Showing posts with label student. Show all posts
Showing posts with label student. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

High School Life

High School Life is a creative non-fiction  from a perspective of a Grade 10 Student.

When the bell rang, the students rushed to the field. Just by the flag pole, our Music teacher stands. While we were waiting for the others, I looked around. I spotted three of my classmates wearing black shoes. Our teachers tell us to wear black shoes with our uniform and I would if I have black shoes. I looked down at my flip-flops and decided to dismiss such luxurious wish. I belong to the majority after all.

Once the music started to play, I put my right hand over my left breast. I meant to sing but I was mesmerized with the way that she moves her hands, matching the movement of the music. After the flag ceremony, we scrambled into our respective classrooms.

I sat down but not a couple of minutes late, our adviser’s voice boomed, “Cleaners! What are you waiting for?” I quickly stood up and told my classmate to come with me to fetch water. She stood up and followed me outside the classroom. I saw my other classmates sweeping the floor and the school grounds around our classroom, some were watering the plants, and some are dusting the windows off. We filled the drum with water after three trips.

Image source: https://pixnio.com/people/children-kids/educational-program-on-philippines-has-greatly-improved-the-educational-level-of-these-students


After half an hour, my adviser seems satisfied so she called everyone in. She asked our homeroom president to lead the prayer so we can start the class. After praying, she called our name out one by one for the checking of attendance. About a third of the class is absent. Our adviser tried asking us if we have any idea why many of our classmates are absent. No one answered but studying in a barrio, we know the reasons. Jay chose to take contractual construction work. Mica eloped with her boyfriend. Adrian, Francis, and Michael probably got themselves sick from drinking too much alcohol. Joan found out a few days ago that she’s pregnant.

Someone snored loudly just when our adviser is about to start her discussion of our lesson. The whole class erupted in laughter, waking up and surprising the culprit. It turns out to be Patrick. Ma’am did not scold him. She just laughed with the class. Most of our teachers in our morning classes are used to having one or two of my classmates sleeping in their classes. They are the ones who join the “basnig”, a big boat with a group of fishermen leaving late in the afternoon to fish and returning early in the morning.

Image source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Free_College_Pathology_Student_Sleeping_Creative_Commons_%286961676525%29.jpg


Ma’am says that we will read a story. I craned my neck to see. She has a laptop but we do not have a projector so she just asks some volunteers to read the content of each slide loudly. We read a story entitled “A Day in the Country” by somebody named Anton. Ma’am showed us his picture. I remember his face but not his last name. I like the story except for the characters’ names that I cannot pronounce correctly.


We were 49 in our batch. We lose one or two every year because they transfer schools. We lose at least one per year because of retention to the grade level. Now that we are in high school we also lose at least one or two of our classmates every year because they decided to work instead. On my way home, I prayed that I would be able to finish high school right after praying for something delicious for dinner.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Graduation Day


March 14, 2008. My son graduated from pre-school. He made me really proud not only because he graduated but he also earned two medals: one for getting the Top 7 spot and the second one for getting the Model Student award. He also joined the dance performance to the tune of Rochelle Pangilinan's "Bayle, Bayle". They also sang "Hawak Kamay" by Yeng Constantino as their graduation song.

We were supposed to have a party in their classroom afterwards but two other parents told me that there will be no party because the other parents decided not to cook any food. We we're supposed to bring food and I was in-charge of the fruit salad. After hearing that, we just went straight home after the graduation ceremonies.

The teacher came to our home the next morning saying that there was a party but only four parents attended it. I've heard some rumors that lots of other parents were not satisfied with the top students that were announced.

Now, here are some lessons that I learned from there:

1. Don't forget to bring drinking water, a fan, face towel, and food for your kid when attending graduation ceremonies.

2. Practice with your child for their dance performance if there's any. It will help your child be more confident and it is good exercise too.

3. Do not lose sleep over your child not getting into the top students when it's only in pre-school and no examinations are given and there are no actual bases for choosing who will be there.

4. Do not give wrong information to innocent people just to get even with the culprit.

5. Do not believe in hearsay. If there's something important that you need to know, ask the teacher or the person in-charge.

6. If you're in a province, make sure that you have a gift for your child to be given during the graduation ceremonies. It is a custom that at the end of the ceremonies, graduates are given gifts that they open right away.

7. The togas are returned right after the ceremonies.

8. If you are giving a speech on preschooler's graduation, make it short.

9. Do not wear glittery clothes if the ceremonies are held in the morning or early afternoon. It's distracting and annoying.

10. Do not forget to congratulate your child.

11. If you can, spend the rest of the day with your child. It will be best if the whole family is there, and have a special meal together.