mystérieux

Although its 2019 and a lot of effort has been made for the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities to the general public, we know that there is still a long way to go until they become fully accepted by society. Until today, the connotation is that PWDs are “not normal”. However, having a disability is not a bad thing. It’s actually a proof of strength, and a challenge that not every “normal” person can handle. After all, it’s not a disability; it’s a different ability.

When we say PWDs, we don’t just mean those who have physical and visible disabilities like being blind or limp or deaf and mute. Persons with Disabilities includes those who suffer from Mental Health Problems like depression and anxiety, Personality Disorders like Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder etc., Mental Disorders like Autism, Chromosomal Disorder like Down Syndrome, and Other Health Impairments like ADHD. Knowing and distinguishing these is a very important and crucial step in making them feel like a part of society as they should be. After all, we need to know what makes them different for us to not treat them in a different way. Some may say that this fighting for inclusion of PWDs is old news and it’s not an issue anymore but in truth it still is. Up to today, PWDs do not get the same treatment as compared to others when it comes to the workforce or public service. There is still a stigma on those who are suffering from depression, anxiety and other mental health illness. Having autism and chromosomal mutations are considered abnormal. Health Impairments like ADHD are still not taken seriously. Having a personality disorder automatically equals to crazy and many, many more. We’re not in the endgame of this; we’ve barely just begun.

It’s grad season all over and that mean that it’s just a matter of time for the new freshies to be walking through the halls of their new campus! Of course, there are many question in a college freshie girls’s mind, but I remember that when it was me, one of the biggest questions that really stressed me was WHAT THE HELL DO I BRING TO THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL?!?!

So, here’s a First-Day-Of-School essentials list to help all the incoming freshie girls out there:

1.    Index Card

Okay so 1stday college classes aren’t THAT much different from high school’s with all that introduce-yourself-to-the-class and getting-to-know-you activities but I think almost all professors require their students to submit an index card with all the info they want from you. Although this is usually given on the 1stmeeting and to be submitted on the next, it won’t hurt to have a 3x5 index card ready because trust me, this is very easy to forget and to mix up the info your specific profs want written on theirs. At least you can jot it down on the spot and submit it agad!

2.    ID Pictures

Where there’s an index card, ID pictures usually follows. After all, how would the professors know who’s who if they can’t put a face to the name, right? So it’s best be prepared with this so that you can submit your index cards immediately (ohdibaplus points agadbefore formal classes has even begun)

3.    Pen Case

College is a bit more lax in terms of rules than high school, but it’s still school and you’ll definitely need your black, blue and colored pens and it won’t hurt to bring them during the first day because your profs would most likely ask you to write something. Also, you won’t know if your prof is one of the bida-bida  profs who actually starts lectures/gives HW on the first day are. (yes, they exist. Ugh!)

4.    Yellow Pad

Yes, my dears. Yellow pad. Aka the college equivalent of intermediate paper. Usually, the first day of classes are just orientations and house rules but you never know when a prof is gonna ask you to bring out a piece of yellow paper. Nakakahiya naman kung first day palang, humihingi ka na from your blockie diba?

5.    Planner

First days are usually when the profs present the schedule of activities for the sem and it would help you a lot if you jot them down immediately on your planner so that you really don’t miss out on deadlines and other important class days. Also, this is helpful for planning your next barkada gimmicks or family affairs. Because of course, we girls need a lil fun too!

6.    Wallet

Do I really need to explain this one? Hahaha

7.    Kikaykit/Makeup bag

As you know, you’re allowed to wear makeup in college and if you’re a kikaygirl like me, a makeup bag is definitely an life-ssential. Syempre, we gotta stay fresh all day, diba? Paano naman tayo mapapansin ni crush if haggard na tayo by the end of the day?! But if you’re not big on doing your makeup and prefer going to school bare-faced, that’s not a problem. But, I would still recommend having a pouch where you can put your go-to things to stay or look fresh because you never know. Also, first impressions last. Looking fine all day isn’t the only basis for a good first impression, but it’s as good place to start.

8.    Perfume/cologne/Body Spray

Smelling good shouldn’t only be when its 7am and we just got to school. We have to smell good and fresh all throughout the day. Having a perfume/cologne on the go would definitely help you to maintain your sweet scent all day even if you’re already pawisor haggard. This is also a way to maintain a good first impression. Who would want to be friends and go near a smelly person, diba?

9.    Lastly, a smile.

“A small girl with a lot of interests” is probably how most people would describe me. After all, I’m a 5 feet 2 19-year-old who wants to do lot of things. Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved writing and reading. Books were my drug. It pulled me into different universes I could only dream of and it inspired me to create my own one. Because of my love for a world of magic, I decided to go into theater. If there’s anything better than reading and writing about a world of fantasy its being able to live in it. I spent most of my grade school years sharing multiple stages with amazing people who lived the same crazy universes I did. When I entered high school, I was forced by a good friend to accompany her in trying out for our school’s Athletics’ Club. Since I was always a sporty girl, (growing up with 2 brothers does that to you) I was down for the ride. Yet this just-for-fun thing took a really different turn. I was surprised when I made it into the team’s varsity B team. Was pretty good considering I was a rookie and a freshie. Then, it grew on me. On my 2ndyear, I became part of the A team and started playing for competition after competition, sometimes winning the gold; sometimes losing, until I made captain my senior year. Since I was a member of the competing varsity, I made a name for myself amongst my peers and that got me a ‘ticket’ into the inner circles. I started knowing more and more people from other schools and getting invited into the most talked about parties and events of our peer group. Being part of all of that made me realize just how much I love its type of fun. And of course, where there’s a party, fashion follows. I learned how to dress, do my face, my hair and my nails and how much I just love being in on those kinds of events. I graduated high school as a varsity girl who trained intensely everyday while still keeping her nails perfect. Now I’m in college, taking up Speech Pathology in UP with the goal of being a doctor. Something not a lot of people expected from me. I mean who would’ve thought that a drama queen-turned-jock-slash-party-girl is actually good enough to make the cut for the #1 university in the country, right? It’s seriously un-stereotypical. But then again, I’m a living example that there’s no such thing as status quo. You can be one thing and everything else at the same time, and it’s the perfect adventure.