Finally, Goodbye H: Hello AS

It was my first day in college in Mindanao State University. I enrolled Bachelor in Science major in Electronics Communications Engineering. I didn’t know what encouraged me to take up this course, maybe it was the influence of my successful cousin, as an engineer. I am with my sister Yenyen, and we were looking for our classrooms. She is taking up BS in Animal Science. It was always her dream to become a veterinarian someday. And I am glad that she is slowly fulfilling her dream now. She has found her former classmates in high school, so I chose to leave her there. I was heading alone to the CAS building, and there I saw Witt Cyril Vergara, Dave Anas, and Rey Maurice Donesa. After our dramatic separation from graduation, I didn’t have the chance to communicate to them, so I was surprised when they told me that we are both enrolled on the same course. They also added that Allan Valiente is also enrolled in BSECE. I never thought that I will be seeing them there. As I know, Witt wants to become a marine biologist; Dave wants to be a chemist or biologist, and Maurice as a computer programmer. About Allan, I was not very surprised, because he really likes Math. They also told me that Alter Cocjin, Benjamin Bajao, John Paul Garcia, and Henry Estremadura are also enrolled in the College of Engineering.
My first semester in college as first year, is not very difficult because of my former classmates. We eat together in the kiosk besides the CAS building, we teach each other, and hang out together. We were very extravagant that time, because every time we take our lunch, each of us always buy 12oz. of coke. I got to know them better since we were not so close in high school. Witt Cyril is a jolly person, despite of being serious on his studies. He always finds time to laugh with me, blow some corny jokes but still funny. He is very responsible and caring. He is very interested about mysteries, especially UFO’s. Rey Maurice is very quiet. He likes to ask questions almost about anything. Even he knows the answer, he still wants to ask about it. He is very neat and tidy. He knows everything about techno and gadgets. Allan is also very serious, more serious than Witt. He is very sensible. He also blows jokes, but it’s only him who can understand. When he laughs, I also laugh though I didn’t understand his joke. His intellectual capacity is very amazing. We go home together, and when he opens up about the lesson in Math awhile ago, Im just…”???”. Dave became my closest among them. He is very diligent on his studies. He is nice, and we can really understand each other. He is an avid fan of Suju, like he sings their song with so much emotion. We even joined our classmates in dancing ballroom for our performance in Humanities1. But I also found new friends from Sarangani and from MSU high school. I thought that we would never be at ease to them, especially when MSUans came late for our Filipino1 class. But that impression was wrong because we are now comfortable to each other. The subjects are not yet difficult. In fact, I was included in the dean’s list that time. The second semester was a bit obstinate. It was hard because I was not putting importance to my studies. I do not know what the reason behind that was. I just got tired, and just took things for granted. But fortunately, I passed all the subjects, especially Physics 21 and Math51. I became closer to my new friends because we were classmates in PE2 dance. I cannot forget our dance performance in the final practicum with the theme “Creation”. Brian Omar Esmael played the role of Adam, while Janaisha Bai Tito played the role of Eve. We really practiced a lot, whole days of practicing in Bai’s place and in MSU high school. Our performance was great and we were declared as first during the Dance Festival. I also joined PSALM ministry through Chrismer Ombid. We were rushing our assignment in Physics that time, and when we were finished I asked him to come home with me since he stays also in Uhaw. But he said that he will be attending a fellowship in his ministry, so instead of going home alone I stayed with him. I am not new to fellowships, since I’ve got a little experience of it when I was in high school. We were attending fellowships together with Herlyn Faye Dela Rosa and Charmine Hechanova in City Alliance Church every first Friday of the month during my third and fourth year. I met new friends, and they welcomed me very warmly. I found a discipler in the person of Kuya Reu. I went through Caring Circle Lessons or CCL under him. We meet in Agape Park, beside the Psalm cottage every vacant time in Tuesday and Friday. I have learned many lessons, and I was able to reflect on the things I have done in the past. When I was on second year in College, I became closer to my classmates from South Cotabato. Chrismer Ombid is from Surallah, a very God-fearing person. He became a dedicated leader of the ministry. He is very calm, has strong faith, and very talented in playing guitar. He also plays table tennis and badminton. Alvin Apud is from Banga, a gentle giant, and a co-ministry of ours. He has good skills in drawing and painting. John Rey Ngitngit, also from So.Cot, is very natural. He is very funny to be with, and he speaks Ilonggo. He has a good penmanship and he likes drawing too. Kevin Intoy is from Isulan, a hardcourt heartthrob. He has good abilities in basketball. He is a computer enthusiast, especially playing DOTA and Fight of Characters. Brian Omar Esmael, from Maguinadanao, is very nice. He is very open minded, despite of our different beliefs. We became very close when we were practicing on our PE2 dance, last semester. We were separated from our classmates because of the enrollment ; they took engineering drawing, while we took Hist5. I was with Brian and Kevin that time, under Sir Villa. After our class in Biology, we immediately run to the CAS building for our History5. I like the subject, because our professor is very jolly, light, and smooth. And you can get high scores on essay-type quizzes even without studying . My PE3 Individual Sports was dull. I was again separated from my classmates, this time I was alone. Though my classmates were my former classmates in high school, Alter, John Paul, Benjamin, and Henry, I didn’t have so much fun. I am not really into sports, though I know how to play Badminton. But I really had a hard time learning Table Tennis. My PE4 Group Sports on the second semester was a lot more fun. I was reunited with my classmates, and it was more comfortable since we are to play Basketball. Only Cyril knows how to play basketball on our group, . The basics of the game were taught to us. Basic passing, dribbling, and shooting, and it was my first time to hold a ball. I was really ignorant about it, as in total shocked. But good thing I found a coach in the person of Nerio Ilisan. He is really good in basketball, like he can make every exhibition. We even play mock games, with their friends from IT. I found basketball very interesting, that I even wake up early just to practice in school. My efforts paid off because I got a high grade that time. But the story was not the same with my Physics41 subject. I got a grade of INC, and I must admit it was my fault. I didn’t take it seriously, because I thought I could still pass it, just like my previous Physics. So, I was very relaxed, without knowing what the outcome would be. We took removal examination. But I still did not pass because I was not following instruction . But I have learned to accept it. I do not know if fate wants to punish me, but I guess everything has been planned. And I need not to worry.
Hello H building. My first semester in third year had been chaotic. I cannot avail my major subjects because I failed on their pre-requisite Physics41. I only got four subjects, Thermodynamics, Engineering Mechanics, Statistics, and Linear Differentiation Equations. I was alone again. But I guessed I am used to it. It would be harder if not because of Hyann Loviere Damola. We were classmates in most of my subjects. He was courting Melody Betira, my former classmate in high school. I was with him all along the semester. We eat lunch together with Melody, including her classmates in BSED, Myrick Montevirgen, Roma Beryl Dajay, and Johanna Bairizza Usop. And I was reunified again with Myrick Montevirgen. He was really funny, and we can understand each other in many ways. We are really close since high school. I also meet my friends from BA, Hazel Jade Rosaot and Pamekris Manzo. After school, we meet and take a stroll around the campus. Our acquaintance parties and our assembly meetings had been so much fun. I also joined E-GEN ministry, through Katrina Labiana. I was with ate Karen Ganacias, Kathleen Silagan, Leah Mahusay, and Kuya Ian Rowe Guiron. Later, we were joined by Hyann, Melody, Pamekris, and Hazel. It is a very wonderful experience. Ate Judith is our lady pastor. She is very faithful and very hopeful. She always sends us messages about the Word of God. She is very eager to teach us. And I am glad that I’ve been part of the ministry. But I don’t forget my first ministry, Psalm. After our fellowship in E-Gen, we still visit Psalm, with Hazel and Pame. Before we ended the semester, something happened to me. It was a bad accident, a misunderstanding. But thanks to the courage of Myrick, I was able to overcome that problem. I wasn’t doing well in school. And I am expecting of low grades, even failing grades. I am so much prepared of a downfall. And I was right. I got two failing grades of 5, and two grades of INC. I didn’t pass any subjects. Of course no one is to be blamed except me. But I accepted it wholeheartedly. After all, we cannot turn back the mistakes of yesterday.
So, it’s time to say goodbye. Goodbye H. Thanks for the memories. Good and bad. I decided to leave engineering, not because I cannot make it, but because I got tired of it. I know my capabilities, and that’s what matters most. I do not know if this is still part of the plan, but whenever it is, it’s time to fulfill it. You can never be certain about your future, so you need to hold on and trust. Everything happens for a reason. For us to learn, and grow to be better individuals. This is not the end. This is yet the beginning.