#13est

If there was ever a moment of significance in my relatively mundane existence, it would have to be high school. It was a time for finding myself, a time for me to make mistakes and learn from them, and ultimately a time for growing up, but remembering not to grow old. Special people made this period of my life worth living, and I consider myself to be pretty damn lucky that I got to experience high school with them.

First off, I wasn't originally a part of our batch. I was part of what you'd call the lateral entry students. I passed the admission exam for UPIS, and I entered the school in Grade 7. Most of my batchmates have been together since Kindergarten, so being an outsider, I really felt like I was singled out for the first few weeks. Being awkward, introverted, idiosyncratic and significantly younger than most of my batchmates, it was difficult for me to get to know them at first. As time went by, I discovered that they were actually quite welcoming, and that my preconceptions of them as snobbish were quite untrue. I joined in the laughing in class instead of sulking in the corner. I had lunch with my classmates instead of eating alone. I knew that I didn't have any really close friends yet, and it didn't feel like home just yet, but there was a tiny sense of belongingness for me nevertheless.

Grade 8 was a period of self-discovery for me. I found out that I could play the drums, albeit in a less-than-stellar way, and got to demonstrate my so called "skillz" in our Culminating Activities for Music. This would be the first in many of my drumming roles in school competitions, including my first legitimate performance for a benefit concert with my then-band, Wingmen. Batch-wise, I felt a bit more integrated into the batch, mainly because of these important roles that were entrusted to me, and the fact that I actually made solid connections with a few people. I got to know people deeper, and they accepted me for my weirdness, even liked me because of it.

When we won the annual Cheerdance Competition in Grade 9, I felt what a real, solid batch should feel: Unity. We surpassed the seniors, and proved to ourselves that we were worthy of our moniker "13est", that we really were the best. In the days prior to that, during our practices for the cheerdance, we encountered a lot of problems and conflicts, with the tension even amounting to such a high amount that some fights broke up (thankfully no physicality was involved, but some cat fights took place.) In spite of this, we were able to push through, together. I really felt the batch effort to win that competition, and I knew, as we were celebrating our victory, running around screaming "HOLY SHIT WE WON GUYS", that we, as a batch, were truly united. We were more than just a bunch of people who studied together; we were a family.

I also learned a lot of valuable life lessons in Grade 9. One incident, that almost compromised my honors, taught me to always be careful of what I say. Me and a few of my other batchmates got into a verbal fight with a teacher that our batch really hated because there were rumors that she was pocketing our prom funds, and I spent some downtime, doing school service. That time encoding test results instead of attending class was a valuable experience for me. From then on I vowed to not let my own personal prejudices control me, and to always think critically and assess situations properly.

Senior year was probably the most difficult yet memorable year for me in high school. Grade 10 was thesis year, and I made my first real all-nighter because of academics then, which was soon to be followed by many more. I felt like I was really pushed to excel academically, especially since I appreciated the fact that I was on the honor roll because I was almost taken off it. The subjects were getting even harder, so I had to up my own game in order to keep up. Thankfully, I had really awesome teachers who helped me through these times, and brought out the best in me. 

I also felt that our batch's unity was really tested at this time. There was pressure for us to defend the throne for the Cheerdance Competition, and so we had to ourselves even harder this time. The problem was, with all the schoolwork snowballing, it was difficult for us to give it our all, and you could really feel the tension build up among the batch. Seeing that the lower batches were working to overthrow us, we said to ourselves that, "Screw it. We need to win this." and worked even harder, motivated by the desire to prove that we were the 13est, and still are. And we succeeded, becoming back-to-back champs. Those moments, filled with us crying, giving each other hugs, and screaming "WE'RE THE 13EST" felt like heaven. I realized, then and there, that this is where I belonged. That 13est will always be my family.

I also built up even more intimate connections in Grade 10, even if I lost some. I had my first girlfriend in Grade 10, a girl two years lower than me, although eventually we broke up because she was being really bitchy (this is talked about in detail in a previous entry.) But what was really great about Grade 10 was that I discovered who my true friends were. I had built friendships that would last until we died, with people who I knew I could trust with anything. People like Balong, Camilla, Nico, Red, Eric, Siegfried, and many more. People who I knew acknowledged and accepted who I was, and loved me in spite of my imperfections. I knew that they'd be there for me, no matter what.

You can only imagine how much I was crying during graduation, and I don't cry a lot. These were people who took me in as one of their own. We fought together, won together, lost together. We knew that we made our mark in history. These were mentors, guides who shaped my way of thinking. This was an education that nurtured me, and unleashed my potential. Why wouldn't I cry, knowing that I would be parting ways with them all? I knew it wasn't a complete separation since we'd still be seeing each other again, but it was a separation nonetheless. I found a home in high school, and it felt painful as hell to be leaving it.

So pardon me if I seem a overly dramatic, or if you think I'm exaggerating when I say cherish your high school years. They are the years that will form you, and when you'll meet some of the most important people in your life. Make the most out of that time, because before you know it, you'll be marching along in a toga with your batchmates, teary-eyed and bittersweet.