quelled by the encouragement I received from my family. My father's response when I finally told him of my decision to take up a literary course was still clear as day to me — "If your dream is to be a writer, then by all means, chase it."

And chase it I started to.

E. L. Doctorow said that writing is a journey: "You start from nothing and learn as you go." My four years at Eisner had been nothing short of a rich learning experience. I am no longer that boy who secretly scribbles words in a notebook, as my chosen course gave me the confidence to bring my creations out into the open. Essays and short stories I authored found their way to the pages of some publications. A poem of mine even won an award.

The boy who used to secretly scribble words in a notebook never imagined those things could happen — at least, not to him.

Tomorrow will mark my last day as a Creative Writing student. But it will definitely not be the end of my writing journey. On the contrary, it's only beginning. If my chosen career were a poem, my four years at EU were just its first few opening lines.

Now, I'm off to the next stanza.

——

Icarus van Acker
Summa cum laude, BA in Creative Writing
Eisner University

1.1K likes | 517 comments

Jeremy Arbuez I am so proud of you! 😭 Congratulations! I love you. ❤️
Icarus van Acker I love you too, kahit pinilit mo akong magpalit ng DP na wala naman sa balak ko. 😜
Jeremy Arbuez Sayang naman kasi ang pre-convocation photoshoot ng EU kung hindi mo 'yan ipo-post. Nag-change DP rin kaya ang mga ka-batch mo! 😌
Icarus van Acker Whatever you say, Ms. Arbuez. You're my boss. 😁

Eugenie van Acker Ahhhh I'm crying after reading your caption! Congratulations, bunso! ❤️
Icarus van Acker Thank you, ate. Ikaw ang unang-unang nag-encourage sa akin na kunin ang course na gusto ko. 😄
Eugenie van Acker Of course! Ate is always here to support you. 😘

Everleigh van Acker Sali rin ako huhu support lang din si Ate Leigh sa'yo, bunso! Sa career man 'yan o sa (ehem!) love life. Hello, sister-in-law @Jeremy! 😛
Jeremy Arbuez Hello, Ate Leigh. 😂
Icarus van Acker I always had a hunch na kayong dalawa ang magkakasundo sa kalokohan. Turns out I was right. 😜

Israel de la Torre Congratulations sa bunso ng Team Confidence! Proud kami sa'yo! 🙌🏻
Mikael Ordoñez True! Summa cum laude na, may love life pa!
Zyrex Serafin Iba talaga si Rus! Mapapasabi ka na lang ng "Sana all!"
Aaron Felipe Sana all kasi hanggang summa kabilang section ka lang, @Zyrex?
Zyrex Serafin Ganoon na nga, @Aaron. 🤪
Aaron Felipe Haha! At least aminado ka, @Zyrex. Congratulations, Rus!
Lewis Altoveros Nagkalat na naman kayo sa DP ng may DP, @Zyrex @Aaron. 🤦🏻‍♂️ Congrats, Rus!
Icarus van Acker Thanks, mga kuya. 😂

Rhien Koh Looking sharp, Rus! Congratulations! Hihintayin ni Ate Rhi ang book mo. 🤗
Icarus van Acker Thank you, Ate Rhi. 😄
Mikael Ordoñez Ako rin ba, looking sharp, mahal @Rhien? 😎
Rhien Koh @Mikael Hu u??

Matthew Arbuez Congrats, bayaw! Sana sa'yo magmana ng katalinuhan at katinuan ang mga future pamangkin ko. 😂
Giovan Arbuez Bakit @Matthew, matalino rin naman ang bunso natin ah?
Matthew Arbuez Oo, pero hindi matino. 😜
Tobias Arbuez Grabe naman kayo kay @Jeremy. Matino naman 'yan, kapag tulog. 😂
Jeremy Arbuez May problema ba kayo sa akin, Tatlong Haring Gago? 🙄
Giovan Arbuez Wala naman, bunso. 😂 Congrats nga pala, Rus!
Icarus van Acker Thank you, mga kuya. 😁

Maurice Arbonita Congrats, pareng Rus!
Icarus van Acker Thank you, Mau. 😂
Jeremy Arbuez Wow @Maurice, maka-"pare" ka naman diyan? Parang may mali... 😌
Maurice Arbonita Manahimik ka kung gusto mo pang makaabot sa susunod na school year, @Jeremy.
Jeremy Arbuez Hahaha! Joke lang po!

Italia Wenceslao Congratulations, Rus! And to @Jeremy as well, for the good catch. 😉
Icarus van Acker Thank you, Tali. 😁
Jeremy Arbuez Thanks, besh! Good catch din daw si Kuya @Tobias, baka lang naman...
Tobias Arbuez Hindi ako summa cum laude pero summa-sampalataya akong magiging tayo, @Italia. 😎
Jeremy Arbuez Nyeta ka Kuya @Tobias, napakakorni mo! 🤣

Simone Reginio Ang pogi naman ng bunso namin! Congratulations, Rus! 😍
Sullivan Reginio Siyempre, mana sa Kuya Sulli niya. Buti na nga lang at hindi sa'yo, @Simone. Ang malas siguro ng pinsan natin kung nagkataon.
Simone Reginio Epal ka talaga kahit kailan, @Sullivan. 🙄
Sullivan Reginio At pikon ka talaga kahit kailan, @Simone. 🤪 Congratulations, @Icarus!
Icarus van Acker Thank you, Ate Sim and Kuya Sulli. Please lang po, 'wag kayong mag-away rito. 😅

Cadence van Acker Looks like I'm late to the party but... congratulations to my bunso! Mom is so proud of you. ❤️
Ruel van Acker And Dad as well, @Icarus. Don't forget the proud father. 🙂
Juniper Reginio Isama mo na rin si Tita Juni, Rus! 😊
Vance Reginio Pati na rin ang napakagwapo mong Tito Vance. 😎
Juniper Reginio Wow, @Vance. Pakibawasan naman ang kapal ng mukha, haha!
Icarus van Acker Thank you, oldies! 🤪
Juniper Reginio Oldies daw tayo, @Cadence @Ruel @Vance! I feel so insulted! 😭
Ruel van Acker Matatanda na naman talaga tayo, @Juniper. Tanggapin mo na. Baka nga next year, may apo na kayo ni Vance...
Cadence van Acker Haha! Imagine someone calling our best friends "Lola Juni" and "Lolo Vance", @Ruel. 😂
Juniper Reginio AAAHHH NOOO HINDI PA AKO HANDANG MATAWAG NA LOLA!!! 😭