So recently, we started a couple of renovations here at home and with all the things piled up inside and outside of our house, we've decided to begin decluttering, starting on the clutter at the garage. Most of the things stored there were from the storage room of our little commercial building before it was sold few years ago. You know, I was really sad it got sold, I really loved going up the deck early morning to watch the sunrise and watch the fireworks during New Year or whenever I just want to feel the wind in the afternoon or evening. But due to some unforeseen circumstances, my parents have no choice but to sell it. Anyway, this is not the point of this post, just some background story to build up my post.
From the storage room were some of my things during elementary and high school. Opening the short brown envelope, I found a couple of interesting things including these sheets of paper and a few admission slips of classmates that I failed to submit to my class adviser.
From second to fourth year high school, I was elected as the class secretary. The most abused officer in class, I would say (lol), because I have to do my duty everyday, three times a day. Meanwhile, the rest of the class officers, from the President to the Sergeant-at-Arms, barely do nothing. Sweet life! Lol.
I still remember right after the elections, my adviser told me to encode, print, and laminate our class schedule and tape it on the teacher's table. Then I also have to encode an attendance sheet and have it photocopied.
First thing I do when I arrive at school is bring out the attendance sheet and check those who are already present. Even during the morning flag ceremony, I still have to keep an eye to those who are arriving during the prayer, singing of the national anthem and school hymn, and exercise. Anyone arriving after the school hymn was already considered late, though sometimes teachers were lenient and so I only mark classmates late when they arrive after we have gone back to our classroom.
And as if my duty isn't enough, we had one teacher who assigned me to give him a list of those who were absent during his class. I still remember there were a few times we had a quiz, my classmates were already busy answering the questions and there I was, still listing the names of those who were absent. My first hour of class was basically looking at the door each time it opens. Then before lunch break, I keep an eye again just in case someone plans not to attend the afternoon class because he/she isn't feeling well and whatever reasons. Sometimes, a classmate would fail to notify me and so before the afternoon class begins, I do my duty again and check who's present and who's not. There were also those who didn't attend the morning class and would come in the afternoon.
For three school years, this was my duty and routine. I didn't know how I survived it. Actually, I was already praying not to get elected on our fourth year but classmates were unanimous in putting me as the class secretary again. I was put in same hell over and over again for three school years. Lol. The reason why I wasn't elected as secretary during first year high school was because I was new to the school. After elementary, my parents transferred me to a nearby school to lessen the expenses and no longer have to fetch me after class.
While my task was demanding, there was a perk that came with it, though I only use it sometimes. Since I am the one who checks the attendance, I could easily choose not to mark myself late, if I want to. Or sometimes I only mark late those who arrive after me even though I am already considered late. Lol. 😂 But I rarely did that, to be honest. We also have an Assistant Secretary, by the way, but she doesn't assist me at all. Ugh. However, she was able to experience doing the task back when I got hospitalized for 13 days and went absent for almost 20 days because of dengue.
Now let's go to the fun part! I honestly wished I found these sooner because some are good entries for the Engrish contest at the ASEAN Hive Community back then.
These are the admission slips of my classmates which I failed to submit to our class adviser. I had a good laugh with the excuses of my two classmates:
Surely, the uncertainty of spelling migraine made my classmate's head hurt more. I can see her effort, though nothing's wrong with choosing a simpler word. I remember headache/migraine is among the top excuses of my classmates during high school.
I demand this reason to be acceptable! Lol. It's really difficult to get out of bed when the weather is cool! Our class starts at 7 o'clock in the morning but we have to come earlier because we have our flag ceremony by 6:45. I'm just so proud of myself I made it through high school waking up at 5:30 every weekdays because I can no longer stick to a schedule today.
...His motivation to go to school, perhaps?
Although having daily duties as class secretary (even writing lectures on the board sometimes), it was fulfilling and somehow made me responsible and also tested my honesty. So yeah..it was nice to find pieces from the past which sparked memories of the fun times. I have to take photos of them before they were burned because we have to let go of things to clear spaces and welcome the new things waiting to come into our lives.
Were you also appointed as class officer before? How was your experience?