Unexpected... How else can we describe it? When the text messages came, it was too sudden to react. Quincy Jay Mestio died early this morning. Those words finally sank in when I stood in front of the coffin a few hours ago.I never knew Quincy until their third year in college. He was the batch president then, and I was involved in organizing activities for the students. My first reaction was to marvel at his name. It took me some time to believe that it was his real name.
What really impressed me about this guy is how he was able to lead the group. He was not the commanding type, in fact he was soft spoken. You also don't get to see him run around the building looking extremely busy. With his simplicity he managed to move his batch mates to fulfill the tasks assigned to them.
It was because of Quincy that I also started noticing everyone else in his batch. We no longer exchange casual greetings, we've started hanging out. Last year, he invited me along with his other batch mates to drink beer in Cheaverz to celebrate his birthday. In the last semester, he consulted me about his thesis once in a while. I know we're not as close as he is with his batch mates but the little time I shared with him and his friends is enough for me to feel the loss that everyone else is feeling right now.
It is my first time to go to the wake of my student. In the past it was always the wake of a student's relative. I must admit it was rather strange for me. I confess that I was saddened by his departure, but after looking around me during the wake I couldn't help but be proud of Quincy as well. He has so many good friends. Their presence in the wake is a testimony of Quincy's good character.
I am thankful to Quincy for leaving me good memories to remember him by. May we do the same to others, may we follow the example he has left us.
