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Published : 1 year ago (Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:52:37 PST)
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At the tail-end of 2007, I was full of uncertainty for 2008. It was unnerving not to know where I would be a year later. Before, it was simple - I wouldn't know the specifics, but I knew I would be in ICA, getting through another schoolyear. Last year, however, it was nearly impossible to tell. Obviously, I would be in college, but which one? Would I be happy there? Would I have friends? There had always been an image in my head of how I hoped things would be, but more often than not, those just serve to set you up for disappointment.
Boy, was I wrong.
I never thought 2008 would turn out to be such a great year for me. I believe we all grow with every year we spend on this Earth, but this year seemed pivotal for me. I'm got nudged out of my comfort zone; I took more risks. I experienced a lot of new things, met a lot of great people, and learned a lot about myself and others.
It was still tricky, losing control but at the same time making sure not to lose myself. I think I struggled a little though, so even though I don't usually believe in New Year's resolutions, here's a list of some things I want to work on in 2009:
1. Take better care of myself
I know I've been doing a lot of things (not getting enough sleep, spreading myself too thin, etc.) that aren't helping my health, so I need to pay more attention to my body.
2. Write more
I did a lot of academic writing (hi, Sir Pulan and En12), but not a lot of personal writing. It's either I don't make time for it, I just plain don't have time for it, or I feel blocked whenever I try, so I want to make more of an effort to stick to it from now on. Also, in connection to that, I want to read more.
3. Stop slacking off
I know I think this every year, but sometimes I get annoyed with myself, because I know I can do better, but I don't bother. So yeah - Discipline, meet Alexis. Alexis, Discipline. Pleased to meet you.
Unforgettable Moments of 2008
1. January 2, 5, and 13 - College Entrance Exam Results
The year started off with college entrance exam results. DLSU came out first, followed by ADMU and UP. Obviously, Ateneo was the most nerve-wracking for me. When I got my DLSU results, I felt relieved that at the very least, I would have somewhere to go, but I knew that it wasn't the school for me. The night before the ACET results came out, I was in a YM conference with a couple of good friends (Bianca, Paui, Clara, Just, and Tikoy), and we were all freaking out. :)) I decided to get some sleep, but tossed and turned the whole night, jerking awake several times to check if Bianca had texted me about the results being posted. At around two in the morning, I got the text, so I went back online and... Well, you know what happened. :) By the time UP results came out, I was 100% sure I was going to Ateneo (I think I always have been), but I was curious, so I checked. (Also because Juli was supposed to come over so we could go to Cathy's debut together, but she made a detour to UP, so I went as well. This was Juli: UP >>>>>> Lexie :(( HAHA!)
2. January 18 - Gawad Kalinga Field Trip and Fidelity Class Night
We spent the day at GK Sto. Nino, hauling buckets of dirt and rocks, making banderitas (HAHA) and chucking big rocks into the creek to make it rise. Lunch was spent with one of the families there, and they were such nice people. The way back, most people were asleep, tired after all the work that had been done, but Ai, Joi and I stayed awake and talked. Class night was great. :) The activity the class officers organized was so much fun (kooshball! Sack hop!), the gift-giving activity was sweet (I still remember - I picked Ela, and Li picked me), and the officers' surprise went smoothly (still can't believe it, until now! HAHA). After the "official" activities ended, most of us stayed up to watch Sydney White (except Mrs. Maddela, who was pregnant at the time, and Ms. Yu), and a couple of us played Taboo. I barely slept that entire day, but it was worth it.
3. January 31 - Physics Olympics
For the non-ICAns out there, Physics Olympics is basically a competition within a class involving different activities that require a little bit of Physics thinking to accomplish. We (Anna, Joi, Just, Bianx, Lys, Ish, Sam, Nikki and me) were Team Yellow, and though I remember we didn't do as well as we could've in most games, we were the most behaved group (HAHAHAHA), and that gave us bonus points to tie for first with another group. Our favorite part was the egg toss - we kept playing long after the game had ended, until the egg cracked and got our hands all sticky. :))
4. Late January, February 1-2 - EDSOR Peace Conference
EDSOR is basically a leadership seminar among the four EDSOR schools (ICA, Xavier, LSGH and Poveda), and it's a two-day event that involves plenty of leadership- and team-building activities. A lot of memorable experiences in my entire ICA life came from EDSOR. I was a participant myself three times (6th and 7th grade at Poveda and ICA, second year at Xavier), but during my senior year of high school, I got to be one of the people behind the scenes, and it was an equally rewarding experience. I spent a lot of late afternoons in school with friends gathering materials, sorting shirts, setting up stations, doing dry runs, and so on. One time I was picked up late, so Kimli, Kamsi, Anna and I bonded - Anna had her guitar, and Kimli and I were just sitting around singing. During the conference itself, Gretch was my partner for most of the weekend, so we spent a lot of time together, especially at our "Hard Homework" station in the Solidarity Pilgrimage, where we got to spray the delegates with water while they tried to answer Math problems. :)) It was tiring, but ultimately rewarding.
5. February 13-14 - EMO Concert
Quite possibly Anna San Pedro's favorite moment of the year. =)) JOKE. Peace, Anna! I remember this week as being hellish - my planner was filled with a mix of academic and extra-curricular requirements, and February 13 in particular was very busy and very sucky. We had rehearsals for the Chinese New Year program and the EMO concert (a charity concert featuring the high school faculty and two performances from the SASS, the social action org I belong to), both of which scheduled for the next day, February 14), and neither had gone well. Somehow, our class had gotten roped into singing some Chinese song, and hardly anyone showed up for the rehearsal, so tempers began to flare. Afterwards, we had the EMO concert rehearsal, and it was horrible. I had been coming off a cough-and-cold combination, so my voice wasn't completely back yet, Anna had trouble getting down the guitar chords, and all of us (Gab, Roxi, Anna and me) never had the chance to practice together. Plus, it had my first time to sing onstage, in front of a lot of people (a lot of whom I didn't know), so I was shaking all over. Surprisingly, the next day went incredibly well, even though Gab had to back out because her voice was shot from all the performing she did in the CNY program, and we started before our accompanying ballet dancer was even onstage (HAHA). Afterwards, I couldn't stop shaking for at least five minutes (swear! HAHA), but it was finally over, and I was so happy. :))
6. March 17 - Fidelity Yearbook Video Shoot
Actually, this was just an excuse to be vain after graduation practice one day. ADMIT IT, PEOPLE. :)) But it was fun lying on the grass, forming the letters of our class name, and doing this photoshoot thing where we were pretending to be convicts, guilty of certain things we were known for doing in class. (Mine was - still is, actually - disturbing the peace, because I have the tendency to talk and break into song a lot during class.)
7. March 18 - Temperance Pre-Graduation Party/Reunion
Bonded with my class from sophomore year at Roxi's aunt's house in far-away Mauban (HAHA). Beautiful place, great food, incredible company - what more could you ask for? We did our time capsule activity (scheduled to be open in 2018! ...Where the hell is the time capsule now, anyway? :)) ), did Hip-Hop Abs, played on the Wii, took a lot of pictures, ate, and talked. I stayed overnight with Anna and Roxi, and we were supposed to stay awake the whole time, but we fell asleep. :))
8. March 26 - ICAlettes Edboard Seniors' Surprise
"Mrs. V. is looking for you!" HAHA YEAH RIGHT. :)) The juniors surprised we seniors with food (and days later, letters). Even until now I feel fortunate to have gotten to know and work with these people. ICAlettes reminded me why I love journalism and why a part of me will always just want to write.
9. March 29 - Az'rinth High School Graduation
Though ICA drove me crazy a lot (still does, actually, whenever I try to go back and it's like breaking into Fort Knox or something, because that place has tighter security than most malls), I still had thirteen unforgettable years in that place, and I met a lot of great people there, friends I'll have forever. Still, it was time to leave. I don't remember much - just certain parts, like how I choked up while singing our graduation song, "For Good", and how later on, watching it on playback on my camera, I noticed Ms. Evang totally bawling in the foreground - but the emotions, especially the ones I couldn't (and still can't) express, are still there.
10. April 4-May 30- American Summer
Up until today, I kind of regret not celebrating my 18th birthday here, with most of my family and all my friends, but I definitely don't regret that I got to go to the US, either. Usually, we stick to California, but because it was my eighteenth birthday, and Adrian and I graduated that March (from college and high school, respectively), my parents decided to take us to the East Coast, too (specifically, Maryland/DC, Boston, and New York City/New Jersey). I'd elaborate on how much fun it was, but then I'd be spamming you all, so never mind - check out my pictures instead! I will say this though - while I am firmly a California girl, I wouldn't say no to living on the East Coast for a year or two, particularly in New York City. After my dad and brother flew back to Manila for work, my mom, grandmother, aunt and I went on a road trip to Los Angeles. I loooove LA (and I'm not biased at all! :P). I love listening to Ryan Seacrest's radio show in the mornings on 102.7 KIIS-FM, love the palm trees, love the movie studios, love the Farmer's Market/the Grove, love Santa Monica, love Pasadena... I think you get the picture. :)) Mother's Day, May 11 was particularly amazing (even though I'm not a mother, HAHA) because I got to see Tiff and watch Wicked, all in the same day. I wish I could go back, but I don't think I will until after I graduate. :(
11. June-present - Ateneo de Manila University
I'm glad I chose Ateneo. I had slight misgivings at the beginning, because I started out not knowing a single person in my block (and, as I've noticed, in most of my non-block classes), but I think God made a good call, shoving me out of my comfort zone. Today, I looooove my block (and all the card games we have learned together, HAHA), love my English block (the ever epic M02) love the feeling of being more free than I was back in high school, love meeting new people, love being a Comm major, and love my orgs. :) Oh, and I love Ateneo! HAHA.
12. July-September - Blue Eagle Games
So many memorable moments during those games. :)) I loved every single minute - scrambling for tickets, hanging out at Gateway before the games, cheering my lungs out, standing in the sea of blue... Can't wait 'til next season!
13. July 7 - Straight No More!
Probably the most drastic change in my appearance this year was my hair. My friends from high school, many of whom have known me for most of the thirteen years I spent in ICA, were absolutely appalled and wanted to know what the hell was going on when I decided to go through with it. My new friends loved it. :)) The curls are currently growing out, and it's just as well - I do kind of miss my straight hair. And in case I get bored again, I can always have it curled. :))
14. September 13 - iPhone
I love my phone. As in, this was the first time I ever got the phone that I really, really wanted. So now it's my baby, and I'm very happy with it. :) Oh, and can I just say that my parents are absolutely obsessed with the Bejeweled app I downloaded on to it? If I don't get around to replying to you guys when you text, it's because either my mom or my dad have hijacked my phone to play. :))
15. September 30 - Ateneo Victory Bonfire
I came, I stood (for three hours), I conquered (conquered = got autographs of all the players and Coach Norman, took pictures of the players, got a picture with Kirk Long). Next year again! :P
17. October 14 - Plurk
The reason why I've been absent from LJ and Multiply is because I've been busy Plurking. Although it's a struggle sometimes cramming what you want to say into 140 characters, it's addicting and a lot more convenient because you get what you want to say off your chest a lot quicker.
18. October 25 - The Busiest Sembreak Day Ever!
I don't know, I was just out the entire day. :)) First thing in the morning was a yearbook meeting at Pancake House Ash Creek, which really ended up being breakfast with Anna and Ara. Then I accompanied my brother to ICA for his talk to the ICAlettes people (Mrs. V. loves him! HAHA) before heading to Meggy's house for the Chinoy stickathon and the Photoshop workshop. I had a little time to rest at home before going to Matt's house for his Halloween party, where we all basically got fat and drank mojitos and margaritas. :))
19. November 15-16 - Celadon Leadership Development Program
I have to say, it had been a while since I went to something like this as a participant, not a facilitator. :)) But I had fun during the LDP proper and after hours, although I went to bed earlier than I would've liked (otherwise I would've been a walking zombie the next day).
20. November 29 - Bolt with Jasmine
Jasmine is not actually related to me. She's my cousin's...niece? Something like that. :)) But we love her anyway! The morning after I watched Twilight with the Celafriends, I accompanied her to Glorietta to watch Bolt. She was so adorable! I wish she hadn't gone back to Reno. :(
21. December 19 - Anna's Party
This was such a fun night. :)) I got to hit people with rubber balls! Also, Den2, Teena, Stephie and I used our bumper cars to trap Juli in a corner. :)) And Janne came back from HK! It was like a Tempe reunion (in Aly's words)...but not (hi, Juli, etc. HAHA).
22. December 20 - Tagaytay with Blockmates and Christmas Party with Celafriends
MOST. EPIC. DAY. EVERRRRRR. :)) Zarah, thank you for taking us to your beautiful house. Team Malutong, I love you! Toph, Diggy, Jom, Zarah, Pia, and Ali: Let's do it again! Except not with the other blockmates, because they suck for not coming. JOKE. :)) Next time, we have to be complete! Or else. :P At Lence's house, I was falling asleep half the time, but I had fun anyway. :)
23. January-December - Pau's Debut to Anna's Debut
All the awesome debuts I attended this year where we ate, drank (in some only, heehee), talked, and camwhored nonstop. Debut season is practically over! :( I'm going to miss getting to see high school friends on a fairly regular basis.
I'm sure there are plenty more, but I'm racing against a deadline (which is pretty obvious, judging how incoherent I get towards the latter part of this entry - must get this posted before 2008 ends!).
LINK: 2008 in Pictures |
