2018: Year in Review

I think everyone can agree that High School Graduation is a bittersweet moment. One can see it as the end of our childhood. However, it also marks the beginning of our journey to adulthood as young adults. It’s hard to imagine leaving the people you’ve been with since elementary. That’s at least 10 years, plus 2 more with K-12. The thrill of going into college is also something that most are excited about. Change is always exciting. On the day itself, as we wear our uniforms for the last time underneath our Ateneo-Blue togas, we start to remember everything. For me, it was like a supercut or a fast-paced montage. Every memorable thing that stuck with me in High School flashed before my eyes. It intensified even more when I finally arrived in the venue and I saw my classmates, teachers, friends, especially my barkada, with their parents. It was finally time to start with the ceremony.

Honestly, everyone seemed normal. We continued with our program, performed our graduation song, “Raise Me Up.” In practice, everyone made fun of the song with the accompanied dance, but this time there was something different. The performance had an extra oomph to it. By the end, everyone was smiling from ear to ear as they returned to their seats. When our diplomas were being handed out, every person in our 350 person batch applauded for every single one. At that moment, it didn’t seem like a goodbye at all, but when we had our final picture as a whole batch and we sang our school hymn for the last time before we would become alumni, tears and laughter started to erupt from everyone in the batch. The lyrics started to sound muffled. The parents seemed to understand it, many were also crying. It was at that moment, when we couldn’t hide it anymore. It is goodbye. Maybe just for now, but definitely goodbye.

The “long time no see”’s and “I miss you”’s came around quick. A week after, my class section, Magnanamitas, planned an island hopping with everyone. Our class advisor was generous enough to sponsor our boat. When we all saw each other at the pier, it was as if the bawlfest that was Graduation didn’t happen, it was as if we were all back to normal. The conversations shifted from school stress and your typical high school fare to talk of university. Some planned to go abroad, some planned to go to Manila, like me, or other cities, and some planned to stay in Cebu. In short, all of us are going their separate ways one way or another. Those conversations always lingered, which is why no one really talked about them anymore. That day was fun-filled. It was nice to watch the boys do their usual shenanigans.

The day was perfect. Sun was out, but not scorching. No rainclouds in sight. We prepared a seafood and barbeque feast. The water was deep blue, the fish were playful and colorful. There were 30 people in this medium sized boat. Music was roaring. We said hi to every neighboring boat there. It was something to remember. I remember that choosing a date for this was hard because it everyone was either moving or had a family vacation planned. So, after this outing, everyone knew that the class would never be this complete again, maybe not ’til very long. It’s been a year since then. Everyone has their own thing going one way or another. We don’t contact each other as much, and none of us really mind. There will always be a special place in my heart for all of these people. Even if we might not talk as often, at least when we do, we have something to talk about.