Veterans say that the most exciting and happiest moments on a student’s life happen in high school. Honestly speaking, I don’t believe in this before. Ask me why? Easy, just because I can’t feel it! I thought, when I first had the knowledge about it, everything was absurd or let’s just say it’s true to “some” but not to “all.” But lately, when I tried to reminisce my past years as a student, starting from kindergarten when I keep praying for fevers just so I can’t attend school, up to elementary when I’m still a “girl-in-pig-tails” and until now that I am already in my 1st year College, I’m now convinced that the veterans are right.
I know some of you can already prove it but others may still ask: “Why do they find high school life exciting?” Well, let’s start when we first step into high school and that was in first year when everything’s like a new world. A world where you no longer be treated as a child unlike in the lower years which makes us really sick and very tiring. It is the time when you take off your ribbons and put on your ties. It is a world of happy teenagers doing things on their own and learning to be independent. At this point in time, you’ll experience a lot of physical changes when girls-in-pig-tails turn into ladies and boys-in-dirty-knees turn into gentlemen. This is just the beginning.
However, high school life is not always fun. Remember that our parents sent us to school to study and not just to mingle with people. We cannot avoid problems related to school like having no assignments and passing late projects (yeah, right!), brain-crashing and mind-sizzling examinations (oh, dear…), low and even failing grades (disgusting!) child-sent-to-office and parents-called stuff (uh-oh!) and a lot more! The bad thing is, some of us continue to experience the same problems each year.
My college life as of now was already filled tremendous happenings and dealings. My first semester was a shock. High School and college are alike in numerous ways, but they are also very different. Freedom is the main difference between high school, and college, but classes, teachers, social aspects, and cost are other major ways that college differs from high school.
High school is mandatory, and usually free if you go to a public school. College is usually completely voluntary, and very expensive. In high school, your teachers tell you what to do, and how to act in school. Your parents generally made sure that you did your homework and studied for tests. Your time was pretty much managed for you. In college you are pretty much on your own. You have to manage your own time and study and do homework because you know that is needs to be done to pass the class, not because your mom is standing over you making sure that it is done. In high school, you are reminded of things that need to be done, and events you must attend. In college it is your responsibility to remember, and you must make all of your choices.
Classes are another thing that is different. In high school you have a full day of classes right after one another. In college, you may only have one class per day, or large gaps of time between your classes. High school is twenty-six weeks long, with usually the same core classes for both semesters. College courses run for fourteen weeks and then a new semester with new classes starts. In high school, you have no choice of when you want to attend class; you cannot pick to go to class at night a few days a week like in college, and your attendance is monitored. College classes can have as few as around ten people a class, or as many as one hundred and sixty. High school classes average about 45 per class. Most high schools provide textbooks at no cost to the student. Some colleges require their students to buy textbooks that can end up at several hundred pesos a year.
Here's the big difference: in college, you are responsible for your own education. In high school, teachers made sure that you were on track. In college, you are on your own. Here are some facts that I love most about my high school life.
1st. I never studied that hard to pass
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| studying for math17 long exam |
"High school is tough" --I agree with that. But when I entered the "world" of being a college student, it proves a lot tougher than high school. For the reason that when you don't make time to study and review plus you are not listening during discussions, you will surely fail an exam. On the other hand, even if I didn't listen most of the time during high school discussions, I'm not likely to fail an exam or quiz. In addition, I'm only reviewing my notes two hours before the exam when I was a high school-er. Now that I am a College student, I'm making it an effort to review my notes after the whole day of classes.
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2nd. Hanging out with my friends
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| US, eating pancit canton and buns |
When I was in high school, I love to hang out with my friends, after class or even during our vacant hours. We made it a habit to go to our town by feet and eat noodles by the street. We are fond of visiting each others house then cook and share our favorite "pakasam" meal --pancit canton.
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3rd. Events & sleepovers at school
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| jamming after an event |
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4th. My classmates
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| senior class picture |
High school proved tougher in seeking academic superiority. I found myself in a class consisting of all grade school honor students, more than half of whom are either valedictorian or salutatorian. I was worried at first thinking it would be a boring four years competing against my brilliant classmates. I was so wrong. I found high school wonderful in the company of these bright young people who became my closest friends and allies. I really do love them, my friends. We have different characters and that’s the reason why our bond is colorful. I honestly consider them as my lifetime friends, they added color to my life and I won’t forget them. They are the ones who accompanied me during my adolescent years where a lot of changes happened. They helped me push through even if I had trials and I cherish them because of that.
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5th. Citizen’s Advancement Training
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| CAT graduation |
A memorable high school episode was when I joined our school’s citizen’s advancement training (CAT). During the training I was able to learn a lot of things that helped me grow not just academically but also physically, mentally and socially. For instance, we had this lake clean-up activity. All the CAT officers were asked to bring sacks, plastic gloves, broom sticks and other cleaning paraphernalia. I’m not particularly fond of household chores so it was a real challenge, especially because we were sweeping, raking and cleaning under the scorching sun. However, being with my fellow officers was a huge motivation. In addition, it felt good to know we were doing something beneficial for the community. Sleepovers at school after duties at graduation, fiestas and school events made it even more unforgettable.
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6th. Not worrying too much about the upcoming exams
Even if there are tons of upcoming exam, I never worry much that I don’t have time to eat.
I can study calmly and assured that I won’t fail. So different now that I’m in College.
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| defense : only time when we studied real hard |
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7th. I met my best friend
Hyacint, the one whom I can rely on almost all of the time is my best friend. I met her, and I am grateful. She knew almost everything thing about me. Even if I knew that it was wrong to be dependent on her, sometimes I just cannot help but to rely on her particularly if I have trials. She added joy to my high school life not mentioning the difficulties that we're going through until now.
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8th. Sharing food with my mates
Every recess or lunch break, my mates and I are sharing our “bug-ong”
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| hungry much? |
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9th. My cool Trigonometry and Calculus teacher
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| Sir Jonathan Remegia |
We won’t forget him. He is the coolest teacher I’ve met. He got this sense of humor that can make the whole class laugh including the serious ones in our class.
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10th. Campus Crushes
Whenever there are vacant periods, we wait for the next class chatting in the pathways and one of the most trending topics are the campus crushes. We are then ladies and gentlemen, we have crushes and puppy love. And we get thrilled when we are talking about them.
