college survival

Before:

Enroll as early as possible. Good schedules are very useful.

Find an older friend from the same school of the same course. Juniors or seniors can be very helpful to have as you walk across the quad as a freshman. Having young blood around will make them feel important, and seniors will happily dispense much-needed advice and campus secrets.

Familiarize yourself with the school campus, the facilities. It would also be nice if you look through your schedule now so that in the actual school days, you won’t get lost in finding your classes.

During:

Make friends. This step does not require you to completely wash away your high school buds. Just make new ones. It’s no reason to forget the people who helped you get where you are. Friends who are in the same school, especially in the same class, as you is a must in college. Hey? No man is an island.

Go to class. Yes, it's difficult with no one around to threaten detention or disciplinary actions. Attending class (even while sleeping) is almost a guarantee for a higher grade in the course. Plus, many college professors take off marks for absences. Cutting classes in college is easy but the consequences are murder.

Get involved in at least one student organization if possible. It will provide one with opportunities to meet other people and explore. Experience is the best teacher. It’ll also look good on your personal record.

Keep an open mind. You'll meet every type of personality and absorb a lot of new experiences. You will learn just as much outside of the classroom as you will in it.

When you work, work! During that set time you are actually working on your assignments or other school related things, actually do it. Don’t let that time slip by or be wasted thinking about a gimmick you have tomorrow or the night after. Use that time to study; you’ll feel better afterwards.

Limit your gimmicks. I know college provides most with freedom but abusing that privilege can lead to no good. Recreational activities are good from time to time but you should know where to draw the line.

Prioritize. Make sure you never totally lose sight of your priorities. Use an oversized desk calendar or planner to keep all of your assignments and tasks written down.

Don’t be afraid to ask. Asking questions is being smart. I know our generation… We have the confidence, we just don’t use it. It won’t kill you to try, right? J

After college?

Find a job. Find a partner. Settle down. And live happily ever after. Haha! Kiddin’. Life is not that fairytale folks. After college, that’s when you begin the real journey. But I don’t believe that no survival guide can get you through the real world. In fact, this list may even be useless to you in your college life.
This is not a script.
Life is this movie where you are the director, the actor, the producer, everything! I’m just an extra.

Wish you a blockbuster!
So far, I give you a two-thumbs up! Congratulations on graduating high school!

Don’t panic, I’ll be watching from afar. Ready to give you an occasional tap in the back. J

wham!!! ^_^

Everything has changed, is changing and will change.
Dati lang may floors pa yung pencil case natin. Kuntento na sa Panda na ballpen ang sangkatauhan. Pag uwian, diretso sa bahay, tulog agad.
Ngayon, hindi na uso ang pencil case. G-tec na ang ballpen ng masa. At pagabihan na ng uwi ang Genies… Nag-eenroll na tayo sa future schools natin. Papunta punta sa UP, UST, FEU, CEU, MCU, UE, Fatima, St. Scho, MAPUA, etcetera.
Years from now, we are the new generation; the best nurses and doctors, the most skilled architects and engineers, the most competent managers, even the finest moms and dads in the world.
… Those you never saw compatible may end up making the happiest family ever. Those who trail along may be the most successful. Those who are silent may be the one who had the most fun in life. YOU NEVER KNOW…
Life is so unpredictable. “Nothing is permanent except change.” Alala niyo pa yan? Napasadahan naten yang quotation na yan sa isang CL lesson.
I hope that whatever change comes to your life, it is for the better.
(COMMERCIAL: Pero for sure madami pa ring buraot by 2020. haha.)
Our God does not write life. The changes that come along depend on you. YOU live your life. YOU map it out. Not luck. Not destiny. YOU do. He only guides you, loves you enough to let you go and make your own mistakes.I can’t say good luck coz that will contradict what I just said. Therefore, my last words in this article will be from my favorite TV show; simple yet meaningful: USE YOUR HEAD AND FOLLOW YOUR HEART… then, change will not even lead you astray. J

presence ~* by a once upon a time princess

You are there
A masterpiece of God.
Handsome, clever and kind.
A prince on a pedestal.
So high... so far.

I am here,
Simple, unattractive, unremarkable.
Confused
And broken…
A damsel without a love.

Then you were there –
Surprising true.
Listening to my thoughts,
Being the ear I need.
There –
Taking away my frown.
Replacing it with a smile.
There, at my eyes reach -
Making me nervous,
With the feeling of your eyes on mine.
There, beside me –
Holding my hand,
Making my heart beat fast.

So there I was.
Unpredictably falling.
Silently in reverie.

We are now,
North and South
Attracted.
In love.
We are now,
Watching movies,
Listening to love songs,
Dreaming of the future.
Wishing of forever.

I am here
Grateful that you have picked me,
Even with all the girls in the queue.
Thankful of your love,
That space in your heart.
The piece you impart.

When I am with you,
You share your royal pedestal,
I become a princess.
In love with no one but you.

When I look at you,
I see my life…
I love my life.
I am alive.
You bring me life.

Yet I can’t help but feel,
You are there,
Sometimes so close, yet so numb.

Please listen to my heart.
My true voice…
Screaming out loud.
I know your promise is true.
I know you love me too.
But you should know,
Despite my sweet “yes,”
That I still need time.
I still need you.
I’ll always do.
I’ll always love you.

Attention! ~*utos ni tocino

Whoever said that being a COCC Applicant is easy? Think about it, everyday you have to either close all the buttons in your polo paired with tucked in t-shirt inside or wear pigtails with blue ribbons on it. Add the heavy nameplate, the fact that you have to be at school before 6 AM, the officers, forms after class every Thursday. They have lots of reasons to breakdown really. Being a COA is HARD. Kaya nga ako nagquit nun ee. January 9, 2007, I took off my pigtails and my nameplate, a symbol of my resignation.
Thank God for a second chance. April 12, 2007, I was allowed to rejoin, allowed to once again be called a COCC Applicant.
Those two dates, my dear reader, are the most significant decisions of my life so far. The first one was the stupidest, I tell you. The latter was the best. I put it that way every time I think of what I would’ve lost if I didn’t come back… experience, friendship and a lesson.
Summer Training was an amazing experience. You do things you never even dreamed of doing which, if you didn’t do, you miss half your life. Trust me. I haven’t forgotten. I have two permanent souvenirs. J
Consequently, I didn’t use to have a lot of friends from other sections in my batch. I only knew one world, the star section. April 12 paved my way to new friends. They accepted me, even more than I accepted myself, despite my mistake… I don’t think they know how pleased I am to be their friend, an Offijer. Ang saya nila kasama sobra. Hindi ka makakahinga kakatawa at mangangawit panga mo kasi hindi mawawala ngiti mo. You won’t get left out.
Finally, here is the lesson – Think before you act. Think a million times. Consider the 3 tenses: past, present and future. Maybe it’s hard now but nothing good ever comes easy. Second chances are rare. You probably will not be as lucky as me. Learn from my mistake.
NOTES…. If this gets published for the MB, I want to give a shout out to:
1) Offijers, salamat ng marami. Words are not enough to express my gratitude. I know you know who this is. Love you guys. 2) COA 07-08, goodluck. Hindi yung position ang importante. What’s important is kung anung natutunan niyo. 3) Sophomores and freshmen of SY 07-08, pwede pa kau magCO (kung meron pa sa time niyo.), hahaha. Mahirap, oo. Pero di ka maghihirap sa wala, that I assure you. J

... WHO

Excuse me! This isn’t about the World Health Organization. Share ko lang yung natutunan ko this SY. I want to make a point. Pinahaba ko lang… FYI madaldal ako.
Interested? Then read on.

GENEROSITY, AB 406.
1st statement: Excited na ko pumasok ule. I miss my friends…
2nd statement: How sad. Bakit yan pangalan ng section ko? I wanted “Service” or “Fortitude” kasi. Ang haba! Pahirapan yan kapag nagsusulat ng year and section sa paperworks. Teka, san ba yung 406? For sure sa dulo ng 4th floor. 50-50. Sana dun din sa room ko last year. Para record. Yung classroom ko kasi nung 1st and 2nd year iisa. Ee di ang saya kapag parehas na room din yung ginamit ko for 3rd and 4th year… Nyeh... The room I got was the opposite of what I desired. Dun sa kabilang dulo ba naman, liblib.
3rd statement: Wow, ganda pala ng section name ko. Pwedeng pwede! Genero City, the home of the Genies! Galing ng classmates ko especially the GM Queens. Gets niu ba? Genero City derived from the word Generosity, yun ang brand name ng Room 406 (Generic name lang toh. Yung sa gamot ba. Hahaha.). Tapos Genies ang tawag namen sa sarili namen. Cute nu?

Still interested? If so, keep reading.

BONDING.
1st statement: Yes! Nakasama ako! Thanks to MMM. Saan kaya this year? Sana mas malayo! Last year kasi sa SMA Caloocan ee…
2nd statement: Aaaaaiii? SMA Sto. Nino... Buwan-buwan ata kung pumunta ko dun ee. Malas.
3rd statement: Kay saya!!! Grabe, halos di kame dinalaw ng antok. Alive na alive! Nagwawala until the very end. Dame ko pang bagong friends… Hindi ko naramdamang malapit lang pala yung venue sa bahay ko. Akala ko nga maoOP ako ee. How stupid of me. Madaming genies dun, may offijers, plus yung mga new friends ko! Gano kasaya? Talo pa feeling ng nakakita kay Daniel Radcliffe.

Tick tock, tick tock. O, anu? Gets na ba?

RETREAT.
1st statement: Selection of rooms na. Sana mapunta kami ni Demgel sa right wing. Saya dun sigurado. Andun si Best Ma’am and majority of the girls (4th floor) tapos sa baba lang namen lahat ng boys. Kawawa naman yung mapupunta sa left wing. I mean, sa baba namen mga madre na nagsasilent retreat. Then, Father Alex is on the 2nd floor left wing. Tahimik dun malamang…
2nd statement: Whaaaaat??? Left wing, Room 7 kami? Kawawang mga bata. Tsk.
3rd statement: Whoa. Simula sa pagdating hanggang pag-alis sa left wing, gosh, hindi nawala ngiti ko sa mukha. Takutan sa gabi (More of tinatakot ko lang sarili ko to be honest.). kwentuhan til the morning with the Pink Pixies, Kuku, Sixteen, Demgel, Miss Understood, and Miss Earthworm. kalokohan to the max ng mga Hudas. Pag-aakalang si Kuku ay si Best Ma’am. Walang regrets!

So?

FIELD TRIP
1st statement: haai sawakas! Matutulo na rin yung field trip namen! Yey! Makatulog sana ako the night before. Hahaha…
2nd statement: Ngeh. Asar ang destinations aa. Villamor Air Base? Bioresearch? Science Discovery Center ng MOA? No way! Dapat EK!
3rd statement: Infairness, nakakasawa na ang EK. New is good. Pero etong field trip na toih na may new destination? Best. Makabonding ba naman uli si Demgel, makapasok sa isang private plane, picturan to the max with the Bhouraoghts, makakuha ng libreng isda, makagala sa MOA with Prince! I repeat, the best.

Anu na? Kuha?
Uuummm… Eto na nga. POINT: It doesn’t matter where you are. Everything changes if you consider WHO you are with. Ako? I realized na kahit nasa Caloocan man ako o Sto. Nino, Room 406 o 401, left o right wing man, EK or MOA o kahit sa SM Marilao pa, hindi issue. Basta mga kaibigan ko ang kasama ko… solve ako. O? Gala tayo!J (wenx!)