The first quarter left me clinging for dear life, almost literally, as I brave my way to the last months of my college years. From spending hours at the bedside and more hours beating requirement deadlines, sleep and food have been escalated from being basic human needs to luxuries one can only indulge so much. It was the penultimate challenge to the final reward. Getting my hands on that sablay is worth every bodily fluid that I sacrificed to finish the program. These months taught me that to will something to be done and giving your best is quite a formula for success.
Board exams loomed during the last weeks of my stay in college. It reared its ugly head all the more when we started our review with barely two months left in our hourglasses (the good half of that period spent in a no-regret summer getaway with friends). I downed caffeine like a blackhole to light. I tried 'Mountain Dew' and other high-sugar items during review nights to no end, as if tempting myself to become more insulin-resistant. "Here I come!" the booming voice of NLE seemed to say during the last weeks of review. What did I say in reply? "Here's my middle finger for you!" before I went to enjoy a high school reunion and spending some alone time a mere days before the exam. These trying times told me how to handle pressure. That no matter how great the pressure is, it can be dispersed over an even larger area.
Adult responsibilities. Tell me about it. After headfirst diving my way into my first job interview, I found myself employed in a highly stressful environment (and in a really different field of interest). I thought this would be great (the stressful part, at least), because I can put my stress-handling and organization skills to the test which I think I was able to do. Some factors just tend to be intrinsic to the nature of the work that you just can't wrap your mind around, no matter what you do. After dutifully rendering my skills for the duration of the contract, I decided to turn a new leaf in the employment chapter of my life. Make no mistake of thinking that I abhor the job. It had its 'peculiarities' but it also had its finer points and sources of sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. I learned a lot, too, considering it even led me to consider a new walkway in my forever twisted and branched career path. This opportunity helped me realize (all the more) that there are things that are not taught in the four walls of the classroom (or the hospital ward or the barangay vicinity, in our case).
Interspersed in my year, I learned to love. Things, people, activities. Whatnot's. These whatnot's came my way, caught my attention and had me hooked by my wit's end. I had to exert effort, spend energy and shed some alone-time to make way for loving these whatnot's. I never had these things at my disposal before but I was wrong. I had them all along. All it took was the right inspiration to drive me to find them within me and use them. These sprinkles of inspiration taught me that even if love finds a way, you have to make way for love.
A lot of people came my way: meanies despite their age, nice ones from all walks and ages, average John's and Jane's you will meet one minute and lost the next, and special ones that even changed you in ways you can't even imagine. No matter how traumatic, how beautiful, how small, how deep the memories I shared with them, they left a mark in me that shaped me to who I am right now.
As the closing hours of 2013 tick by to make way for 2014, I remember these lessons that the awesome year has taught me. Remember yours, too, and live by them as you face a new leaf in your life. A happy new year to all!
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets
In midnights, in cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife
In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year in the life?
- Seasons of Love, RENT
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