THE HARDEST BUT GREATEST YEAR OF MY LIFE

It is well known that being a teenager is difficult, and being a teenager in high school is even more challenging. But when people start high school, they’re usually so excited. They can’t wait to experience everything that comes with being in high school, I mean who wouldn't? Everyone says that high school is the best four years of your life. Now that I’m a year away from graduating, I can say that my third year in Cavite National Science High School is the best and my most educational year so far. When I say educational, I mean I've learned so much about life especially in our English class. I didn't only learn about grammar and vocabulary but I also learned what the words family, love, friendship, and life meant. 

I can honestly say that I never liked the English subject before because I didn't have good writing skills. I prefer to have oral rather than writing activities but after this year, I realized that it is actually the best subject. This is because all the activities that we did this year were very unique and unexpected. Yes, some of the activities were hard but they were all worth it because we always learn something from the things we do.

Some of the most memorable activities I experienced were the blogs, word game, jazz chant, and of course, the conventional speech choir. I only used blogs once during our first year in CNSHS but I wasn't able to use it that much. When I heard that our informal theme will be in the form of a blog, I felt very excited because it means that I will be able to broaden my knowledge about it and it was actually very entertaining. The word game on the other hand, was both stressful and fun. I was able to familiarize myself with words and I even used deep words that I didn't understand (I wasn't even sure if they were actually words). The jazz chant was one of the best! Who knew that repeating words, such as ruler, eraser, chair, can result to an amazing performance? But the one that I will never forget is the conventional speech choir. It was the hardest out of all the activities that we did because none of had any idea about it. There were so many issues involved and to make it even more stressful, we had to make our performance good so that we have a chance to get 25 points from our exam. We were all so motivated at first but then, some people started to not take it seriously while some took it so seriously that too many ideas clashed. It caused a lot of problems and we almost gave up but those events were actually the things we needed to push through this wall and achieve something even better. It was friendship and understanding.

There were many times that our personalities clashed but it made our bond stronger. We were able to prove that we can bring out our fullest potential in order to create an excellent result. We were also able to show that we can achieve anything if we all worked together. Yes it was hard but it was all worth it in the end. 

The best part of this class was the values that we learned from our teacher. For the first time in my life, I was able to meet a teacher that can understand my thoughts and my feelings. She can read us by just observing even the smallest actions that we do. And because of that, she was able to help me with my problems and she was able to help me show everyone what I can do and that I can achieve anything if I put my mind into it. 

One of the things I liked the most was the letters. THANK YOU... I’M SORRY... I LOVE YOU... Using only these words, we were able to convey our feelings to the people who are special to us and we were able to say the things that we weren't able to say before. I also liked reading the selections in our book. I especially love it when our teacher relates her own experiences to the lesson and when she asks us very hard questions. Who is your hero? What is forgiveness? What is love? What are your regrets? What makes you special? Who would you give up? These are just simple questions but the answers to each of them can’t be found in a book or in the internet. It can only be found inside your heart.

After this year, I realized that the English subject is more than just grammar and vocabulary. It is also about knowing who you really are. I am very happy that I was able to experience this class because it helped me with a lot of things. I improved myself in my studies, I discovered the talents that I have within me and I understood the meaning of love and friendship. No matter how small they are, these lessons and experiences are the things I will use as I face the obstacles of this journey we call life.

I'M SORRY

Blk. 18 Lot 2 Saint Joseph Homes
Inocencio, Trece Martires City

February 6, 2014

Dear Enchong,

                I wanted to apologize for what I have done to you when we were still little. I spoke a lot of words without thinking and didn’t take your feelings into consideration. I also did a lot of things that a sister shouldn’t do to her younger brother. There’s no arguing that the things I did was awful, and I want to make sure you know that I recognize that and feel horrible about it.

When I was 7 years old, I always felt lonely because I was the only child in our family but when our parents told me that I will have a younger brother, I was filled with joy. I was so excited to meet you and I even prepared a list of cute names for you. Time passed by and you were born. It was very fun at first but then it started to feel like everybody doesn’t care about me anymore. They would only talk about you and it was like I was completely invisible. I felt very jealous at that time and because of that, I started to tease you about everything you did and I would always contradict the compliments they give you. When you were starting school, I started to make you do my chores and I would always take everybody’s attention away from you. I thought what I was doing was right but then I started to understand that the things I did to you were actually wrong. I acted like a child and instead of being the role model you wanted me to be, I became the villain of your life. I felt very bad about the things I did. I know I can’t change the past but I will definitely make sure that I will make up to everything that I did to you in the present time.

There are plenty of other good things I should have done, but didn't.  I spoke to you about it but you said that it wasn't a big deal but I understand just how strongly my words and actions affected you.  I can promise you with all my heart that I will never do any of these things to you again and I hope that I can build up your trust in me again. I want you to feel confident that I will be a good sister to you. I won’t say a word in the future without really thinking it over first and keeping your best interests and feelings in mind. I will never take out my anger on you and whenever we fight, I will always remember that we are siblings and as siblings, we should always be there for each other in good times and in bad.

We’ve been through a lot together, and I want to continue sharing my life and experiences with you. My actions were completely inappropriate—a huge lapse in judgment on my part—and for that I extend to you my sincerest of apologies. No matter what obstacles we face, I always want you to remember that I love you and I’ll try my best to be the best sister a sibling could ever have.

Your loving sister,

Bianca

BEING SPECIAL IS ABOUT BEING YOURSELF

          I walk through the doors of my school everyday and watch hundreds of people pass by. I ride a car to go home from school and I see thousands of young people just like me walk down the streets and meet with their friends. I watch television at home and see millions of people appear in the news. I look at myself in the mirror and realize that I don't look like anybody that I came across with. Well, anybody would wonder how they are different from the people around them and ask themselves about what makes them so special. 

          I believe that each one of us is created by God to be special in our own way. From the moment we are old enough to realize the idea of individuality I think we all want to know what it is that makes us stand out among the rest of the people in the world.  And from that, we want to make sure that we remain distinct in one-way or another.  For some people it means becoming the best in their studies and being popular in school while others do not focus on what they can do but instead focus on what society wants them to do. In other words, they want to fit it with what's "in" today. 

          I believe that I am special because of my personality. I was the type of girl that hid her face, afraid to speak her mind and doesn't have enough trust in herself. I always compared myself to the people around me and because of that I felt inferior especially when it comes to my school grades. I wasn't really good at socializing too that's why when my classmates ask me about someone, I can't answer because I don't know who they were. I wasn't also good at following what's "in" in society today that's why I always felt left out. But then I thought to myself, "Why would I worry about being something I am not? Why am I comparing myself to them? They are who they are and I am who I am." This thoughts made me feel confident with my abilities and strove to do my best on the things that I can do. I discovered what hidden talents I have and I worked hard in order to improve myself on the things I'm not good at. I'm not really a smart person or what you would call a "genius" but through hard work and perseverance, I was able to cope up with people who are better than me and prove myself to be special just by being myself. Even I was shocked with the results and I am very happy to know that all the hardships I went through were actually worth it. 

          I have learned that we make ourselves special by what we do, how we live and the way in which we interact with the people around us.  We do not have to try very hard to be different because we are all born different, however many will fight their own uniqueness in order to fit in, to belong or be accepted.  But we should always remember that being special is more than how many people you can get to look at you or how many awards you will receive. It's about what you live for. Its about being yourself. It's about the heart you have and what you can achieve using your own abilities.Being the best is great because it makes you number one but being special is greater because YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE.

A DAUGHTER'S PRAYER FOR HER PARENTS

Dear God,

        I have known a lot of people in my life who have suffered the loss of their parents. Some of their parents died just recently and some can't even remember the precious last moments they shared with them because their parents died when they were still very young.Whenever I ask them about it, they always tell me that they regretted not spending enough time with them and not appreciating what they have done and sacrificed until it was too late. They say that if they were given the chance to talk to them again even for only a brief time, the first thing they would say is that they love them so much.

        I want to thank you God for blessing me with parents who are still alive up to this day. I can't imagine my life without them. Just the thought of losing them already brings me to tears. I know it is selfish of me to ask for them to have a longer life but for me, they deserve the best and they deserve more than what I can give to them. I love them more than anybody can ever imagine but I know that the love that my parents have for me is greater and is not measurable. 

         I want to thank you God for giving me the knowledge and wisdom of understanding how extraordinary my parents are. As I become older, I begin to understand the hardships and sacrifices that my parents have to go through. In order to provide the necessities of our family, they would work day and night. They would sacrifice their own sleep and their own food just to give them to me. Even though they are already tired, they would still continue to take care of me. They don't care about their health as much as they care for mine. Just a little fever would already make them worried. It makes me so happy because they care so much about my safety. They would give all they have without expecting anything in return. 

        I don't even know how to start thanking them for the love, care and patience they gave in raising me. I can't even imagine the pain and stress they went through when I was only a toddler. How about know when I'm already a teenager? Teenagers today have so many problems with their relationship with their parents because they want to experience freedom and be the ones who would decide what's best for their life. They don't see the meaning behind every opposition that a parent does to their decision and instead they get mad and ignore them. But sometimes it is the parents who can't understand their children. They would force their children to do what they want  because they think that it is for their own good but they don't realize that they are only actually giving pressure to their children causing them to be emotionally unstable. 

        I want to thank you God for blessing me with such kind and understanding parents and that you have me become their child. I'm very fortunate to have the two of them by my side as I face the obstacles of life while some people can't get along with their parents as well as we do. When we are asked to write about our problems with our family in school, I can't write anything because I never had any problem with my family. In fact, I never had a dull moment in my life because my mom and dad are always there to support me and make me smile. Whenever I have problems, they would hear me out and give me the perfect advice in order to solve them. When I need to make an important decision, they won't decide for me but instead let me choose my own destiny. No matter what decision I make, they would be there to guide me and love me for who I am. They also accept the things that I can and cannot do and they always give me the will to never give up.

          I know my parents deserve a lot but I don't know how, dear God, except to ask you to bless them as richly as you can and to help me live up to the example they have set. I would like to ask you to give them a peaceful and happy life as the years come by. I know I still don't have the ability to repay for all the things they have done for me because I'm still young but I will do my best to show them that I appreciate everything that they have done and that I love them very much. Thank you again God for all the blessings and please continue to guide us and take care of us in the rest of the journey we call life. 

A Loving Daughter

          

         

HAVING REGRETS IS AN AMAZINGLY AWFUL EXPERIENCE

        Everyone has had to deal with some type of regret in their lives. It is impossible to go all the way through life without making a wrong decision or saying something you wish you hadn't said. Sometimes our regrets are so big that we would resort to finding ways to change the past. Still, these mistakes make up who we are and how we've come to be ourselves. These things remind us that we are human, not perfect, like anybody else. 

        The past few years have been a very challenging experience for me. A lot of events had taken place and these have sent me down a road I should never have gone down. I never really had a serious life changing experience and the regrets I have are mostly about my test answers. But when I became older, I realized that the biggest and worst regret I had in life is not for the wrong things that I did but for the millions of right things I did for the wrong people. 

          I am not a very sociable person and because of that, I always have a lot of trouble in making friends. Fortunately, I became friends with a few people who I can share my thoughts and feelings with. Time passed like a blink of an eye and I felt like I was the luckiest person in the universe. My friends turned from few to many. I was really happy about that and I trusted them more than I trust myself. That was my mistake. I was so busy prioritizing them that I didn't realize that they didn't consider me as their friend. I was only the laughing stock of the group and all the secrets that I told them were used against me. My appearance, my clothes, they were all just jokes to them. Sometimes I even apologize to even though I didn't do anything wrong to them. I never felt so sad and disappointed my whole life. 

        After that, I decided to stand up for myself and made myself stronger. I did some things that I can  do to resolve and even avoid some regrets that I had. I convinced myself that living with regrets is like driving a car in reverse. When I make a decision, I promised myself that I would let it go and not question myself. I told myself that I will always accept the outcome no matter what the consequences are. I try to figure out what I did wrong but I won't dwell on it too long. And the most important thing of all, I promised myself that I would have more confidence on what I can do. Even if I think it was the wrong decision, I would do my best to make it work and move on. 

         I've been walked on, used, and regretted a lot of times but it is in those moments that I've learned a lot and discovered who I am. I learned who I can trust and can’t, I learned the true meaning of friendship, I learned how to tell when people are false and when they are sincere, and the most important lesson that I learned is how to appreciate the truly great people in my life as they arrive. Don't let yourself get caught up in the past because if you don't, you will never be able to face your future without fear.