Goodbye. Fairwell. Adios.

GRADUATION.

One of the most heartbreaking words that I've added into my vocabulary and Rank Number 2 among the hardest-to-move-on experiences in my entire life. It means leaving the people I've been bumping into within my four-year-stay at school, leaving my closest buds, the school that helped me unleash my inner potentials and my hidden talents, the teachers that served as my second parents, and all the other people who continued to inspire me like my circle of friends, role models, and others and starting another book regarding the journey of my life.

Within the 4 years, I can already knit a sweater out of  my best memories in school. I've already earned eight stacks of boxes filled with the fun experiences during high school. Right from my very first step inside the campus until the very last day that I will be at school. I will miss everything about Ilocos Sur National High School. How every corner encapsulates the memories, how the teachers are so hilarious and persevering, how bonds are created and strengthened, how everything is contained in an eight-hectare bubble. 

So long people! I swear that I won't forget you. I'll miss you all and Godspeed. 

"New Year, New Me."

And yeah. Everyone is so pressured upon hearing that "NYNM phenomenon," almost everyone are so focused on their resolutions. Almost everyone wants to make change in order to catch up with it but me... I don't think so.

Let me get it to you straight, I did not prepare for any resolution and I barely changed anything. Because change is within us. We change for a certain reason and the opening of a new calendar year is NOT included in the list of the "certain reasons". Reality strikes, WE DON'T REALLY NEED TO CHANGE EVERY TIME A NEW YEAR STARTS. Some people make their resolutions but they really put their heart in doing those. Some may actually do what their resolutions say but it only lasts for a couple of weeks or months.

Here's a shot: If we want to pursue our resolutions, we must do them with all our hearts and with our full commitment. Resolutions must be put into concrete actions and not only end as journal entries.

Picturesque Future: In Flux And In Bliss

Negative perspectives about life. Reigning of ignorance. Lack of concentration, and a world revolving in hilarity. The past clouded by childish acts, thoughts and everything. these maybe some of the things, attitudes that I may dump 10, 20, 30 or 40 years from now. It is perplexing to think of the juxtaposition of things. What makes it perplexing? The combination of the past, present and future. The roots of these have the depth of a photograph. It will be a matter of is and is no longer.

All I want is a future of flux. The natural state. The state wherein there is a constant change and instability. I want my future to be revolving on CHANGE because I don't want to live a stagnant life. WE all live for a change and it might be the only way to attain future satisfaction. We change our attitude. We change our lifestyle. We change everything until we find "partial contentment" in the things that we have in hand. Moreover, I also aspire for a future clouded with bliss. Complete happiness. This is where I am destined to be. In an ecstatic world. They say that fun is only for children, naaahhhh... I protest! No matter what your age is, you still need to have fun. No one could ever live without it. 

This is what my future looks like and I will live up to this dream. I will go against all odds just to be right where I am destined to be. This will be my lifetime legacy. This is the future me.

Change: Starting Point Within

And yes, this may sound cliché but if there’s one thing permanent in this world, most probably it would be CHANGE.

Change.

Change.

CHANGE.

Dictionary meanings: 1) A shift from one state, stage, or phase to another. 2) An alteration, variation, or modification, or the result of this.

Change. Well, it applies on everything and on different aspects. Physical change. Emotional change. Psychological change. Spiritual change and many other forms of change. And they all make up your “individuality” as a person, they are pieces of a puzzle that are made to transform everyday, and you, the puzzle, must cope up to the changing pieces.

Growth means change. A new haircut or fashion sense is change. A new method of brainstorming ideas or an improved comprehension means change. Modified perspectives about life are also classified as change. People change approximately a million times for a lifetime. The frequency of change somehow depends on one's bearings, self-consciousness, criticisms (constructive or destructive) and the influences from other people. You feel discontentment with your rocking vibe, you change it. Your friends don't seem to appreciate your hilarity, you change for them. You're falling back in class, you've realized it, you change your study patterns to cope up. But here's the thing: whatever change you are planning to do, make sure it agrees with your "Importance Checklist" and never have a hint of ignoring it because it may take you a long way. Change starts with the inside. Right where every feeling is conjured, where every decision is based on, and where everything , no matter how important it is, means a lot. It starts with YOU and IN YOU.

The Essence of Christmas

Houses festooned with glimmering decors. Streets bedazzled by lights. Children singing their Christmas carols. The cold December breeze. All of these mark that Christmas is coming soon. I bet many of us are busy on their wish lists and who-to-give-gifts lists. Annually, we celebrate Christmas to commemorate the birth of the Messiah. This season is about giving, sharing and spreading love. Being with the whole family and stuff. We must do this everyday. You know, it ain't about the gifts or what. It's about how you share the blessings that you've received or doing good deeds that benefit you and the people around you. We should do this everyday and not only during this season.

Terrific Third

"Yarn, noun: Maybe language is kind, giving us these double meanings. Maybe it's trying to teach us a lesson, that we can always be two things at once."

- David Levithan

And yes, there it is. Another grading period has ended marking the start of the fourth and the LAST grading period. It haunts me to think about the fact that we are down to our last 2 MONTHS of high school. I'll never have a single idea about what life would be as I cross the other side of the bridge. Reflecting back on the struggles of the 3rd quarter, I realized that sacrifices maybe against our will or heart-breaking but I have proven that THEY ARE WORTH IT. Totally worth it. I never imagined that skipping classes, giving up something and concentrating on broadcasting more than my studies would take me all the way to the Regional Schools Press Conference. It's like the proverbial blessing in disguise. The whole third quarter, for me, is on the concept of sacrifice, bequeathing a legacy and leaving a mark that would not lead you to oblivion.