i went to my high school yesterday to visit someone and so i took some time to roam around the campus. sadly, our hs building is now the building of the College of Business Admin but walking along the campus brought a flood of memories. High school was a rollercoaster of emotions.
i remember a hashtag in twitter a long time ago that says "tweetyour16yearoldself" so here's my take on it.
UTMT?Dear Sixteen-Year-Old Ta,
I'd like to tell you things that I wish I knew at sixteen. Things that I've experienced and learned more than a decade later.
One: My goodness, stop being so darn shy. You were blessed with a loud voice. Use that voice wisely. Speak up and let your opinions be known. Do not be afraid. I know that feeling left out or used or taken for granted are big issues with you. So start talking. You can also use your voice to say NO when you feel that your niceness is being abused.
Two: You are not a fan of change and I understand that. But don't be afraid of it. You will go through changes brought about by fear, heartbreak, and loss, among others. But you will become a better person because of those experiences.
Three: Don't stop reading. I don't care if we're talking chick lit (though please don't make this genre a staple in your bookshelf) or historical fiction. Just read. And read. And read some more. Just like reading, listen to more music. Different kinds of music. And never give up on your violin. Watch a lot of movies. Different movies. And tv series. Arm yourself with knowledge. That's power.
Four: Nurture your thirst for adventure. Travel. You learn a lot from traveling. And bring little brother along. Make memories with him. In the end, you will just have each other. The bonds you have with other people will never match up to what you and Bim have.
Five: Make friends. True, some of them will end up hurting you but in the end, those who are true will remain and you will have them not only for the four years you have in high school, but for life.
Six: You are not fat. Continue being active because one day, you will discover that you have hips as a result of genetics. And that your waistline will expand. An active lifestyle will ward of sickness and fatigue. You are not fat. Keep that in mind. Work it, girl!!
Seven: Cherish being sixteen. Laugh because the biggest thing in your life is Jonathan Brandis. Or Silverchair. The eraserheads. And dare I say, TGIS/Growing up/Dawson's Creek. Soon enough, it'll be time to grow up and face the "real world" = adulthood. The memories you make today will last a lifetime. Don't be in a hurry to want to have a boyfriend, or to go out on "gimmicks" at night just because everyone else is doing it. There will be plenty of time to do those, believe me.
Eight: Keep on setting a good example for Bimboy and the younger cousins and being the responsible eldest of Tatay and Nanay. Cherish every moment you have with them. No matter what happens, they will always be there to love you and take care of you. They're very important.
Nine: Set high standards for yourself, but don't be disappointed if things turn out differently. The excel timeline you and ez once made (i.e. work at 20, be married by 27, have kids by 28) won't necessarily be what God has in store for you. Pray for His will in your life and know that He will give you just that.You'll be surprised at what will happen.
Ten: Have fun! Don't be too serious. You have a tendency to overanalyze things. Life is and will be good. Girl power, girl.
Love,
The Ta of 2011
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