Today My Life Begins by Bruno Mars

I've been working hard so long
Seems like pain has been my only friend
My fragile heart's been done so wrong
I wondered if I'd ever heal again

ohh just like all the seasons never stay the same
All around me i can feel a change (ohh)

I will break these chains that bind me, happiness will find me
leave the past behind me, today my life begins
a whole new world is waiting it's mine for the taking
I know I can make it, today my life begins

Yesterday has come and gone
And I've learn how to leave it where it is
And I see that I was wrong
For ever doubting I could win

ohh just like all the seasons never stay the same
all around me I can feel a change (ohh)

I will break these chains that bind me, happiness will find me
Leave the past behind me, today my life begins
A whole new world is waiting it's mine for the taking
I know I can make it, today my life begins

Life's to short to have regrets
So I'm learning now to leave it in the past and try to forget
Only have one life to live
So you better make the best of it

I will break these chains that bind me, happiness will find me
Leave the past behind me, today my life begins
A whole new world is waiting it's mine for the taking
I know I can make it, today my life begins

I will break these chains that bind me, happiness will find me
Leave the past behind me, today my life begins
A whole new world is waiting it's mine for the taking
I know I can make it, today my life begins
Today my life begins...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This is a really inspiring song about forgetting the past and leading your life to the present in order to see a bright future. It is also about changes and turning over a new leaf. For me, it seems like a perfect song for ending the school year.

Without Borders

High School with boys seemed like a great idea back when I was in the 6th grade. All of the guys were fun to be with and it was hard to adapt to an environment that only allowed females in--except the teachers that is. But as the days went on, new friends were made, new lessons were learned, and the door to a whole new life was unlocked. Through that door, we entered and experienced the true Assumption High School Education. One without boys.

Now that I'm a Sophomore, I got used to the whole, all-girls school thing, where everyone seems to be free of their shyness (except for me) and of being embarrassed. And then suddenly, just like a lightning bolt, everyone started to buzz about the possible schooling of boys in High School. Actually, I've already heard a few rumors about it when I was still graduating. Some of which I heard said that by 2010, boys will be allowed to enter HS. Well, they were close enough. Because it had been approved and confirmed by our chairperson already.

Our school is already running low on students, as tuition fees and standards here are very high. A lot of people would usually transfer when they graduate elementary here. That would cause a deduction in the total fees that are paid to the school. During Freshman year, more than a few students would enter Assumption for the first time. And when some of the new students cannot adapt to the school, they would transfer. In short, the Sisters are in need of more students in order to have enough money to run the school. They can't increase the tuition fees anymore, as more students would leave. So, they thought of opening the High School doors to boys.

A lot reacted violently in the inside, knowing that a 100 years of tradition will be partially ruined. This isn't the first time our school would be going through a change like that. As far as I know, boys were only allowed until the 3rd Grade before, and there used to be a college somewhere in the campus. I have no idea how the people during those times accepted the fact that a change would be coming to them. I guess it took time and understanding to adapt to the new changes that took place. And I think we should follow the same, no matter what happens.

As for me, I am not that much in favor of these newcomers, but if it's the only way of saving the school from shutting down, bring them in. :)

Oodles of Doodles

"Second-hand?" "Nope."
"Passionate Doodler?" "By nature."

A conversation that would likely come up once a 'concerned' person sees my books and notebooks.

People will only wonder why my notes are messy. As if the erasures of my ball pen weren't bad enough. Apparently, it is my nature to scribble random lines and shapes and other intricate designs on any paper I get hold of. My books are FULL of it. I bet those clean freaks would get a heart attack at the sight of my Biology book. Sometimes, I'd be doing it unintentionally and I can't stop myself once I've already made a line or two. This would usually happen when I'm bored or even during the middle of a discussion.

I guess it is just my way of expressing myself. Although, all of my doodles and scribbles cannot be deciphered, as there really is no meaning to them. They are just a product of my sub-conscious or something like that.

Of course, I wouldn't be doing that on exam papers and important documents, but, as long as there are no consequences, my trusty Faber-Castell and I would be ready to serve any writing material. :)

My Instrument in Escaping Reality

I really love playing the piano, though I'm not very good at it. I am what other would call an "amateur" since I can't even read piano notes and play at the same time. I can barely read notes at all! I'd either ask my dad to teach me a song or learn from Youtube. Or I'd try to ouido or play a song by ear. And yet, my lack of skill doesn't stop me from playing some pieces over and over again. I have been play the chorus of Right Here Waiting day and night, hoping to perfect it. I have to admit though, I still can't play an entire song, but when I do, it'll be an achievement for me. I had received my piano as a graduation gift from my dad, after years of begging and persuading. I promised I would learn to play the basics first, but I got excited and started to learn from Youtube some short pieces already. I ouido-ed some memorable instrumentals as much as I could. But I guess it's not enough. I have to learn the whole thing so that's why I promise to take piano lessons this summer. I told my mom I would the last, but my laziness got hold of me, I mean come on, it's SUMMER. Last summer, all I did with the piano was playing the same pieces over and over again, learn and ouido-ed a few, and replayed all of it again and again. When school started this year, I continued to play it every time I come home after school and even early in the morning before I leave for school too. But there came a time when there were a lot to do when I get home, so I never played for about a month. I decided to start playing again, and swore to myself that I should play at least once a day. That, I did. And whenever there were tests the next day, playing the piano came to me as a distraction. I wouldn't really play anything else other than the few short pieces I know, I just like the sound of it. So, I've been wasting probably 30 minutes of study time just sitting there and playing the same old songs. Once, I even fell asleep on the piano, only God knows what had happened. Playing the piano would cause me to forget what time it is. I would be in some dream world or something every time I do. That is why it officially became my instrument in escaping reality :)

Nostalgic Sundays.

There's this undescribable feeling that I would always feel every time I enter my room on a Sunday afternoon where the sun is near its setting. I would remember all the good times in my childhood. All those wonderful memories would come rushing at me every time I enter that kind of atmosphere. And then, realizing that those wonderful memories could only stay as memories and could never really happen again, I would suddenly feel sad. There's also a comforting feeling in that certain atmosphere. I would feel safe and secure. There's no explanation as to why I'd feel those things. I don't know why I'm so attached to my past and I don't know why I can't accept changes in the future. Well, someday I will know, but for now, I'll await for another nostalgic Sunday afternoon at home... -_-

Fact: Pretending to eat food can reduce your cravings for it

This idea is based on a common phenomenon called “habituation”. This is when food becomes less desirable the more you eat it. For example,the first bite of something is always better than, say, the tenth. Researchers found out that this process happens in your mind. So if you trick your mind into thinking that you are already eating, you will feel less of a desire to eat!

What I learned from a Taxi Driver

My mom and I were outside Robinsons, hoping to get a taxi as soon as possible when, a Sher-lyn unit came into view. We tried to go ahead of the college students waiting for a tazi too, and we were successful. The moment we went out of the Robinsons Driveway, the taxi driver started to talk about how insensitive people are nowadays to the traffic rules. He saw a bunch of people right in front of the mall, trying to get a taxi. You see, taxi drivers are not allowed to load or unload there, it would just cause more traffic jam. And if a taxi driver was caught, as the taxi driver said, they would be asked to pay a fee AND take a seminar regarding traffic rule-following or something like that. What's more is that if a taxi driver was not accepted in the first batch of 50 in the seminar, he'd have to take the next one, the next day. Until then, he could not drive the taxi. Anyway, the taxi driver was old, probably 60 or so, and he obviously had a lot of experience. He and my mom continued to talk about how people here in the City could not maintain a little discipline. He soon revealed to us that he is from Davao. He then continued to tell us of the differences Davao and Iloilo have. Here in Iloilo City, people would just cross the streets even though they know they're not supposed to. We would just throw our trash anywhere we like, even though there's already a law against it. Here, we would try to catch up in riding a jeep in the middle of the road. We would have drunkards party all night, even acting all drunk and hazy during the day.
But in Davao, everything's different. According to the taxi driver, there are only but a few traffic enforcers there, yet they all manage to follow the law. Why is that so? It turns out that if the person next to you would just litter, you can turn that person in to the police and receive money in exchange. That seems cool. Why can't we do that here too? There, everyone follows the rules. Nobody would dare to stray from the laws. There, they have a separate place for jeepneys to unload and another place for them to load. There, nightlife is only until 10:00, and so is the selling of beer. There, you're not allowed to drink beer in public, instead, you should bring it to your home and drink there. The mayor there is loved by the people. He would also go around the city on his motorcycle without any guards or police following him. If there would be a traffic jam, he would be the one to do the traffic enforcing himself. He imposes laws, especially traffic laws, is because his mother was once arrested for crossing the street! Imagine! The officials here, he said, are not standing up and making a change that well. They should strive harder in keeping our laws, because without it, there would be chaos.

I really couldn't believe how different these two places are. I realized that the place I call 'home' is full of undisciplined people compared to Davao. Well, all I could say is that in time, Iloilo City will prosper and though we couldn't be as disciplined as those in Davao, we'll still survive.

So these are the things I learned from the taxi driver. It's sad that we never got to know his name. I do hope I'll run in to him again. I just wanna know more!