14 Aug 2010
by Jamesin Rants Tags: High School Files, Random, Rants, writer
Thank God it’s the weekend. I’ve had quite a hectic week, and R&R is welcomed with arms wide open. Last night while waiting for the jeep to embark, I witnessed a real life soap opera in live action. I always used to think that soap scenes could never be the same as reality because to me, they seemed exaggerated and too melancholic. But last night’s incident made me realize that the poignancy they display is actually based on what happens in real life. It was a refreshing eye opener. Perhaps as refreshing as it will be after I shave.
Speaking of realizations. We are living in a post modern society, where innovations and new stuff are illustrated everywhere. Automobiles, fashion, computers, and even dating, have all been bitten by the post modernization bug (we are modern, but we want to modernize modern). Nevertheless, I find that the classics still attract me best, for most things (since I cannot imagine myself living in a generation without modern technology). There is just something ineffable about classics that is so cool. Classic books, classic shoes, classic music, classic styles, you name it. The classics rule.
I missed the classic sound of a television. I seriously have not heard it for a while, and again, it is very refreshing. Abstain from one thing for a long time and when you get back to it, the feeling is indescribable. One can’t really describe how expensive white chocolate would taste like after months of eating only cheap, bitter chocolate. It would be like being in love I guess, and describing that is no walk in the park, especially since the said park is post modern.
Oh how I love white chocolate! Give me a bar of Hershey’s Cookies and Cream, and you could be certain you’d have made my day. Just a bite off of that bar would make me forget all my academic stress. Nothing beats recharging by savoring something you love so much. That’s why I’m recharged every time I write. I love writing; it is my life.
Since writing is a big part of my life, I plan to live off of it. Certainly, you’ve been asked what you think you will be doing in the next five, ten years. You’d probably answered, brewing coffee for the top honcho of Microsoft, cooking food for President Obama, tending the bar of the Copacabana, or perhaps manning the cash register in the nth 7Eleven (by the way, I had a blueberry latte from 7Eleven before going home tonight, and it was superb).
In my case, I answered, “In the next five years, I see myself sitting on a hammock with a Mac on my lap, typing away a commentary on a random social issue as fast as I can just so my editor won’t annihilate me. I’d be working for a national paper or magazine, earning just enough to pay the bills, gasoline, and my mother’s regular gym sessions. ”
I’m quite the dreamer don’t you think? Well, it is advised to dream big. I remember a saying stuck on the walls of my classrooms in High School. It said “Aim for the moon. ‘Cause if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” or something close to that effect. It didn’t really make sense to me back then, but now I see the significance of it. It’s like “If you’re blind, just keep shooting. You’ll hit the target soon enough.” or “Just keep picking, you’ll nail that booger in a minute!” if you know what I mean (wait a sec, what do I mean?). Point is, dream big, do your part, and God will do His.
Well, I better get some of that R&R. MacGyver sounds good to me or perhaps a chapter of old Arsene Lupin. Be seein’ ya.
15 Apr 2010
by Jamesin High School Files, Rants Tags: High School Files, Rants
Studying in a high school with an extremely diverse population of 6,000+ students in the main campus alone pounded particularly one thing on my brain. Don’t readily judge people, they are not books.
I’ve had classmates of all sorts and sizes. Different personalities, interests, styles… I’ve had punk rockers, skaters, fashionistas, geeks and regulars (like me. You know, jeans and sneakers) for classmates, and I primarily had no idea what to think of them. But when the gangster dudes walked into the room, the first thing that came into mind was: uh oh.
They’d swagger into the room on the first day in their FUBU jerseys, baggy pants, Timberlands, Ray Bans on their foreheads, red and blue bandannas that represented the so called ‘Bloods’ and ‘Crips’, and their ‘Imma do somethin’ to ya fool!’ looks while Rap music pounded from the tiny speakers of their mobile phones. Then they’d take the seats farthest at the back and slouch on them, their heads bobbing to 50 Cent, their eyes scanning the room, probably deciding what to vandalize with graffiti next, or whose arse to bully next. They looked like they’d shoot you if you made the slightest mistake of looking at them directly. To the average Junior, they were scary. Very Scary…
But after a few days, after everyone has gotten acquainted, I realized that they weren’t as scary as I first thought them to be. In fact, they weren’t so bad. Only a few of them were part of street gangs (I soon found out that they dressed the way they did because they considered Hip Hop to be an art), and they were really nice dudes; one of them even shared the same faith as me. Plus they did quite well academically (one of them even had a higher grade in Geometry than I did). And to be honest, I enjoyed being friends with them for two years.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that I learned not to speculate and judge people based on outward appearances and first impressions. It’s a shallow way of interacting with people. These are just the minors and are not necessarily indicative of their character. Based on my experiences, I’d say that it would be best to carefully get to know the person before you make any sound, dispassionate judgment. Be discerning. After all, real gangsters are scary.
26 Nov 2009
by Jamesin High School Files Tags: High School Files
{I’m not sure exactly when I wrote this, but I think it was during my Senior year in high school, so it is filed under my High School notes.}
Currently, Filipino is burning me; I’m so bored. The instructor is so monotonous; just looking at her makes me droopy. She is a temptress: the very sight of her tempts me to doze off. My senses fail during her class, and my mind travels to distant dimensions of the imaginary realm. As her monotone voice goes over 70 decibels, my mind jumps off the brink of logic, my psyche sprints beyond the border of reason and my soma experiences a pseudo sensation of floating… like a bubble.
Everything is going smoothly in my self – simulated imaginary world when all of a sudden, the walls crumble and my bubble bursts due to the piercing announcement made. Martial Law arises.
“YOU MUST COPY.”
Surprisingly though, I’m the only one who perceives it that way. My fellow pupils seemingly agree with the dictatorship established by the most powerful phrase said today. I feel like an outlaw, a renegade fleeing from the petrifying gaze of the terrorist, the so called Filipino instructor. I feel rebellion stirring in my marrow as I plot my strike against the enemy. Everything is perfect, at least before I was drawn back to “greater heights” by my imagination and the thought of sour candies and sweets. Great, just great.
31 Oct 2009
by Jamesin High School Files Tags: High School Files
During my Junior year in High School, my buddies and I loved online games, and we’d skip classes so we could play (and kick arse online!). There were various ways to do this, but in this file, I’ll be talking about the Sayotehan, or Sayote overgrowth (is this what it’s called?).
The Sayotehan was located near the Senior’s building. It was behind it, to be precise, and it led to the Athletic bowl, then eventually to Burnham Park, then eventually to freedom! Getting out of the campus through this method was tricky, and required adequate skills in ‘espionage’. We had to wait for the right time to go through, and we had to do it skillfully. We made sure that the risk of being caught was at its minimum, checking if there were any of the students or school personnel around. Then when all system were a go, we’d be over the fence, through the over growth and gone, on our way to our trivial and simpleton delights, that we soon realized, cost a fortune of our allowance!
At first though, we were not the professionals we turned out to be; we were spotted often and had so many bloopers. The first was when the fence was greased, and our buddy rushed to it without taking a second look. One time, my fat, or ‘big boned’ rather, buddy jumped off the fence and tumbled down down down… Another time, my buddy slipped on spoiled rice and had the stuff all over his pants. Another time yet again, this guy who went along with us tripped on some weed and we found him lying on the ground like a bikini model, with his head resting on his hand, leaning on his elbow and all that. There were so many more we experienced in that hole. Now, it’s gone, and when I visited my Alma mater and checked if it was still around, I was overwhelmed by all the concrete in where it used to be.
I’m not proud of it, but cutting classes was part of my high school life; and its’ twin, getting found out by our parents, too (I have quit doing it). Anyway, here I am, just reminiscing, looking back and rambling about the good old days.
23 Oct 2009
by Jamesin High School Files Tags: High School Files
I was going through the documents saved on my computer and I came across this, my high school graduation speech(?) two years ago. I couldn’t help but reminisce. During those days, all I wanted was to get out of what I used to call a ‘hole’, but after two years, I kinda miss it.
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After four long, tiring, annoyingly excruciating yet fun filled years, I finally graduated from high school. I’m free of fixed schedules, anticipating recess, UNIFORM, cleaner’s schedules, cheer dancing, passing of notebooks, etc. Things I really dislike.
Before graduation day, I never really cared about the commencement exercises and ceremonies. I just wanted to get it over with and attain my diploma. I wished it was that simple; meet the required average to pass, get my diploma then scram and never show up at my high school ever again. Yes, I thought of never coming back to my Alma mater. But as days passed and graduation day neared, I started to feel tense and jittery, nervous and worried; I was sort of afraid to march up the stage, receive my diploma from the superintendent and shake the principal’s hand. I was mostly afraid to say goodbye to my friends. I’ve been with them for four years. We’ve had so many experiences together(both bad and worse…I mean good and best! he he) and all of a sudden it’s time to say goodbye. It’s not the typical “catch you later” or “see you tomorrow” goodbye, it’s the “farewell my friend, I’ll never see you again” kind of bid. Okay, I’m exaggerating. But if you were in my place, I think you’d feel the same.
Then the time finally came and everything was… normal(exciting when it’s your turn to march, boring when you had to wait, fun when the main speaker started, disappointing when the valedictorian injects Harry potter into her speech , overwhelming when you all sing the Grad Song, tear-jerking when you feel the warm hugs of your friends as you congratulate each other and say your I love yous and goodbyes).
Today was fun. Every expectation was met and we’re all satisfied. Graduation truly is a blessing. And now, I have a second chance and a new beginning. A second chance to prove myself to myself in the academic aspect. A new beginning; my slate has been cleaned all over again. This time, I choose to take advantage of every single opportunity that comes my way, so help me God.
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