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I keep seeing posts about DepEd changing the SHS curriculum next school year and honestly my first reaction was really. Now. After everything.

Being in Grade 12 right now, it feels weird knowing that the system is finally being adjusted right after our batch already went through the worst parts of it. We dealt with overloaded schedules, back to back requirements, and subjects that sometimes felt unnecessary or repetitive. So hearing that future students will have fewer core subjects is kind of frustrating but also makes sense.

Having fewer subjects would have helped a lot. There were times when it felt like we were just trying to survive deadlines instead of actually learning. It got exhausting having to juggle so many requirements at once, especially when some subjects did not feel connected to what we actually needed for college or work.

They are also changing how tracks work, with just two main tracks now. Academic and Technical Professional. As someone who had to choose a strand early on, this honestly hurts a little. A lot of us were expected to decide our future when we were still unsure of what we wanted. More flexibility would have made things less stressful and less limiting.

Work immersion is also getting improved with more hours and more focus on real world experience. That part makes sense. SHS is supposed to prepare students for what comes after graduation, and sometimes it felt like we were not ready at all. More exposure outside the classroom would have helped us understand what working life is actually like.

The new curriculum will be tested first before being fully implemented, which means upcoming SHS students will probably have a smoother experience. I cannot lie, there is some jealousy there. It feels unfair that these changes came only after we already pushed through the old system. Still, I guess it is better late than never. If these changes mean future students feel less overwhelmed and more prepared than we did, then at least something good came out of all the struggle.