GOLDEN MEMORIES

“High school is the best moment of a student’s life.” When I was a kid, my parents, teachers, older cousins, aunts, uncles – adults around me kept telling me that I’d really enjoy high school. They said that I’d laugh at corny jokes, cry, fight a lot of people, develop horrible eye-bags, annoy a lot of teachers and become a nuisance to the people in-charge. All of that happened, and then some…. Now that I’m already a college student, I can even add my own testimony about it: “High School rocks!!!”

I remember my first day in my first year. It was hard, more nerve-wrecking than what I’ve experienced before. I grew up a recluse – my family transferred from the cement and asphalt of Makati to the mountains and grasses of Sarangani; transferred to the dusty trails of Doña Soledad and then settled on the dustier Fatima. I had sweaty palms, was slouching so much to lessen my tall height, not meeting anyone’s eyes and stayed really really quiet on a corner. My heart was tha-thump-tha-thumping so fast and I felt almost faint due to panic, timidness and unfamiliarity with everything.

Being anti-social had me at a disadvantage when introducing myself to others. Yet, at the next day, despite my serious and odd behavior, I was elected as the president of the class – by people whom I didn’t know. They were all smiling after the election though; I could see them grinning ear to ear and were really enthusiastic in their clapping.

It was awkward. But, months passed and I finally became familiar with my classmates’ faces. I’d call them by their names, some even their nicknames, and we would all be laughing, chatting and gossiping like we’ve been friends for years. A feeling of solidarity was starting to form. Even though the colors of our pink skirts and brown pants may