It's finally here and it's finally happening! What's up, Hivers! It's makiyumee here and after how many days of counting and waiting, the long-awaited opening of classes is here!
August 12, 2024, marks a memorable day for all the students of Cebu Normal University – Medellin Campus. This day is also memorable for me, not because of the events happening later but because I woke up so late and just realized that it was already the first day of school! I quickly did my morning routine and after a few minutes of running here and there, I found myself walking towards the main road where I can hire a tricycle.
Wearing my uniform again after how many months stocking it inside my closet feels awkward. I quickly got used wearing casual clothes like T-shirts, shorts, or sweatpants when I go outside while if I'm at home, I'd just wear some oversized shirts and pajamas. My clothes appeared to reflect my longing for the concept of minimalism allowing me to go through the day with effortless simplicity, free from the constraints of formality.
After waiting for a few minutes beside the road, a tricycle finally came and I got inside before it drove towards Poblacion, Medellin where my school is located. Time appeared to slow down as the trip went on, with each mile seeming longer than the last. The road ahead appeared to go on forever, bending its way through the terrain with an unchanging unwillingness to arrive at its destination. I had a feeling that the horizon was moving farther away with each curve, extending the trip and making every second seem endless.
I was anxious and excited. It finally the start of my first semester as a fourth-year college student. I tried to calm myself but every time I remember our first subject for this semester, I can't stop myself from feeling like I was the unluckiest person in this world. I've never been very fond of the study of research, but that's our first topic of the day. I let out a sigh at the mere idea of it, until I found myself entering the campus where the program had already started.
To be completely honest, I've never enjoyed doing research. It stresses me out mentally in addition to requiring an excessive amount of time. My eyes begin to blur as I browse through endless articles, and an uncomfortable sensation forms at the back of my skull as a reminder that I need to be paying close attention. I feel as though every page I turn weighs more heavily on my mind, making me tired and craving for easier work. Even still, I know that doing research is a vital difficulty on the learning journey, therefore I will keep going even if it gives me the pain in the eyes and the head.
I looked at the time and it was already 8:30 am, which means I was so late and the program had already began. Great, I was late for the first day and I didn't even managed to sign for the attendance. As the program went on, I noticed that there were a lot of freshmen or first year students and I was astounded to know that this year's batch of first years were a lot more compared to my batch.
Soon, after the opening message and the singing of the Philippine National Anthem which is the Lupang Hinirang, the priest came in front and the mass for the students and the teachers began. Because I was late, I found it hard to find a vacant space for me to sit. But after looking around, I finally found one near the seats where the teachers were sitting.
The mass went on and I really liked the priest's ending message for his homily because he made his own meaning of CNU and it was be Compassionate, be Nice, and be Understanding. He reminded us of the value of compassion in our community while speaking to us in a firm but kind manner. He emphasized that in order to create an atmosphere where respect and compassion are the norm, both educators and students should make an effort to treat one another with kindness and consideration.
He reminded us of the importance of sticking together rather than dividing ourselves and advised us to stay away from the cruel words and deeds that can so easily result in bullying. According to him, we were called to be more than just students or coworkers; we were to be a source of support for one another, particularly in times of difficulty.
The mass ended with the priest's words engraved inside my mind. It was an amazing message to start the first day of school. After the mass, it was finally time to officially start the opening program. The masters of the ceremony were my classmates Claire and Julieus. They did a great job in delivering their words and interacting with the audience. After the faculty and staffs were introduced, there was an intermission number and I had fun dancing with everyone.
The program didn't last that long since there were still classes afterwards. Soon, when the program ended, it was time for me to go home. Along with my classmates, we exited the covered court and walked towards the main road where we were going to wait for a tricycle. When our tricycle came, my classmates and I got in and made our way home.
My day was filled with events, but the priest's encouraging remarks during mass gave it even greater significance. But in a lot of aspects, he was correct. In my abilities as a student and as an aspiring educator, I have to be compassionate, nice, and understanding or CNU for short. I will always keep this in my heart and mind.
Now that we have reached the end of this blog, there will be a part 2 of this coming soon and it will be about another upcoming event that will also happen soon. Alright, that would be all for this blog and I hope you had fun reading and also learned something from it. Once again, this is makiyumee and see you all on my next blog!
