Let me start with a very simple, but often overlooked, question for everyone here today:
What do you think is the difference between growing up and growing old? Sounds simple enough, right? At first glance, many of us would think, “Aren’t they the same?” After all, both include a passage of time. They both involve change and movement through life from being a curious little kid to becoming a wise, elderly individual. And honestly, if you think about it that way, we’re not totally different.
But after my four years of studying human behavior and mental processes, I came to realize a hidden fact between these two: Growing old is automatic, while growing up is intentional. It is the basic notion of nature vs. nurture. Simply put, it is the principle on human development that delves into the effects of genetics, which is the nature part; and the environment which is the nurture part—on how people behave, how they react to situations, their capacity for change and thinking, and the general idea of development.
Looking at this perspective, we can see that growing old is not the same as growing up. Growing old is something that happens to all of us. It is a biological fact that we cannot simply ignore because we will all grow old. Every moment you spend here—every second, minute, and hour that pass—your bodies change, and then you move on to another chapter. The only difference we have is how long that will take us.
But with growing up? That is a decision. That is up to you.
Growing up means marking your stay here by choosing maturity over comfort. It means consistently learning, unlearning, and relearning things. It means opening yourself up to change and not being afraid of the outcome. It means facing difficult and often harsh truths with an open mind and walking through life with a deeper sense of purpose, and not just walking through the motions.
Think about it this way: You can always grow old without ever growing up. You can add decades of years to your life, but not life to your years. That is why I say this to you today, not just to our graduates, but to everyone here: Stop thinking too much about growing old and start thinking about growing up.
Do not let time be a measure of your existence and growth. Let time encourage you to keep on defining yourself to cross new boundaries and challenge your limits.
Growing up is not about having all the answers; it is about having the right questions. It is about reliving curiosity and staying open to life’s lessons and questions, whether it is from success or failure.
Growing up is you refusing to settle into a version of yourself because it is the familiar one. It is about stretching, expanding, and evolving even in the face of discomfort and uncertainty.
Grow up with competence to know what you’re doing and do it well. Grow up with a commitment to never give up and always show up. And, grow up with compassion to care through your actions, and not just words.
Because after all, progress is never inherited; it is created.
So, today, we do not just celebrate a milestone of achievement, for this will be the day that sparks a challenge for breaking boundaries, rising above limitations, and embracing uncertainty with sheer boldness to meet the future with fire and not fear. Because then, and only then, can we truly move forward. Not by age but by mindset. Not by dependence but by transcendence.
So, the next time you are doing something and suddenly come face-to-face with uncertainty, doubt, judgement, lack of youthful drive and curiosity, and/or clouded by the thought of doing something even though everyone believes otherwise would be possible, just say what my girlie Elle Woods would say, “What, like it’s hard?”
This is Mark Jeuz Exconde. Officially not signing off on growing up.
Ad Astra First Asia!
