my first day high

I remembered waking up particularly early yesterday. Aside from the fact that it was the first day of class, I knew it was going be the first day of the rest of my life back in Cebu, a life that I am going to spend initiating school and community projects, implementing worthwhile programs, fighting battles for a cause, and inspiring young minds to dream big and live their lives with great passion.


As I jumped out of bed, I thought of how this would work out. I wondered what kind of students I would be working with this school year and whether they would be up for the challenge. While I was drinking my morning cup of coffee, I sat thinking about what was about to happen next. Questions started to pop out; will they like me? Are my expectations of them realistic? What if I don’t get good chemistry with them? What if I can’t see potentials? Can I still bring the best out of them? Doubts and fears clouded my morning. I suddenly felt like my guts were all tied up in tangles. I collected myself and finished my morning routine. I gave my new leather-ed shoes a quick brushing, checked to make sure I had everything in backpack; money, laptop, visual aids, and my power pen. Then I drove to my new school, the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu.


As I waited for my advisory class to come in from the assembly area, my stomach tightened at the thought of things going wrong on the first meeting. But as each of them came in with much eagerness painted on their faces I was suddenly overwhelmed with an assuring confidence that this is going to be one heaven of a school year. Then I began to do what I do best.


As the afternoon came to a close, I was pretty sure I now got them at the palm of my hands. My first day set the mood of my school year. And just when I was ready to celebrate my little achievement with friends over our usual poison, I received an invitation from the Junior Chamber International to attend their meeting. I squeezed out what little energy I had left in my system as I drove to viena café for the said gathering. Exhausted and worn I shook hands with the young businessmen and politicians of Mandaue. They proceeded to explain what their organization is all about and why they invited me to be part of their civic-oriented fraternity. At that moment, I was in awe of how the forces of things under heaven connived to prepare the road for the task I would like to believe God wanted me to take.


As I drove back to my pad almost midnight, I started feeling so unworthy and at the same time so blessed to be invited to respond to such call to serve, to be LUX ORIENS; a bearer of light.


Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!