My High School Self

Since it was sem break and there was nothing to do at home, *yawn*, I attempted to re-organize my high school junk in my cabinet. Aside from the shoe boxes with knick knacks from those years, the four envelopes, each containing 'memorabilia' from each year level, were torn. Now I don't understand why I kept those and why I thought that they were sentimental. I wanted to throw away some, especially the binder fillers with lecture notes, but then I had to organize what I should throw and what I shouldn't. They were all over the floor, which easily made me impatient.

After some gruelling minutes, I finally dusted off the cabinet and neatly piled in the same envelopes and boxes. Then there was this fifth envelope that gave me a what-the-hell-is-this expression on my face. There were rat bites on the edges. I wondered why the pest didn't eat the whole thing - or everything made of paper in the cabinet. I discovered it contained the despedida letters from my high school classmates.

You see, before the high school graduation, our moderator asked us to write each of our classmates a letter where we can write what we want or have to say. After reading them all over again, I realized in this envelope are the definitions of my character in high school. And I must say they are not consistent. Some said I was rude, short-tempered and unforgiving. These people asked me to be mabait, to cool down, and to be nicer. Some said I was actually mabait, silent, creative, etc. and wished that I would not change! It just proves I treat people differently. Some said sorry because they annoyed me. Some said sorry because they just think they annoyed me. Some just said sorry without saying why they are. Some were stranger messages. Some were hollow messages fashioned after age-old templates, like "God bless" and "I wish you a better future life!" Some were obviously exagerrated letters which I found hilarious. But the ones I appreciate the most, but not necesarrily the best, are the honest messages. Some were very short and straight to the point. But at least they were true in their words.

The best messages for me were those that reminds us how we had fun high school days. Only very few, who were mostly my close friends, wrote jokes about other friends, about my oxymoronic attitude (coz some said I was really bad and some said I was nice), and ETACOL EHT ELPPIN and SOH CAH TOA: Pray for us. Those were very popular for among us back in high school. I can't believe I forgot about them until that moment.

I guess much has happened within the two and a half college years. Most of my friends are still in the same school. That made me feel very close to them. Yet I sense there was something missing. I just realized that I only felt the physical closeness. When we meet along the school halls, we just exchange hi's or hello's. It makes me wonder why weren't we stopping and talking for a little while. Perhaps it's because we are too bothered by school duties and/or our own new worlds with new friends and new interests. But that is not an excuse for an old friendship to wane.

Or perhaps it's on my part to keep these old friendships warm. It was also mentioned in the letters that I was cold. Maybe I and my friends are still the same. Maybe it's just my cold, assuming heart that conjures this illusion of fading friendships... Yes I think it's just me. Stupid me.

I'm a Pancit!

I just took this insignificant quiz online (http://quizilla.com/cgi-bin/result/result.pl) that tests which Filipino food the quiztaker is. And guess what I am?


It says that my sidekick is lumpia and I am popular - everyone knows me and loves my simplicity... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Very funny... : But the latter might be true, which says that I can be moody.

A Paper-filled Semester

This is the most unusual semester. All subjects demanded paper from us!

Econ101 had us photocopying several chapters of the Mankiw textbook for our discussions. Recently, Father required us to write a ten-page argumentative research paper on the implementation or repeal of EVAT.

Philo102 also had us photocopying articles in the Philisophy of Man book and writing reaction papers on philosophical writings. I didn't really like his class. He's sort of a religious man. So on the lesson on the dualistic notion of man, he always talked about God. I don't like it. So I think I am going to write about the article 'Death of God' for my second-quarter reaction paper. }:-)

Lit103 again required a photocopy of each story, which she excellently read to us by the way. So far she's the best Literature teacher I've had because she didn't have us write literary pieces. Too bad she can't see how good I am in 'hatred poetry.' She honestly said she hates writing. That may not make her the perfect Literature teacher. But she's really good at interpreting and analyzing the stories we read. So she made us understand and appreciate seemingly incomprehensible literary works, like 'Dead Stars.' Now we are about to write a paper on a 23-page hand-out, which is actually a book. More paper will be taken from us. But at least we don't have a final exam.

Math232 again had us photocopied two chapters on probability. But they were useless! Our math teacher has been neglecting us, expecting that we can and would rather study on our own because we were CS and Engineering students. How discriminatory! I think we only had one serious meeting with him. I don't think it was even really serious, because on that period alone , he attempted to discuss the whole chapter two! "This is the fastest lesson ever..." I remember him commenting in the middle of the "discussion" that night. I barely learned from him. Actually, I learned more from my classmate who had innate math powers. When the teacher showed me my shocking midterm grade, I was puzzled yet delighted. A few days later, he made an offer. If we choose not to take the second quarter, that's fine with him as long as we agree that our midterm grade will be our final grade! It's unbelievable! I accepted it even though I felt uncomfortable. I mean, when people will see my final grade for 'Math 232: Probability and Statistics', they might say, "Wow that's impressive. You must be excellent in advanced probability and statistics that requires a strong background in integral calculus!!" when in fact I only learned basic probability that I will surely forget about next month. I am so guilty. But that's life. Unfair. And this time, I'm on the lucky side. ^_^

CS 215 photocopies were about explanation of the structure of programming languages and how they work. We were also assigned a research from the beginning of the sem with a 20-30 page written report. More paper!

The worst is CS311! Aside from the photocopies on how to make DFDs, our group has just passed half-a-rim sheets of bond paper and they were only DFDs with redundant Data Descriptions! Now we are about to pass the whole documentation, which we expect to be thicker! OK, now I know why it would be hardbound.

Only Hist100 showed mercy on our paper (and pockets too). Our history teacher instead gave us free copies of our discussions. Still, it counts as paper. So all subjects this sem are responsible for piling up paper in our bags! Glad it's about to end next week...