[busy signaL]
[Sunday, February 11, 2007]
The Roman god Janus was always portrayed as having two faces — one looking toward the future, and the other looking toward the past. Small wonder that the first month was designated as his. We become a bit two-faced during January ourselves. We celebrate the media noche as a time of anticipation, as well as of reflection, before ringing in the New Year in a blaze of fireworks and polka dots. I figure that this our graduation is a similar borderline, but this time like that split-second between a dream and reality. We are about to wake up to the real world, so to speak, and cast all thoughts of our dream-world out of our minds. We smile and lie to ourselves, saying that if we never saw Zobel and our teachers again it would be too soon; or that we will have forgotten the tune of the Alma Mater the moment we step off-campus. Fat chance of that happening. This school, whether we admit it or not, has wormed its way into our cores. After all, the Ateneans may be blue-blooded, but we LaSallians will always be green-minded. It is a fact that Man finds security in routine — the same people; the same places; the same subjects, if you will. But all of that changes now. Now, we are about to take our last steps as high-schoolers and our first as collegians. This means that while some of us will continue our LaSallian education, others will opt to go abroad or shaft and join the opposition. You know what I mean. In any case, my point is that nothing lasts forever, least of all youth and circumstance.
Most of us have let the years speed by then regret their passing. Even now, it seems surreal that we have reached an end after so long. We may even find ourselves wishing that we could have had one more year. No wait, maybe just one more day. Much better. Too much of anything is a bad thing, wouldn’t you agree? Going back, it is like our time-honored tradition of doing everything at the last minute holds true to our very consciousness as well. Suddenly here we are, and no word rings truer than bangag to describe our states of awareness. The consolation is that we are all bangag together. We are individuals, yet also elements in a set. Each of us is unique and has added that particular flavor to our cream of senior soup. Put simply, this batch would not be what it is if we were not who we are. I believe that a school is less of an academic environment and more of a social experience. In this, at least, our sleeping and getting up at unearthly hours day after day ad infinitum have been worth it — we leave with the acquaintance of three hundred odd people and the deepest, darkest secrets of maybe fifty more. The experiences that we have shared will never quite leave us alone. We will miss that buddy with whom we had peak communication, whenever collegiate mortal sins are committed. We will grumble about having to attend class reunions but will do so anyway, secretly eager for the latest chichi. We will even one day start cranking out when I was young epics, much to the disgust of any and all listeners.
Having said this, in the tradition of the Sunscreen Song, I share with you the following as my College Resolutions: I will treasure the time I have left, instead of griping about how certain classes take forever to finish. I will love Mondays because they mean that I have a school to go to and friends that I have not seen for the weekend. I will not fall asleep in class if I am seated up front. I will respect my professors’ efforts, even if I really could teach their subjects better. For that matter, I will not laugh openly when a professor stumbles over a word; I will merely bend down and pretend to tie my shoelace. I will not let anything ruin more than ten minutes of my day. I will appreciate the mini-miracles that God throws my way, like when a test is cancelled or when I hear my favorite song. I will not take a rain check on an invitation to go out if I can afford it, nor pass up free food when it is offered. I will remember that it takes forty-seven muscles to frown, seventeen to smile, and just four to get your point across. I will remember that life is a journey, not a destination, and that even if you are on the right track, you will still be run over if you just sit there. And I will remember that the meaning of life is not in paragraph form, but is seen or heard or felt, depending on who you are and how you got it. To misquote a song, life may be unpredictable, but that is what makes it worth living. Vaya con Dios, graduates. Enjoy this summer — it will probably be our last. Good afternoon, good riddance, and Happy New Year.
---
note: i wrote this piece more than four years ago, as a requirement for my high school graduation. it was never used officially, but i've heard rumors that it is still being touted by zobel's english department as an example of excellent essay writing. for myself, i make no claims beyond that once upon a time, i thought it was pretty damn good.
i belatedly dedicate it to the people of catch 2t7 and the malate cute staff. do not go gentle.
sige ingat.ü
posted by stani at 12:17 AM
Most of us have let the years speed by then regret their passing. Even now, it seems surreal that we have reached an end after so long. We may even find ourselves wishing that we could have had one more year. No wait, maybe just one more day. Much better. Too much of anything is a bad thing, wouldn’t you agree? Going back, it is like our time-honored tradition of doing everything at the last minute holds true to our very consciousness as well. Suddenly here we are, and no word rings truer than bangag to describe our states of awareness. The consolation is that we are all bangag together. We are individuals, yet also elements in a set. Each of us is unique and has added that particular flavor to our cream of senior soup. Put simply, this batch would not be what it is if we were not who we are. I believe that a school is less of an academic environment and more of a social experience. In this, at least, our sleeping and getting up at unearthly hours day after day ad infinitum have been worth it — we leave with the acquaintance of three hundred odd people and the deepest, darkest secrets of maybe fifty more. The experiences that we have shared will never quite leave us alone. We will miss that buddy with whom we had peak communication, whenever collegiate mortal sins are committed. We will grumble about having to attend class reunions but will do so anyway, secretly eager for the latest chichi. We will even one day start cranking out when I was young epics, much to the disgust of any and all listeners.
Having said this, in the tradition of the Sunscreen Song, I share with you the following as my College Resolutions: I will treasure the time I have left, instead of griping about how certain classes take forever to finish. I will love Mondays because they mean that I have a school to go to and friends that I have not seen for the weekend. I will not fall asleep in class if I am seated up front. I will respect my professors’ efforts, even if I really could teach their subjects better. For that matter, I will not laugh openly when a professor stumbles over a word; I will merely bend down and pretend to tie my shoelace. I will not let anything ruin more than ten minutes of my day. I will appreciate the mini-miracles that God throws my way, like when a test is cancelled or when I hear my favorite song. I will not take a rain check on an invitation to go out if I can afford it, nor pass up free food when it is offered. I will remember that it takes forty-seven muscles to frown, seventeen to smile, and just four to get your point across. I will remember that life is a journey, not a destination, and that even if you are on the right track, you will still be run over if you just sit there. And I will remember that the meaning of life is not in paragraph form, but is seen or heard or felt, depending on who you are and how you got it. To misquote a song, life may be unpredictable, but that is what makes it worth living. Vaya con Dios, graduates. Enjoy this summer — it will probably be our last. Good afternoon, good riddance, and Happy New Year.
---
note: i wrote this piece more than four years ago, as a requirement for my high school graduation. it was never used officially, but i've heard rumors that it is still being touted by zobel's english department as an example of excellent essay writing. for myself, i make no claims beyond that once upon a time, i thought it was pretty damn good.
i belatedly dedicate it to the people of catch 2t7 and the malate cute staff. do not go gentle.
sige ingat.ü
posted by stani at 12:17 AM