Michael Coroza

Arjan Aguirre

WRITTEN BY ENZO LAGAMON

As long as you are breathing, make sure what you are doing is for good and for a larger cause.

THE VOCATION of teaching is braved by few souls who find it imperative to be actively involved in the formation of young minds. Most professors in Ateneo face every day knowing the duties bestowed upon them and the impact they have on their students’ lives. A select few, however, have been such a remarkable figure of influence that their pupils made a Facebook meme page in their professor’s honor.

Arjan Aguirre is a resident MA Instructor for the Political Science Department. His teaching catalog is impressive, ranging from Global Governance, to Political Theory and Electoral Reform. Of course, Aguirre is only able to teach all these well because of the life he has dedicated to service in and out of academia.

While he has recently completed his Masters in Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science, his history with the discipline and with teaching dates way back.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Aguirre began his years in teaching as a graduate student at the Ateneo in 2006. “I was fortunate enough to be mentored by some of the most inspiring and influential people here in Ateneo,” he happily recounts, adding that teachers such as Diana Mendoza, PhD and Luis David, SJ impelled him to go an extra mile.

Under the tutelage of his own mentors, Aguirre was moved to also live a life advocating for values the University champions: Democracy and social justice. After three years of activism and studying, he was officially taken in by the Political Science Department as an Instructor.

In retrospect, Aguirre notes three things that validates his choice to teach in the Ateneo. First, he loves the culture of the University. He continuously expressed his love for the tradition of influence and the pedagogy of student formation here. Second, he thrives in Ateneo’s active involvement in the pursuit of justice. Aguirre recalls how he joined his home the department outside Gate 2.5 as they campaigned for transparency during the Arroyo administration. Third, he realized that he could do something more “substantial” if he chose a career in teaching. He knew that he would be able to work with some of the country’s best teachers and students to help in nation-building if he taught in the University.

These three reasons are fundamental to his vocation. He says that being in a community that fosters excellence motivates him to continuously improve his craft.

Aguirre says that he is still always looking to better himself and find ways to offer something new to his students to “make their Ateneo experience unforgettable.”

“I still feel the pressure of having to prove that I am worthy,” he admits.

THE STUDENTS AT THE HEART

When asked about his teaching philosophy, Aguirre immediately says that teaching should be “student-centered.” He detests the idea of professors talking down on their pupils by virtue of seniority as he believes that learning is a twoway affair; that teachers must learn something from their students too.

This is precisely why Aguirre’s brand of teaching is remarkably engaging, relevant, and funny. His classes are always opened with humorous yet deeply insightful expositions on current events and ethics. Aguirre shares that his work “would be meaningless if students don’t know what they are talking about,” and that the business of teaching Political Science is not just to produce good political scientists but to produce ones with a heart.

Of course, Aguirre leads by example. He is known for the work he does outside of the University, such as working with different organizations, political parties, and candidates in and out of elections. “I know I can change the world with [teaching my] students but nothing beats getting your hands dirty,” he says. He shares that he wants to touch lives no matter how indirectly. This is why Aguirre does not just identify as a teacher but also as an academic, a scholar, and a practitioner. “Take away one and I’m gone,” he asserts.

When asked whether he wants his students to one day follow his footsteps, he proudly says that he simply wants to be a role model and that he has already produced such students.

Evidenced by the Facebook page that immortalizes his signature brand of teaching, as well as the students and alumni that attest to the influence Aguirre has had in their lives, it is safe to assume that he continues to change the world through his pupils and beyond.

HOPE, RESILIENCY, AND A VISION

The graduating batch of 2022 will leave the University fresh from a pandemic and having just sworn in a new Philippine President. In light of the uncertainty of the future, Aguiree hopes the graduating batch foremost remains hopeful. “Having hope means looking forward to that opportunity to change the world [even if you fail many times],” he says.

He insists that Batch 2022 also be resilient in the sense that one must not stop doing good. He says: “As long as you are breathing, make sure what you do is for good and for a larger cause.” Aguirre adds, though, that hope and resiliency only make sense if you have a purpose. Thus, he enjoins Ateneans to find their own visions and causes to champion.

If there was one thing Aguirre wanted to tell Batch 2022, it would be to repay the good you have received to someone else. Beyond the memes, the voluminous readings, and the four walls of the classroom—an Ateneo education is only valuable if it is used to help others. “If you want a better society, pay it forward,” Aguirre advises. Only by doing so can we make our mark in the world that we have been trained to service.