Top 10 High School Memories
Soon, I will have to say goodbye to this grade school and high school journal and create a new blog for college. Until then, here's a list of my top ten memories of high school! (Because my brain insists on reminiscing and bombarding me with flashbacks every so often.)
Top 10 High School Memories:
(in no particular order)
1. Belonging to an awesome class
I belonged to three amazing sections. I remember always secretly hoping that the teachers would give up on the whole resectioning thing. I never wanted to let go of the class that cheered "I-3, Yee!". I didn't want to leave the section that cried together while singing "Bro, Ikaw Ang Star Ng Pasko" either. Of course, I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy my last two years of high school with IV-3. We were the class that braved every storm (including one that cut our class encounter short and another that complicated possible emergency trips home from Baguio). We were the section that said, "You jump, I jump!", and later had to suffer the consequences together. We stood strong in sickness and in health - and also in a classroom that reeked of vinegar.
2. Participating and being involved
It's always great to get involved! You can never truly say you've experienced high school unless you can proudly claim you contributed to the success of your Fair, KKK, Teachers' Day, Alternative Christmas, Interaction, Prom, Shakesfest, and/or Ball. Attending meetings, going home late, stamping chits, counting money, monitoring transportation for off-campus courses, making sure each venue had materials, teaching grade school students, planning programs, creating groups, playing cupid, collecting payments, taking note of blocking, attaching lapels, scouting for sponsors, ordering Assumption tarts, packing loot bags, and setting up were definitely all worth it in the end. My only regret is not getting involved sooner, especially for Shakesfest!
3. Playing alongside Music Ministry
I have this wonderful ensemble of instrumentalists to thank for reawakening my passion for music. Had you asked me four years ago whether I played any instruments, I would have probably said, "I gave up the violin a long time ago. I haven't picked up my violin in ages!" It was playing with talented violinists, pianists, flutists, and guitarists that made me realize I could never let go of music. I feel truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to lead and to learn from the Music Ministry club and our georgeous club moderator.
4. Joining World Youth Day 2012
Here's an excerpt from my Filipino Alternative UT, a scrapbook entitled "Mga Alaala Mula Sa Espanya":
Madami akong mga bagong karanasan mula sa Espanya. Una sa lahat, naranasan ko kung paano mamuhay ng mag-isa na walang mga magulang. Nalaman ko kung gaano ito kahirap, at dahil dito, mas pinahahalagahan ko ngayon ang aking mga magulang. Maliban doon, marami akong mga simpleng karanasan na hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan. Nagdasal ako sa iba't-ibang simbahan, gumamit ng kaunting salitang Espanyol, bumili ng abaniko sa palengke, kumain ng paella, at sumayaw kasama ang mga madre. Sa Espanya ko natutunan ang tunay na halaga ng pahayag na "suffer with joy" o "magdusa na may kagalakan." Naglakad ako buong araw at tumayo ng limang oras sa ilalim ng init ng araw para lang makita ang Santo Papa.
5. Being sent to the clinic quarantine room and to the St. Louis University Hospital Emergency Room... twice
Alright, so maybe these weren't the best memories I have of high school; they certainly fall under the "most memorable" category though! I mean, how many people can say they spent an hour in the clinic quarantine room browsing old magazines with another classmate with sore eyes? Who can claim they were rushed to the St. Louis University Hospital ER twice - once after puking and another after contracting a 38.9 ºC fever? Probably just me.
6. Writing with Facets
I love writing, and I loved Facets. I don't think I'll ever forget playing taboo, attending fake press conferences, protecting an egg with newspaper, planning issues, watching movies, listening to Gabbi recite the "Premble", cheering F-A-C-E-T-S-FACETS!, singing, eating lunch with the Ed board, creating layouts, writing, and generally working with this crazy bunch of asse(t)s! I swear, had we been allowed to join two clubs, I wouldn't have ever left Facets.
7. Crushing on teachers
Like any other naive school girl with a serious lack of male friends, I had crushes on teachers. Admit it, you did too! I like to think it's a rite of passage, and that each kid should have at least one ridiculous and hopeless crush on a teacher. As much as I'd like to lock this memory up in a box and bury it way underground, I can't. Here's me accepting this dark age of my life and saying that once upon a time, I was motivated to excel and work hard to impress these teachers! Huwag mo na tanungin kung sino sila.
8. Surviving Monologo and Research Paper
I don't know which was more tough, really. Was it writing a script, memorizing it, and reciting it with full emotion in front of your whole class, or was it lining up for consultations, getting signatures, dropping requirements in a box, finding sources, creating note cards, writing the paper, designing your graphic representation, memorizing page numbers, and answering all your teacher's questions in front of your whole class? Oh wait, now I know. I guess I say that monologo was tough, because I cannot act. Given the choice, I would probably opt to write another research paper instead of performing in front of a large group again!
9. Learning from the most inspiring people in the world
Sure, I studied matrices, latifundia, encyclicals, pictures of scientists, quotable quotes, and Rizal's love life, but these aren't what I really learned in high school; in fact, these will probably be forgotten in less than a decade. What I did learn is: to challenge myself, to be patient, to actually try, to keep striving, to never settle for mediocrity, and to always be prepared. I will forever be in debt to the teachers who helped me become who I am today.
10. Graduating
March 31, 2012 was definitely a bittersweet day. I didn't want to say goodbye to my beloved batchmates, and I couldn't imagine myself no longer being a student of Assumption College. Still, it was one of the best days of my life. I don't think any moment can top walking up to the stage, realizing that all your efforts were worth it, and seeing how happy everyone is for you. Nearly two months after that fateful day, I still can't believe that I already graduated from high school. Until our velada, Batch 2012, dare to be radical!
This isn't a legit challenge or anything, but if you feel like writing a similar type of entry, go ahead! I unofficially tag you!
Top 10 High School Memories:
(in no particular order)
1. Belonging to an awesome class
I belonged to three amazing sections. I remember always secretly hoping that the teachers would give up on the whole resectioning thing. I never wanted to let go of the class that cheered "I-3, Yee!". I didn't want to leave the section that cried together while singing "Bro, Ikaw Ang Star Ng Pasko" either. Of course, I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy my last two years of high school with IV-3. We were the class that braved every storm (including one that cut our class encounter short and another that complicated possible emergency trips home from Baguio). We were the section that said, "You jump, I jump!", and later had to suffer the consequences together. We stood strong in sickness and in health - and also in a classroom that reeked of vinegar.
2. Participating and being involved
It's always great to get involved! You can never truly say you've experienced high school unless you can proudly claim you contributed to the success of your Fair, KKK, Teachers' Day, Alternative Christmas, Interaction, Prom, Shakesfest, and/or Ball. Attending meetings, going home late, stamping chits, counting money, monitoring transportation for off-campus courses, making sure each venue had materials, teaching grade school students, planning programs, creating groups, playing cupid, collecting payments, taking note of blocking, attaching lapels, scouting for sponsors, ordering Assumption tarts, packing loot bags, and setting up were definitely all worth it in the end. My only regret is not getting involved sooner, especially for Shakesfest!
3. Playing alongside Music Ministry
I have this wonderful ensemble of instrumentalists to thank for reawakening my passion for music. Had you asked me four years ago whether I played any instruments, I would have probably said, "I gave up the violin a long time ago. I haven't picked up my violin in ages!" It was playing with talented violinists, pianists, flutists, and guitarists that made me realize I could never let go of music. I feel truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to lead and to learn from the Music Ministry club and our georgeous club moderator.
4. Joining World Youth Day 2012
Here's an excerpt from my Filipino Alternative UT, a scrapbook entitled "Mga Alaala Mula Sa Espanya":
Madami akong mga bagong karanasan mula sa Espanya. Una sa lahat, naranasan ko kung paano mamuhay ng mag-isa na walang mga magulang. Nalaman ko kung gaano ito kahirap, at dahil dito, mas pinahahalagahan ko ngayon ang aking mga magulang. Maliban doon, marami akong mga simpleng karanasan na hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan. Nagdasal ako sa iba't-ibang simbahan, gumamit ng kaunting salitang Espanyol, bumili ng abaniko sa palengke, kumain ng paella, at sumayaw kasama ang mga madre. Sa Espanya ko natutunan ang tunay na halaga ng pahayag na "suffer with joy" o "magdusa na may kagalakan." Naglakad ako buong araw at tumayo ng limang oras sa ilalim ng init ng araw para lang makita ang Santo Papa.
5. Being sent to the clinic quarantine room and to the St. Louis University Hospital Emergency Room... twice
Alright, so maybe these weren't the best memories I have of high school; they certainly fall under the "most memorable" category though! I mean, how many people can say they spent an hour in the clinic quarantine room browsing old magazines with another classmate with sore eyes? Who can claim they were rushed to the St. Louis University Hospital ER twice - once after puking and another after contracting a 38.9 ºC fever? Probably just me.
6. Writing with Facets
I love writing, and I loved Facets. I don't think I'll ever forget playing taboo, attending fake press conferences, protecting an egg with newspaper, planning issues, watching movies, listening to Gabbi recite the "Premble", cheering F-A-C-E-T-S-FACETS!, singing, eating lunch with the Ed board, creating layouts, writing, and generally working with this crazy bunch of asse(t)s! I swear, had we been allowed to join two clubs, I wouldn't have ever left Facets.
7. Crushing on teachers
Like any other naive school girl with a serious lack of male friends, I had crushes on teachers. Admit it, you did too! I like to think it's a rite of passage, and that each kid should have at least one ridiculous and hopeless crush on a teacher. As much as I'd like to lock this memory up in a box and bury it way underground, I can't. Here's me accepting this dark age of my life and saying that once upon a time, I was motivated to excel and work hard to impress these teachers! Huwag mo na tanungin kung sino sila.
8. Surviving Monologo and Research Paper
I don't know which was more tough, really. Was it writing a script, memorizing it, and reciting it with full emotion in front of your whole class, or was it lining up for consultations, getting signatures, dropping requirements in a box, finding sources, creating note cards, writing the paper, designing your graphic representation, memorizing page numbers, and answering all your teacher's questions in front of your whole class? Oh wait, now I know. I guess I say that monologo was tough, because I cannot act. Given the choice, I would probably opt to write another research paper instead of performing in front of a large group again!
9. Learning from the most inspiring people in the world
Sure, I studied matrices, latifundia, encyclicals, pictures of scientists, quotable quotes, and Rizal's love life, but these aren't what I really learned in high school; in fact, these will probably be forgotten in less than a decade. What I did learn is: to challenge myself, to be patient, to actually try, to keep striving, to never settle for mediocrity, and to always be prepared. I will forever be in debt to the teachers who helped me become who I am today.
10. Graduating
March 31, 2012 was definitely a bittersweet day. I didn't want to say goodbye to my beloved batchmates, and I couldn't imagine myself no longer being a student of Assumption College. Still, it was one of the best days of my life. I don't think any moment can top walking up to the stage, realizing that all your efforts were worth it, and seeing how happy everyone is for you. Nearly two months after that fateful day, I still can't believe that I already graduated from high school. Until our velada, Batch 2012, dare to be radical!
This isn't a legit challenge or anything, but if you feel like writing a similar type of entry, go ahead! I unofficially tag you!