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When people ask me how my summer is doing, I stare at them blankly and shortly reply—You tell me. In the six weeks that I’ve managed to congest six units, a training schedule, which requires long hours, and other extra-curricular work, at the end of the day, all I want to do is catch my breath. Often, I would be up until the wee hours of the morning just to study for another long test or finish a deadline or two. Thus, my eye bags are big, black, and not-so wonderful!

My regular summer schedule would require commuting to Katipunan via the almighty LRT (Save the planet! Support LRT/MRT today!) at 12 pm, when the sun is most crucial and transportation seems to multiply by the hundreds. By the time I get to school, I have to endure three hours straight of two hardcore subjects. It gets insane, really!

Happy—no stress!

But I never really complained about it.

Come to think of it, this summer has got to be THE best summer I’ve ever had. Sure, summer school overload can get pretty overwhelming but when you surround yourself with really intellectual and talented people, what’s not to love?

I’ve grown to love my Filipino class, which is quite impossible for someone who never really had fun with the subject. My professor had so many philosophies and theories, short stories, and funny jokes in between, it was hard not to fall in love with the whole concept. It was a peek into a real world, a combination of history and daily experiences which were really hard to digest at first, yet in the end, everything was definitely worth it!

My professor made us all feel that we were part of something great, that this thing called history or culture, isn’t supposed to be what we’re required to read. The simplest activities and conspiracies are all part of our culture. It’s all a matter of perspective. How do you view things differently despite what societal changes dictate?

Some last minute cramming session

I’ve managed to meet the most amazing people in my Filipino class. We pretty much slaved over our scripts, video shoots, and research work. In the end, we ended up with a video presentation regarding how the Eraserheads redefined Philippine pop culture. It was an intense summer working with them! But we had so much fun because we loved each other’s company. When you surround yourself with people like them, regardless whether you’re all stressed, the atmosphere lightens up in an instant.

My summer did not involve lazing around in the beach, soaking up the sun, and getting tan lines to match, but I wouldn’t trade this for anything! I’ve met so many friends and joined a new sport, gained access to an infinite number of experiences, and survived long hours of work.

So to the Candy girls out there, your summer might not be the most ideal one. It may not be perfect, but the experiences and you gained, the new talent you might have discovered, are all enough to cap off one great summer.

When was the last time you viewed things in a different light?

Cheers to YOUR summer!

With black eye bags to match,
Sandra