Fast Times at Sci-Hi

8 years ago, exactly I graduated from high school. It was a blistering hot Saturday afternoon and I was dripping wet inside my white toga and was feeling both fulfilled to have finish and sad to be leaving a place, despite of its imperfections I've grown attached to. It was memorable in the sense because at that time I felt huge that I was able to cap another milestone in my life.

High school was indeed a learning experience. Not only was I able to acquire knowledge on the scientific names of the trees and plants in school (one proud Agriculture major here), Asian history, solving Trig problems, Filipino grammar and all those sciences that students from other schools don't have to take till college, the most that made an impact on me was how to tackle life. At that time high school taught me on how to deal with people of different personalities, consequences of losing your temper and half-meant efforts, striving in moments of adversities and quick and sensible decision making. Though right now I still need to improve on the last. Really. Those things I've mentioned became really useful not in college but still even today and the course I lived my life with. Most of these values I've started obtaining during high school and as I grew older and wiser (ahem) I've improved and still currently improving through every situation and every single day.

High school was also a blast. I mean it wasn't all balloons and cheeky but it had lots of ups and downs, happy and sad moments that helped me grow. Four years just went by, though the first two years kinda dragged a bit. I started Freshmen year really intimidated with the company of such magnificent people and I've really worked my ass off very much to prove to myself, my parents and everyone in school both teachers and students that I belonged there. But as the months kept on I've learned to relax and let go. Sophomore year, I became more assertive and happy go lucky I think. Those were the days of carefree me and man, it felt really liberating to be such. I was more aggressive in a sense this time and I would willingly put myself into a gabfest or debate with anybody whom I never liked or had a clash of opinion. My fondest memory of sophomore year was getting my own Internet connection and of course with my own phone at my room (let me remind you those days of dial-up, wherein if someone uses the Internet the phone will be busy). Weekends I would stay up late surfing HTML sites. Java and Flash was almost elitist back then. I would play games and search and print lyrics of the latest hits. I would also be updated on new movies and TV shows like Dawson's Creek. I secretly felt I was cool because I was so updated with information. I would download MP3s that would take a freaking hour just to finish one. I was also a chat addict that time. Talking which literally means typing all over the keyboard to both classmates or people from school and people from different countries. I believe this was the year teen angst took me over. Yup those days emo was still preconceive somewhere in someone else's mind. My angst continued throughout Junior year. It was full of drama, fights and I slacked off causing me to messed up Trigonometry and Chemistry and that was the time where I first encountered integrity and hard work. People were caught cheating at the end of that year and it affected the reputation of the batch. I'm glad I wasn't one of the perpetrators. One highlight of this year was taking home the championship crown over the Seniors. Right now it is petty but to a sea of fifteen year olds with racing hormones and equally competitive, that was BIG. Senior Year I was mostly preoccupied with CAT and enjoying every last of high school. Last Intramurals. Last Dance. Last Christmas party. I liked the first three grading periods of Senior Year. We were united. But during the last two months. It felt like everyone can't wait to get out of high school leaving me behind. I was also confused on the decision making regarding college. I was torn on whether to pursue a dream since childhood which was becoming a doctor or take something that is new of interest like literature, history, film or law. I went with the former.

High school brought a lot of memories for me. Right now it's all becoming a blurry memory. But every time I talked about it with friends and batchmates it suddenly becomes vivid and alive again.

Most of my bestest and closest friends are from high school. Dawnah, my partner in crime in malling, shopping and eating delicious food, is one of my best friends from high school. For two years now we regularly meet up once a month to catch up with occasional phone calls every week. Jo, my co-conspirator on books, movies, coffee and basically almost everything. I've met from high school. My wonderwall and ever accepting of my quirkiness and idiosyncratic nature. She is also my translator when I am lost in Philosophy. Though we have been classmates for only a year, we got even closer during college along with our coffee mates, Bingo and Julio, also from high school. We still keep in touch a lot composed of talking on the phone, e-mails and dinners and group hangs till the wee hours of the morning when she comes home to Cebu thrice a year. She is currently an incoming fourth year law student. Most of my closest friends from college were people I went to with from high school. We didn't hang out much but at college we had lots of fun moments from staying up all night to impromptu and spontaneous drinkfests. Most of them are already abroad exploring greener pastures. The rest of my friends are caught up in work, having cute babies and getting married or have already tied the knot.

High school was a part of my life that completely made sense after all. Everything that happened way back prepared me for what happened during and after college and the rest of my life. I met people who contributed a lot on life. Right now most of us still say hi or talk for a while when we meet at public places. We support each other's business and endeavors by recommendations and have prayed for each other's successes. My sensible support for the last three years of medical school were from high school. People who endlessly told me everything will be alright and have never complained that they are tired of listening to me rant and bitch about medicine and the people in medicine. You guys know who you are, and I am ever thankful for the support and love. 

Now I can't hardly wait for your ten year reunion by 2011. I hope that happens because I am excited to see those I haven't seen for years.