Not like the Movies

Dear he-who-can't-be-named,

               You know, when I was a kid, I never stopped watching fairy tale movies. It draws me in whenever the Princess acts as a "damsel in distress" and a prince will suddenly enter the picture and save her. I love the part when the prince is charming, gentleman and most of all strikingly handsome. A perfect movie, that's what I always wished for. A perfect story that will end with happily ever after, but then I was brought to reality. I tried my best to make my own fairy tale but then, I failed. It was not like the movies after all.

                 The scene when we first met was wonderful. We became classmates and learned to be friends. I always look up to you as my prince, but then I learned that I was wrong. You have a girl that you could call a princess of your own and it pains me a lot. Time passed and I always felt the same towards you. I know it's a little cliche, but don't get me wrong I know someday it will be gone, vanished with the wind. 

                  It's hard for me to feel like this, burdened by the feeling that I can't ignore. Wanting to produce my own movie but you cannot be my co-star nor my leading man. I know it's cheesy but please bare with me, sorting out my feelings were never  easy. 

                 As of now I think that I already made my movie. I want to thank you for being a part of it. Like every movie there should always be a closing remark and that is the part where I'll take a step back and let you go. 

-MAOD-

Hero in her Uniform

There are countless definitions of heroes today. Is it a superstar who used his fame and fortune to help the needy in his hometown? Is it a firefighter who sees no danger in all circumstances just to save lives of people? Is it an Overseas Filipino Worker who is ready to bare the pain of being alone just to provide his family a comfortable life? But what really makes a person a hero? Words was never enough to express hardships conquered by our teacher, so I will dedicate this essay to one of the teachers I know and the person who was part of my life ever since I first came in this world and she’s none other than my aunty Magdalena Celis.

            Ever since I was a little child I became fond of her. She used to take me with her everywhere she goes and one of it was of course in school. My aunt was a teacher in Naic Elementary school. When I was still a little child I always use her classroom (2-Daisy) as my so called “Tambayan”. Being in the school most of the time  I never failed to notice how skilled she is in pouring knowledge in a student. I also noticed her temper as it was being tested by some student who never fails to annoy her. I also the discovered some new part of her that I never knew when I was a kid. Years have passed and I became a grade 2 student. I was assigned to be one of her students. I can say that, that year was one of my bests in school. It is because when break time strikes I will rush to her table and get some food without any payment for I know that she would pay it for me. Result? Complete allowance until the end of the day with a lot of food on hand. It is not only because of free foods, it is also because of knowledge and values that she thought us.

                 What else can we think of when teachers are mentioned? Their understanding, hardships, advices and care for us students. And of course, lectures, new lessons, quizzes and assignments! Those memories when they came about to tell stories and jokes with us students. Their “sermons” to us during times when we were disobedient, or lazy to pass our assignments. It’s their continuous patience and hard works for us that make them our hero. What could be in a school without our teachers? There would be no students as well that in fact, students will not be able to go to school and learn what they are supposed to learn. There will be ignorance. Having our teachers we were able to learn and understand things easier and quicker. Because of their teachings a lot of people have reached and accomplished their goals in life.

            Teachers don’t only teach theories to us but they are also sources of moral teachings. Inside and outside the campus, our teachers are our models. In relation to health and wellness, the teacher is expected to have and project a good state of both mental and physical health. Teachers are treasures in our society; let us help them be at their best so that they too can help bring out the best in our children, in their students. Our second parents, our teachers have helped a lot in the contribution of our success. They will forever be a treasure. This teacher’s day was a good way of expressing gratitude to our beloved teachers whom are the reason why we have accomplished most of what we have accomplished until the present. However, we should not only express our warmest thanks to our teachers during the 5th day of the month of October but it should always be done.            

   

To Be or Not To Be

                                                              

                                                                     To be or not to be,

      Living in a world of serenity

        Shadowed by the wisdom one seeks

      Unheard voices one speaks

            Mistakes, I've made plenty,
                    In this life of mine,
                      And I burn my bridges,
                      Here from time to time,

   Sometimes I forget,

                That I know I regret,
                  But I still don't believe,

               That my path is set,
                   

                    I will change, I will survive,

                 I will never grieve,
                   So the choice is yours,

                   Whether to discard or believe,
                 For I am not dead yet,
                 I am not in the ground,
               And in life I may be lost,
                  But someday I will be found.

Comedy of Errors

The Comedy of Errors turns out to be precisely what the title promised. It is a story about magic and illusion in a faraway country. The Comedy of Errors shows how a series of confused identities eventually leads to chaos in a community, and just how deceiving appearances can be. The reader is witness to the madness that rapidly takes over suspicious minds, and finally, the much-awaited reunion of one family. It is a farcical comedy, a fantasy in a distant country, which simultaneously arouses in the audience some degree of sympathy and compassion for the characters.

At the first act of the story, the conflict seems to rise. Being the reader I was able to think of the questions that can be asked and will be answered in the further scenes in the story. Like, what happened to their lost family members after the unpredictable tempest? As the plot rises before my eyes, my questions were answered one by one.

Confusion never left my mind for I am thoroughly confused on the two Dromios and Antipholus. Some events took turn without me understanding it. I have to re-read some part again so that I will be able to figure out the meaning behind it.

The novel was remarkably confusing but meaningful in its own ways. The story showed purity of love toward the person you care for, importance of family above all and most of all believing that one day dreams do come true even after being challenged by a raging Tempest.

A Better Life Ahead

                    This month we, the third year students of Cavite National Science High School had our National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE). It was an eye dropping test from Grammar to Verbal to 0IISS. Not just that, examinees also undergo time pressure for there is an allotted time in every part of the test. Apart from that, nervousness crept in the examinees worrying about the results of their exam. Getting a move on what is NCAE’s importance in a student’s life?

            The purpose of the NCAE is to help students determine which courses they should study in college and what sort of career they are best suited for. Like many standardized tests, the NCAE measures students' general scholastic knowledge. However, the NCAE also tests vocational aptitude, occupational preferences and entrepreneurial skills. One of the reasons the NCAE was developed was to address the issue of unemployment due to workers getting mismatched with the wrong careers. The hope is that by determining which careers they are ideally suited for, students can plan a course of study that will give them the skills and education they will need for their ideal careers. NCAE test results are only one part of the bigger picture in determining the best career fit for a student. Students shouldn't make major decisions based on NCAE results alone. Their entire school career as well as their own goals and interests should be considered when deciding on a course of study and a career.

            When “dreaming” is applied to our waking lives, though, its meaning changes. Having a guide in your dream comes to refer to an aspiration, a goal, or an aim. Motivational speakers delight in exporting their packaged inspirational messages through catchy sayings like “Dream Big to Succeed”. The problem with using this term is that it also bears connotations to the unattainable--it can be used to describe a wild or vain fantasy. I associate “dreaming” with the imagination. It is not an aspiration I can work to achieve, but rather an ideal with a minute chance of coming true. I dream of winning the lottery one day and leave it up to fate to determine whether or not it will happen.

            Goals, on the other hand, seem to be more concrete. They can be reached through hard work and calculated planning. By carrying out specific actions, it is possible to come to a desired goal. While goals can be accomplished, dreams are often relegated to bedtime and the imagination.

Values from Sport

          The school is a place where students are nurtured to become a responsible and productive member of the society. It provides a complete means of moulding students to become an employee or professional, to the chosen field of endeavour they wish to engage in. The mathematics and science subjects assist students to enhance their logic reasoning, and mathematical maturity, the English subjects polishes verbal and written communications, but what about Physical Education?

            This subject attempts to let the students have holistic and active lifestyle and at the same time learn life from valuing the essence of winning and losing.  Sports make people mentally strong. Success and failure are both parts of sports as well as life. A sportsman knows that there will be times when he will win matches there will also be times when he will lose them. A sportsperson knows how to handle defeat and thus, treats success and failure equally. This is an important life lesson too, which sports can teach a person. Besides this, another importance of sports for children or for adults is that it teaches them how to handle competition, and be fearless when facing the adversaries.

            Children and adolescents ooze with physical energy. When they are involved in sports, their physical energies are used up in a constructive way. Teenage is such an impressionable age, if adolescents are given free time they might get involved in wrong activities or may fall in bad company or may also display anti-social behaviour. Thus, the importance of sports in society is that it keeps adolescents from becoming anti-social elements, who might otherwise disturb the delicate fabric of society.

            Most of us start out playing a sport as a means of fun and recreation. But somewhere along the way, in the midst of all the fun, we realize that sports can often be a metaphor for achieving success in life, because of the lessons it teaches us about life. Sports teach us about being a part of a team, the importance of working together to accomplish a common goal. We learn to shoulder responsibility, and how to cope with defeat and failure. It teaches how to remain focused on a task for the period of time required to achieve it. We learn about consistency and concentration, how to overcome weaknesses, and go beyond our limits. 

                                     Simple  Melody

            Holding my breath I walked into a bright building with sweaty palms. My heart was pounding real hard almost escaping through my chest.

            I only have one chance to get this right.

            My name is Jessie Heartfilia. My friends call me Jes. I’m never really a brainy person, the only time when I ever got a high grade besides English is when I was a toddler funny right? That’s it. The reason behind that , I assume is probably because I am more of a…. well how do I put it ,music person? Let’s just say my keyboard and I were best friends. Because of that my parents agreed to send me here to Lost Keys Academy of Performing Arts. Unfortunately that school costs a bunch, so I would really need a scholarship.

            So here I am standing outside the large polished doors with my keyboard in my arms, filled with hesitation and doubts. This audition means the world to me right now. I knew deep down that I have to win this thing, so I could get a scholarship. If I could get my hands on that prize, everything would fall into place.

                        I bravely took a step forward and pushed the door open. Three pairs of eyes greeted me, judges make me shiver, especially that Simon Cowell look-a-like.

“Good morning.” The lady judge with spectacles cleared her throat. “Jessie?”

“Whenever you are ready” She said while adjusting and fixing her attention onto me.

            A few second with trembling hands I placed my fingers onto the keys and played familiar chords and played “Defying Gravity”. I opened my mouth and began singing, allowing the word flow through me. I felt confidence running through my veins diminishing my fears. I began to close my eyes and played smoothly, hitting the high notes and low, going from head voice to chest, using techniques that I can easily work with.

I don’t sound too bad.

            When the song finally ended, I couldn’t help but plaster a goofy smile and looked at the judges not  knowing what to expect. The judges sat there with a stoic face but clapped slowly.

            After the heart popping audition, I sat on the bench outside the audition room. I couldn’t help but notice how great they were, how talented and skilled the music was played. The more I listen the more nervous I become. Only one participant can win the scholarship, and these guys really look like they have this wrapped  around their finger.

            A few minutes later a commotion was heard. I stood up and joined the crowd. A few people already left with unexcited expressions, it was then I realized how big of a possibility I could be leaving with a crushed spirit. Just when I finally made my way to the front, as if on cue, a group of people started cheering and exclaimed happily.

“We made it !” the red head snotty girl from before shrilled as her band celebrated.

No way.

I quickly turned my attention away and scanned the paper pasted on the door. Suddenly I felt weak, very weak.

I didn’t make it. I didn’t get the scholarship.

            Turning around I resisted to look back. I just want to runaway. Running away from the place where my hopes and dreams were shattered to pieces.

            I rode a bus as soon as I got in, it took off. I was really depressed. I couldn’t utter a single word. A girl about five years old was staring at me as I heaved a sigh, maybe she’s thinking of me as some kind of taciturn. I couldn’t help it everything was down to drain. The ride on the bus was rather fast and in a blink of an eye I am already on my destination. I looked around me and noticed a light atmosphere caused by people’s happiness everywhere.

            Then, I remembered something that lift my spirits up. And that is, tomorrow is a brand new day for me, and someday I am gonna make it to stardom!