The Downside of College Life

Photo credits to the owner.

As soon as I have entered college, I slowly have realized that college is much harder than I have expected. I realized that college is somehow already a job for me-- except with no salary. Sleeping late because of the tasks that need to be accomplished on time and the trouble of awakening early morning because of the tiresome works everyday, I suppose there is something that tries to lead me to a difficult task. With late night thoughts that have been bothering me, the real world slowly shows up and tells me that he is already there starting from college, and yes, it challenges me something big that sometimes I couldn't handle it anymore. One example is going to other place to attain a college degree. I get depressed all the time because I miss a lot of things. I miss my mom. I miss my dad. I miss my true friends. I miss debating with my friends. I miss playing badminton with them. I miss my hometown. I think about it day by day, then it made me realize that I am starting to feel what my dad always feels. I slowly realize that it saddens my dad to leave home just to go to other place to work for us. Or us, me and my mom, leaving Japan for my education, and dad is left home. Most of the time, I get depressed because of environmental and social problems. I quite find it difficult to interact with people nowadays because they are the ones who set barriers among us, and that is something that I really want to get rid of. But I realized that there are things that needs to be experienced consistently. Not only good things, but also the things that disappoint me. It's what makes me tougher to without doubting to pierce through anything to reach my endeavors. Also, there are things that are not permanent in this world. Everything gets lost. The only permanent things that I can get from the situations I now experience are the aftereffects of disappointments, sacrifices, and most important of all--the reason why I am here--knowledge imparted to me by my professors. Nevertheless, I slowly get to manage myself and able to cope up the difficulties I encounter from time to time, and this what makes me persevered and consistently challenged. I thought that this would be constant but I was wrong. It would only be as such if I do not help myself go out of the box to look for an interesting challenge. Just like exam week. It wouldn't be called 'Hell week' or as such if I do not want it to be.
Some would question, "Why not study in a university in your hometown/city?" There are two reasons why I chose to study not in my hometown: one, opportunity, the very reason why I chose to study outside our hometown. I believe I could attain the globally-competitive standard that the school has and with this, my skills will be honed and myself, as a responsible and successful person. The university's offers interest me a lot because I could really see that even the professors have already achieved many since their younger years and that is what they want to impart to us now, as well as it is what I want from them--their experience. Two, independence. Skills and talents are useless if they are not being used flexibly, properly, and independently. Whether I am still studying or not, I should already exercise my abilities so I won't ask that much help from anyone if there is a task for me and most especially a task from the job I would be working into in the future. Maturity is also included in dependence. Maturity also comes when I properly use the four W's and one H to think, say, and act. When I cannot do those, I can't be independent for I might decide irrationally and would be the cause of failure of mine.

Despite the fact that I usually have disturbing thoughts and depression, I still am looking forward that these impediments won't become the suppression to my endeavors lest I might not be able to become the person I want to be in the next ten years and contribute something to everyone and as well as to impart my knowledge to them. With constant perseverance and dedication, I believe that I am capable to surpass my current standard right now and become the best person beyond my goal. Cheers.

Certified Josephean Alumnus Batch 2014

So I am now a certified alumnus of St. Joseph School, my Alma Mater... Right? As in... REALLY?!
Woah, it has already been a decade, right? 

Photo credits to Ate Sheena Alcala. :)

So the picture above is the moment when we all threw our graduation cap away. Some lost theirs, but it was fun though. Haha.
So let me tell you a short story of my journey in my school.
So I started out as a kindergarten student on June 2003 and I felt like I was being choked by unknown people around me--my classmates. It was so awkward to be with them, and it was hard to adjust and adapt myself to an alien environment that time. I've been used to quiet and peaceful environment and it did astonish me that there were lots of kids just my age are more active than me. So as far as I remember, I was already aware that I was the most mature among us. They were too noisy on the first day of class, I remember. I thought that it'll going to stop, but it didn't. IT NEVER STOPPED. I remember this funny moment that I will never forget. My classmate, Marvin Solis, was the very first person in our batch who talked to me. (Glad I still remember this. We both still remember this. Lol). But I wasn't able to talk back because it made me speechless what he said since it was not usual for me to talk about nasty things and he went away right after he said something to me. While I was holding a pencil, he approached me and said...

"Ano yan?..."
*I was speechless*
"Tai?.. Hehe!"
*....*
* Marvin went away shouting exuberantly*

Unfortunately, I was slowly inheriting the traits of a real student. To be noisy all the time. I was actually a shy type and a quiet type kid in the class, but then I realized that I wasn't just comfortable in the beginning and then after a few months, I was already SALAWAYUN. Hay Señor. I think the only thing I learned in my kindergarten level was to make noise. Lol, though I still learned something academically, but not that much. THUG LIFE.

Let's talk about my elementary days, by the way. I remember that we were the most famous class in town HAHAHAHAHA. Honestly. Why? Our uproarious noise just disturbs everyone. (Pati yata aso ni kuya Jovan galit samin eh). Speaking of kuya Jovan, he is our school janitor. We are very close to him. He was already serving our school before we all started to study. Imagine how he is really devoted to our school.
Then we were even mentioned in every announcement of our beloved Prefect of Discipline, Mr. Bernard Ocalinas, whom we call 'Sir Oca'. Some alumni call him 'Daddy Berns'. He is one of the best teachers I met, because he knows a lot! Yes, he knows the way of life and how we are supposed to handle problems. That's why I am really thankful to Sir Oca for shaping my life and teaching me how to go on with my life the right way! Yeah!

When I was already in high school, I thought I was already mentally capable but it was just in the tip of the iceberg yet. It was true, indeed I discovered some of my hidden skills and I learned how to step out of my comfort zone. I also overcame stage fright. Poreso bien greso ya lang dimiyo kara na mga hente y especialmente si ta ase friends na mga strangers. HAHAHAHA! I may also be irrational sometimes upto now, but I always learn from my mistakes and refrain from doing them again. Not unless if they are worth doing them... again. HAHAHA, just kidding.

I thank God for helping me overcome all the trials that I encountered in life and shaped me to be a good human being.

Formal picture with parents is too mainstream. Yung wacky naman. Wakeke.

The picture above is taken before our commencement exercises started.

To end this blog(Parang speech lang ang peg), I thank God for all the blessings He showered upon us, my parents who supported me throughout my entire journey, who loved me, and cared for me unconditionally. Of course, I will never forget my teachers who were there for us all the time, who were there for us to teach us and to impart their knowledge to us. I am so thankful that I have been able to finish my high school despite of the bittersweet things that I encountered along the way. Those moments have shaped me, and made me who I am today. I was about to give up, yet I have given the courage to step forward again one-by-one. Stepping back when things goes wrong, then proceed. This consistent process made me at least successful to surpass and made it upto this far. Friends, best friends, classmates, enemies, and everyone, thank you so much. Now I am ready to take new challenges in the next pace of my journey. To all the students especially the graduates of 2014, kudos. Don't ever stop dreaming. Continue to endeavour to reach your dreams.

So now, my next mission is to finish my college with skills honed, abilities exercised, and well-being trained, so I will become a professional in the future to help people who are in need and who can't afford themselves.

Below are some of the pictures that I want to share with you. :)
These photos are some of the moments that I am going to cherish forever!

I am with our beloved adviser, Ma'am Bonita (Sipsip hahaha.), este, Ma'am Benita Mas, together with my batch mates and the Seniors 2K15 batch. She is a very loving second mother to us. She may be very strict, but she really loves us. Ayieee! We'll definitely going to miss her!

So here are some picture of me and Ma'am Mas. Ma'am Mas was so sweet when we took a picture together. Then we hugged afterwards. Ahww. :">
And the picture below is Ma'am's stolen shot. Actually, this should be scripted stolen shot because I told her that I will take a shot of her. Hahaha!
Me: Ma'am, i-stolen kita Ma'am ha.
Ma'am: Nah, it isn't a stolen anymore, you already told me.

So in this picture with me are Ma'am Ritch, the beloved adviser of IV - St. Dominic; my batch mates, and the future Seniors 2K15 batch. Her name is Ma. Theresa Andrada, but we call her 'Ma'am Ritch' because she doesn't want to be called by her first name or last name). Even if she's not our adviser, she still really loves us as how Ma'am Mas does. She cares for us and she never wants us to learn nothing so she does her best to help us at all times. 

So here's a collage of me and Ma'am Ritch. After these shots, we also hugged. Both Ma'am Mas and Ma'am Ritch encouraged me to study well and to do my best. They are so supportive. So I told myself that I must not fail the people who believe in me.

Meet Sir Joseph Cabrera. My brother when it comes to being compassionate to things we love and how to view things in a positive way. Our passion towards our talents and dreams in life is similar and somehow parallel that's why I learned many things from him because he always advised me about how to overcome the dificulties in life. I will never forget Kuya Jo! :)

Oh, hello there! Thank you for visiting and reading my blog patiently.
Have a good day!