Like the rest, I can just say "high school is where I had my first love and first heartache" -- true, for me and for almost everyone I know. But for me it's more than that. It's perhaps in high school where I first experienced the first real failure when I didn't get the course I first had in mind, the first real success when I graduated and finalized the course that will dictate the career I'll have probably for the next 30 years, and the buckets of farewell tears when I had to bid goodbye to friends who had to move abroad, to my entire barkada who'll take up college in different schools (sounded really heavy, even though I knew that most will study just within Manila. haha!), and to my dear alma mater of course where I spent not only my high school, but also 12 years of my student life.
It's also in high school where I learned to build serious dreams: "I will study in ___", "I want to be a ___ ", "I want to marry ___ at the age of ___". I also remember saying "I will not frustrate my parents during college by not shifting courses, by not turning to vices and by not getting pregnant" (HAHA!), "I want to get my own place at the age of ___, to live independently or to live with ___ (insert any HS girlfriend's name here), then we will put up a ___ business...", etc etc. Oh how life seemed easy back then!
Looking back, just a few goals made it: 1. I graduated college without shifting courses (and yes without vices, and without getting pregnant! haha!) 2. I am happy with my career as a software programmer (DEVELOPER or ENGINEER, as a college prof corrected.) 3. I am now living independently, I live solo, I take care of everything on my own. I may be far from the rest - having their own families or own businesses, but I'd like to think I've also gone far, crossed out a few items in my list as my principles, dreams and priorities have changed.
I guess if there's one thing you can't change over time, it would be the friendship, your bond with your high school friends. My sister once told me that during college, you'd feel you have moved on by replacing these high school friends with new friends, demanding school work, and distance BUT once you get all the time back (plus your own money this time!) you'll find yourself re-bonding with the friends you left in high school, maybe even more frequent than your other friends. And I couldn't agree more!
I see my HS friends now at least 3x a year for birthday celebrations or plain coffee nights slash booze, plus around 2 out of town trips (considering I say no to some of these, due to time and budget constraints), plus the traditional themed Halloween and/or Christmas party. And when we're all together, we talk about the same kiddie topics - the rumors back in high school, the funny teachers, and the unforgettable incidents. Same stuff, really. But we never get tired of it!
They say high school is the happiest period in one's life. I don't really agree with this - I think I was happy in college too, as much as I was happy in high school. Maybe too, I was happy at some points in my work life, as much as I was happy in high school and college. So you see, high school isn't really the happiEST. Or "happy" is an understatement. Perhaps High School is best described as the most unforgettable, the most life-defining, the most dramatic.
Back to present: I was surprised to see 40+ FB notifications in my mail in just a span of 1 hour. apparently, a batchmate just added me in our High School batch (CSA 2001) FB group, created for an upcoming 10th year reunion. 10th year!!! N years ago, when I hear anything about an alumni homecoming in CSA or what, I'd usually say I won't go - it just feels too early, "homecoming" sounds too old, it seems like you can't fit in any kind of reunion unless it's been years divisible by 10. right? right?! Goodness, now's the year I've been dreading to hear. THE 10th YEAR!!!!!
Reunion is on December 3, 2011, tentatively. everyone has been posting stuff in this group since it was created: some are excited, some have already expressed regret they can't come, some [those now living abroad] are hopeful it gets moved to a later date, some hope they get enough funds to fly home, some ask if they can bring their kid/s (KIDS!). Some are perhaps apathetic. It's been overwhelming at least for me, who wants to be a part of this rare event. Why, I might wait for another 10 years for the next reunion, right?!
(Seriously... it's been 10 years?!?!?!?!)
5 comments:
time really flies! ;-)
anyways, so does this mean your dec-3-2011 day is already taken? one less day to choose from for our annual xmas dinner eh? =P
@cie - naku oo nga, ano ba yan as early as May may blocked date na haha! (e ni ndi pa nga ako nakakapaghulog ata e. hahaha!)
@cie - blocked na din pala dec 10 - will attend a wedding! #-o pero di nmn ata nagmamatter, weekdays tayo lagi diba. haha!
Yes, Leda. It's been 10 years. We're getting old. HAHA!
10 years na pala. yikes
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