Step Backward

A bold shout from behind “ Lambunao, Russel?”. And me bewildered, “ah, eh, Present maam!”.

 You would never consider yourself as a student if you are not familiar with the sacred word ATTENDANCE. It is as important as LIFE if your ever-worthy-of-praise-teacher consider it as part of your grade. Willing to risk everything, just to save that point that will be added even if you feel dying or affected with a pandemic like disease. Sad, but true story!

Elementary days:

 Not to sound boastful, but I had a good line up of grade during these days. Not by default, I also got one of the highest awards on a primary study. I don’t know how it happened, not even remembered anytime where I study a lot, a gift they may say. But hey, it was indeed something to be proud of. Getting back to the point of this article, I rarely allow my teacher to leave a blank on her precious chart as she enumerates our names for checking our attendance. During roll call of names, it sounds like a reading of SOULS’ name written on an envelope, read by a priest during mass because of the old fashioned-adopted names of my classmates. Not to be sarcastic, but it felt real. Haha. And oh, aside from grades, another reason why I don’t absent much is the requirement of the “WHY ABSENT LETTER”! it is hard to construct by your own at such level of education. Grammar drama! And also, sometimes it sounds like a joke. I mean, reasons for absences written on that paper are sometimes/obviously lies. About 80% lies, trust me, I read some of my classmates letters and MAN, they were hilarious. Diarrhea? For three weeks? C’mon guys, reality check! Haha.

As one of the top earning good grade of my own elementary days (haha), I am competitive. I cannot, in any reason, unless death, be absent on any of majoring and non-majoring subjects or else my other competent classmates would took over the race, especially when the school year is ending. I cannot miss any quizzes, seatworks, plus points activities or bonuses (only applicable during classes with only 10 to 15 student). Grade is life! C’mon! lets accept the fact! Haha. As if we’ll be rich if will have those glittering 95%. Haha. Crazy me. Being an evil child on elementary days, I would be very happy with eyes trolling at its best  IF one of my best competitor would be absent. I even shout on my inner most intestine, “YES!, solo praise for me during class!”. It was really a happy moment for me, but I know its EVIL! So please don’t try it at home! Dangerous to your health… (karma to my hart,lol)… but yah, I was the type of elementary child who is afraid to miss a class. Honest to goodness! I couldn’t stay in the house comfortly knowing  that there is a class is celebrating my absence! (curse them!) haha.. but those were just the days . . . . .

High School

What the Furryfish?  New scenario! New competitor! New Zealand! Joke aside, high school days comparing to elementary days when it comes to attendance level, was just somehow the same. BUT!!!!!! This time, there is a pursuit to perfect the attendance on this 4 year struggle! WHY??? Well, this time, there is an award!!!! Yes! An award!!! More bragging rights!!! More decoration in the house eluding the eyes of the visitors!

4 years I spent at Holy Cross High school, and I am proud, though I never experience being a beadle, that I was one of the fewest to complete with perfect, I say perfect, as in perfect attendance on the 4 year span of high school! It was an achievement! 4 colorful ribbons I received every recognition program we had. These ribbons are additional achievement, side achievements they may tag, since my top 10 rank was the main deal on those recognition days. Boasting again. Bear with it! Haha. I would like to share one of my near-absent experiences:

              It was February that time. Every morning in our camp, we, students are being fetched by a school bus. As a typical, burdened-full’ish student, it is normal to wake up 30minutes behind your normal awakening momentum. So as expected, the bus went on and on, leaving the burdened-full’ish student (me) in my homeland! So when I reached the assembly area for the bus, no one was there. Great! No other vehicle or transport option. So guess what, I went back home, with big tears flowing like faucet! A big breaker on my heart. I was roaring in tears, really, literally, getting louder and louder as my neighbour could describe. Well, they can’t blame me to act like that. Im competitive you know. I don’t wan’t anything to hinder my study. ROW!. Haha. But again, an angel is with me. My father came from his work with motorcycle. Shed those tears and humped in right away. Bravo, had in class in time, like a boss!!! And burdened-full’ish student life continues. . . . . . and pause. . . . and continues again . . . .

College:

I will make this short. I promise! Haha. So what happened now? No competition, no grades for attendance? No pressure on teachers or classmates? Would it suggest freedom? Haha. Yah! It turned out in a 180 degrees way. From an absent-afraid’ish type of student into a student who could be absent whenever he wants to be. But ofcourse, the grade factor is still there in order to survive college. Just last month, last week of February, I was absent 3 consecutive days! Surprised? Me too. Haha. I can dwell on that since nothing is special on those times (no reports to pass, quizzes and etc.) and since we are celebrating the engineering days. Im surprised for the fact that I could stand the multiple days absences, comparing it with high school and elementary days. What happened?. I think the positive side of this experience is that sometimes we are almost caught up about things that creates pressure and drama to our lives, and physically and mentally, these affects us in one way or another. It suggests that sometimes there is a need to stop and pause for a while to collect things together, organize matters, and reflect upon happenings. We cannot fight pressure, we live and deal with them. It is a matter of stepping back to visualize things needed to be fixed and eradicate unsure decisions in life. It may seem so serious, but the three day absence evoked these thoughts. Rest, indeed, is a step backward to prepare oneself for a bigger leap.