The 25th of May was the day my fiancée's family decided to celebrate an early Father's Day celebration. Her dad usually works during Father's Day weekend but gets Memorial Day weekend off. What better way to spend this Sunday than to treat it as a special day for the head of the family.
We arrived at her grandma's house around 12:30. As we were waiting for our lunch, my future father-in-law and I talked about my home country, the Philippines.
They have this friend from church who was sent as a missionary to a remote region in my homeland about 20 years ago in order to spread Christian teachings and build a church and a community.
Twenty years ago. I was fifteen years old. What was I doing when I was fifteen?
Looking back two decades ago, I was a young high schooler who loved playing football (soccer). I couldn't wait for classes to end so I could rush to the pitch and train. I couldn't wait for the weekend especially during the season because this was when we traveled to other schools to compete.
I also didn't need to worry about my grades since I knew I was a decent student who was smart enough to get by and get good grades without putting in too much effort.
For me, at least at the time, life was easy.
If I could go back in time to when I was fifteen and give myself a piece of advice, it would be to be prepared for the life ahead just like how I prepare for upcoming football games. Except real life will be more brutal. I can't approach it like how I approached my classes.
And just like my high school coach used to say "the football field is a microcosm of the world we live in."
I should have taken that to heart.
In 2013, years after my high school graduation, and after two year's worth of experience in the workforce, my family and I had the opportunity to migrate to the United States.
We were not desperate for it, but considering we, as a family, have known this was going to happen eventually, we did not hesitate to test the waters and live a new life abroad. My parents planned on coming back to the homeland for business reasons. For me and my siblings, it was our chance to start afresh and experience what this foreign world has to offer.
Rude awakening.
I wasn't ready to be an adult, but I had to be one anyway. Or at least pretend to be until I was.
From one odd job to another, hoping for a glimmer of light to get back on track to the career I wanted to pursue, I swallowed my pride and just dealt with what life has thrown my way.
Money was becoming a problem. Pay was low, needs were expensive. Nevertheless, I stayed optimistic, hoping soon I'd see the light at the end of the tunnel.
This was part of life, I told myself. It can't be comfortable everyday. I'm not a kid anymore who only worried about what food is served at home and what time the game was during weekends. Just like the old days when we would train hard to be match-ready, I was gearing myself for what's to come.
I eventually got out of that rabbit hole. I found a company I liked working for. I am decently compensated. Not only am I back in the construction industry like I wanted, I am also employed by a well-known sports field builder in Northern California.
Construction and sports fields. Serendipity?
If I could go back in time to this age and give myself a piece of advice, it would be to be prepared for the life ahead just like how I prepare for upcoming football games. Except real life will be more brutal.
I would also tell myself not to worry too much because I will eventually figure it out. Just like football games, I can't win it all. Sometimes you play defensive and wait for the opportunity to counterattack. Sometimes you're on all-out offense for that desperately needed equalizer or even the winning goal.
Whatever happens to you is life training you for what is up ahead. Better come prepared.