Everything is still so vivid to me...
The number of times I went back and forth, up and down the solemn stairs of the administration building, and facing the not-so-kind people of the OSA department and being screamed at for not bringing a ballpen. The madame sitting behind the third window was even more kind enough to accommodate me, even if she said "Kinsa man diay ang mu eskwela inday, ikaw or imong papa? (Who's going to school, you or your dad?)" when I asked if my dad could enroll me in my behalf. She had a point there though, not minding the sarcasm. Enrollment day was as clear as the waters in the lake. A woman who was named Wynonah Van Joy Buot was sitting beside me and my elementary buddy, Victor Anthony Silva. She was fuming and not used to the system of the city as she came from Saudi Arabia (She's Filipino btw). The brown out and the advisers who were late, who couldn't forget that. And the fixing of the schedule and the choosing of subjects? Boy, that was the hardest decision I ever had to make noting that I had no idea of what I am to face. News faces, new courses, new everything. At 1pm sharp, I signed my form 5. Alas, I'm ready. First day of classes, freshmen orientation, the "Hi I'm....*insert name here*" line and freshie's night, I tore it all down.
First day of Class
One of my first few lunches on campus
First task given - to decorate the post for COMMUP
The experience inside is indescribable. If you all think it's heaven then think again, it's close to hell. I guess I've ranted a number of blogs about how difficult it is inside. But then I realized it wasn't as hard as we all thought. Months on to the semester and we all got used to how everything worked, including the bag counter at the library. I've found a group of friends and stood with them. I got to know their strengths and weaknesses plus learning lessons with them. There were moments when we would laugh in the school canteen, talk so loudly along the corridors and mourn over a difficult exam. Like any other group we didn't really know where were heading and people started to go off with groups, duos, trios and some felt they needed time off with another half. There were times when I wanted to be alone in my solitary mind, especially in the morning. Sitting on one of the benches on campus while contemplating about the papers to pass and materials to produce was a routine of mine which I couldn't trade for anything else. Time passed and I got to know a lot of other people from school. The spirit of being in UP eventually became very clear to me although I was very hesitant to take leap with the rest. I eventually got in the hang of things and rather much enjoyed the festivity rather than squatting in apathy.
There a million things in life I wouldn't trade for anything else. Deciding to pursue a Bachelor's degree in UP Cebu was the best choice I made so far. It is only here where I have found competent teachers who couldn't be unreasonable for giving out strenuous work. Everything paid off. I have found peace, I have found meaning, I found found friends, I found family, I have found love. For the many other things I am to tackle for the remaining six semesters of my degree, I am in no fear. I have made it for a year, who knows I'd finish on time. Maybe we aren't meant to be for what we really wanted. Not everything in life is yours to handle, the dreams which you've always wanted to chase should be set loose. After all, there are no such things as accidents and wrong turns; we we're just blind to see the beautiful picture beyond the brick wall.
Goodbye Freshman year! Thank you for all I had to go through and experience as firsts. You will forever be missed. -Feanne
