Classes Don't Get Easier...The Time Challenge

We've made it through two years of high school…only two more to go. There really is so much to expect in
junior year, and sometimes it can seem so overwhelming. If we think back to our sophomore or freshman year, we watched the Juniors run around like crazy at times. It's a fairly stressful year, so knowing what to expect in junior year means being able to plan ahead to make your way through it unscathed.

When I was a freshman, I was a little envious of those upperclassmen. They seemed so big, so mature, and cool, right? Now I'm one of them. Where did the time go? Now I'm part of the upper echelon. I'm an upperclassman! While this means I've grown up a bit and "rule the school," I also now have even more responsibility to those coming next. I can be the one to offer advice. It becomes easier to show your faith on campus by leading by example, and underclassmen look to you to set that example.

I never really expected junior life as it is right now. When I was still an underclassman, whenever I see upperclassmen chatting and running around crazy and all, all I can think of is that their life is easier than ours. But that image was destroyed. I never expected junior life to be so stressful. I always sleep late because of the mountain loads of homework. I'm always stressed out emotionally and physically. We're asked to make this blog related to our junior life experiences in our English life. But I would also like to describe junior life in general.

From the classical play Romeo and Juliet, I've surely learned a lot of things from that activity. We were asked to act it out and surprisingly all of us did a great job. But that wasn't enough.

We had a radio drama and the theme assigned to us is horror. That time, we had a hard time making the script since it's really hard to scare people nowadays. Our group worked together and we finished the script and was able to perform it well.

Then there goes the oration. To be honest, I was a bit happy when ma'am said that we're going to do an oration. Want to know why? It's because since I was in elementary level, I was always asked to memorize poems and stories for competitions so I missed that memorizing stuff. I think I didn't have a hard time memorizing the piece. We are asked to choose the theme of our piece. I choose sex because oration about sex is cool and I like the topic. Almost all of us were able to deliver the piece well.

The next activity is the speech choir. It was hard to do this activity especially when almost all of us is hyper when we are planning for this activity. But in the end, we did a great job and finished/delivered a great performance although we didn't get the highest grade in our batch, we're still happy that we were able to perform it.

I really don't know what jazz chant is all about until Vince explained what it would be like. Among us, Vince is the one who really worked hard for this activity making him earn extra points in our grade.

And lastly, our most successful activity, the conventional speech. We're not actually sure at first if we can deliver the whole piece since we've been stuck in the first stanza for two weeks already. But one of my classmates suggested that we should move on to the next stanzas and leave the first stanza for polishing. Jochelle, Rain, Me, Cydney and Laurice are the ones who contributed a great part in this activity. We planned and think on how we are all going to deliver this considering that we're classified according to the pitch of our voices. What we did is we taught them how to say it first and while the four of us, Rain, Jochelle, Cydney and Me, planned for the other stanzas, Laurice is the one managing the class. She makes sure that everyone participates and speaks whenever asked to. She is also the one who approves of the things that the four of us think of. This activity is by far our most successful one. And I'm happy to brag that we got the highest grade among the batch. When ma'am announced it, I was so overwhelmed that I cried a little. Because all of our hard works, all of the scoldings that we did was really worth it after all.

So that's basically the major activities that we have done for the English subject this year.  To sum it up, all of these activities are really stressful but once finished/accomplished every single drop of your sweat is worth it.

Junior year is by far the most stressful, most wild and most happy year in high school. Well I think all will agree that there's really just too much homework given to us to be done in one night! So I'm pretty sure that all of us stays up all night not just because of Facebook, but also because of the shit load homework and projects.

I've had the most wonderful experiences ever and it all happened this school year. I did my first classical play, I did my first jazz chant, my first radio drama, my first and last SSG campaign and lastly I've made a lot of friends this year. These experiences, I believe had molded me into a better person and makes me strive harder next time. I always want to do my best in everything that I will do so that I will be satisfied with the results.

A lot of my 'first' really happened this school year and I'm not regretting anything that I did since all of it was
worth it. I've made a lot of friends this year that will surely be one of the most unforgettable things in my high school life. Especially the friends I've made during the campaign for SSG. I never even thought that we would be so close to each other that every single day I miss the moments that we once shared. In a short period of time, we were able to build a strong and tight bond among us. We all trust and support each other through the toughest times. So really eventhough junior life is so stressful that it makes me want to pull all my hair off, on the contrary, it's also the best school year ever. And I just want to say ROCK 'N BALLS \m/

Please forgive me.

Bancaan Naic, Cavite

February 7, 2014

Dear Mom, 

          First of all, I want to thank you for everything you have done for me even though I'm always a pain in the ass and I somehow make our life a living hell.

          We've been through tough times and faced a lot of problems. All because of my wild and crazy behavior. I know that I shouldn't have acted like that especially towards you because all you ever did was care for me. All the things that you have done to me even though what you did was good, I always misinterpret it making my behavior towards you seem to becoming more and more rude. I want to apologize for all of the bad things I have done to you. If I were to count all the bad things I have done to you, I would expect it to be many. I have disrespected you a lot of times by talking back to you whenever I don't follow your orders. If I remember it right, I did rebelled to you a lot of times and eve threatened you that I won't be staying in our house anymore.

          If I would be given the chance to back in time, I would fix everything and I would treat you like every mother in this world should be. You were my first teacher, you taught and helped me in each and every step of my life as I grow older and older. You never failed to support me in everything I do. I really apologize for everything I have done to you.

Your daughter,

Jedine

The Book I Write

"Special is a word that is used to describe something one-of-a-kind like a hug, or a sunset, or a person who spreads love with a smile or kind gesture.

Special describes people who act from the heart and keep in mind the hearts of others.

Special applies to something that is admired and precious and which can never be replaced.

Special is the word that best describes you ."– Teri Fernandez

 I believe that each and everyone of us is special in our own little ways. We just hardly notice it. But when we do, we always tend to think that what we possess, others also have making us think and feel that we're a useless piece of shit.

It is believed that a person's uniqueness is what makes each and everyone of us special. But just how do ou define unique?

Uniqueness in a person is seen to be something about them that makes them different from everyone else. This person has their own style and approach to life, perhaps in the way they dress and speak, their personality traits and the way they carry themselves. It is really someone who is confident in their own skin and their chosen path and someone who knows what they want. Having confidence in yourself certainly makes you seem very special in most people’s eyes.

“Special” is a quality either realized or in potential state that can be seen in a person.

I may not have that white skin which I'm pretty sure what every Filipina wants. But I'm proud of my tan skin, I believe it shows who I really am and it differentiates me from other people in other countries.

I am not that tall. Yes, before I really wanted to be tall just for the sake of being like other tall models or celebrities. But as time flies by, I've learned to love and appreciate my height. I may not be that tall but I'm proud to have this height. You don't really need to be tall just to be noticed by others. All you have to do is be yourself and let everything fall into place.

I am definitely not that smart. Yes teachers keep on saying that if we're not smart, how come we're already third years in one of the best schools  in the Philippines? I'm not saying that I'm not smart. What I'm trying to point out is that I don't need to be so smart like those kind of people who ace their tests and have no difficulty in answering almost all of the teachers question. But I not brainless. I know in myself that I also have what others have maybe theirs is only up a little notch than mine.

I am not that kind. Honestly, I even consider myself as a bully. I tend to playfully criticize my classmates but there are times that I think I'm overdoing end and just end up hurting their feelings. I'm the kind of person which tends to mess everything up instead of fixing it. I'm selfish and a terrible person.

Once we see the wholeness or the greatness in us, this is the time when we realize that we truly are special. It's not always about specialness in the context of realizing that you are special. Sometimes all we need is to trust ourselves and admit that we are great in our own special ways. Everyone wants to change, but change demands desire and discipline before it becomes delightful. There is always the agony of choice before the promise of change.

“If you celebrate your differentness, the world will, too. It believes exactly what you tell it—through the words you use to describe yourself, the actions you take to care for yourself, and the choices you make to express yourself. Tell the world you are one-of-a-kind creation who came here to experience wonder and spread joy. Expect to be accommodated. (11)” 

― Victoria Moran, Lit From Within: Tending Your Soul For Lifelong Beauty