college was not so long ago
The thing I miss the most about being in college is being in a highly stressful, yet equally idealistic and hopeful environment. People were being challenged and tested out of their wits, but the will to chase their dreams, their passion, never wavered.Ā
In college, I met various individuals - professors, students, staff members, people from the communities - who were brimming with so much passion. They were all working, day in and day out, to change something about the world. When they spoke about change/the thing they were passionate about, I swear you can see the sparkle in their eyes. They spoke with so much heart it was hard not to be moved, to not get off of your butt and do SOMETHING. And I really admire people like that - people who put their whole heart into every strum, every dance step, every word, every PowerPoint slide, every line, every promo, every project, etc. Being around those people inspired me to do more and aim higher as well. During our graduation, when our speaker Maria Ressa uttered the words,Ā āSleep well tonight, dream of a better future; then get up and make it happenā, I told myself: DAMN RIGHT I WILL. At that time, I knew for sure that I had so much fire in me. Though I was not entirely close with most of them, I felt hopeful about the whole group in that court, my batchmatesā¦ in there sat the men and women who have the potential to change the world, and I was one of them.Ā
More than a year since we have all gotten our diplomas, I am proud to see that a lot are on their way to reaching their dreams and changing the world. Through my FB news feed, I read about the struggles (combined with fulfillment and the never-ending passion) by those who are pursuing med school or law school, those whose names are being placed in by-lines, whose words are now on websites or pages hundreds of people get to read. I read about those who speak bravely; those who speak the truth. I read about those who travel. I read about those who are making marks and are being awarded with certifications of appreciation by huge companies. I read about those who organize big events, whose artworks are being recognized, whose music are being heard. I read about those who get out of a job that dim their light and bravely set off to find a better one. The struggle is constant, yes. But the passion, seemingly, never wavers. Theyāre goal-directed - they know what they want to be, want they want to do, they know the change they wish to make - they have a sense of purpose as they go about their daily lives.Ā
And here I am, more than a year after. I am thankful beyond measure that I have lasted a SINGLE job for more than a year, which, they say, isĀ ārareā forĀ āmillenialsā like me. I get to do something that is related with the course I took up. I have gotten my license. Though technical in nature, I get to write a lot. The environment is steady, friendly, fun, somewhat nurturing, and overall nice - which, I guess, is more than you can say for other work environments. I just have to reiterate, I am thankful beyond measure.
But personally, on most days, I wonder where my own fire has gone. I wonder why I let my weekends be as monotonous as my weekdays. Do I still find my eight-to-fives meaningful? Am I contributing to society substantially? Instead of lying down on my bed mindlessly scrolling through the internet, is there a better way to make use of my time (umm, duh). Ā Am I, in my own small way, making some small yet positive change in this world? Or am I just meeting one deadline after another, just struggling to produce one output after another? Is there something I want to be, and am I gathering enough courage and opportunities to chase after it? Do I still take the time to dream? Do I still have dreams?Ā
Well, hell yeah I still do have dreams I badly want to pursue. Days have just become months, then those months eventually gathered into a year, and now it has been more than a year - when you let one day roll by after another, sometimes you can just forget. Itās so easy to be lazy, to be complacent. OKAY NAĀ āTO. OKAY NA AKO DITO. Iām fine, Iām secure, everything is steady. What more can I ask for? But when you feel that there is something constantly bugging you, a small voice struggling to be heard, a light struggling to be ignited - would you really justā¦ dismiss it? One look back at that memory during graduation, when I could feel everyoneās passion so ignited we could set the world on fire right then and thereā¦ one look back at any single day back in college - everything was unpredictable and everyone was stressed, but every single task, every single moment felt meaningfulā¦ on days like this when things feel sad and gray and monotonous, I just have to look back. College is a memory I can easily dig through - nasa ibabaw pa. And we are all still young. There is no reason, no excuse to not feel inspired, to not pursue your passions, to not chase after your dreams.Ā
On days like this I just have to take one look back, see the faces of those passionate individuals, and let myself be overwhelmed with inspiration. Though we get older day by day, we should never lose that inner stressed-yet-passionate-and-hopeful college self. Weāre only given one life. I think we should at least try to make good use of it.Ā
