Navigating Hearts ( Aviation College Series #1)

Chapter 01

What do you think is the hardest thing about college? For achievers, it's probably the academic validation. For some, it's the terror professor or even the incomprehensible lessons. But for me, it's probably choosing your course. There are some people who would happily choose to pursue their dream courses because they are passionate about it, on the other hand, some people would choose to settle on the last course in their list out of practicality. While in my case, it's none of the above. I had chosen this course because I would like to prove something.

In life, success isn't based on what course you've chosen, whether it is a 4- year degree or 2- year associate courses, sa kamay mo parin nakasalalay ang lahat, may mga tao lang talaga na mahilig manghila sa kapwa pababa, at hindi na bago iyon sa sistema ng ating bansa.

"Narinig mo na ba?"

Kinalabit ako ng ka-blockmate kong si Mila. Kararating ko lang sa classroom at mabuti na lang dahil wala pa yung prof namin.

"Ang alin?" tanong ko habang inaayos ang aking notebook.

"Usap-usapan daw na iti-team tayo ni Sir Ocampo sa 2nd year AE."
Kumunot ang noo ko, medyo naguguluhan sa sinabi niya.

"Bakit daw?"

"Ewan nga rin eh, pero 'yon naman ang topic ng kabilang section 'don sa hallway kanina." Kasabay 'non ang pagbuntong hininga niya. Kahit ako ay di ko maisip ang dahilan ni Sir Ocampo.

"Baka naman sa AVT Skyhawk lang 'yon, nagpapaniwala ka naman kaagad." She just shrugged her shoulders, giving up to our conversation.

"Same lang naman tayo ng subjects at prof 'don sa AVT Skyhawk ah, feeling ko totoo yung chismis." One of my blockmates, Alex continued the conversation.

"E', ano naman ang kinalaman natin sa AE students?" I asked.

"Well, siguro dahil same tayo na under kay Sir Ocampo."

Hindi na nasundan ang pag-uusap namin sa pagdating ni Sir Ocampo, he was wearing his signature look, black pants tucked in his white button-down long sleeve polo, with his typical eye glass and a thick book in his right hand. Minsan lang siya magsuot ng Pilot uniform.

"Good morning class, please settle down."

"Good morning, Sir Ocampo." Everyone responded in chorus.

Mula first semester ay professor na namin si Sir Ocampo kaya masyado na kaming malapit sa kaniya. He's like a father figure to us, sometimes a best friend. Hindi rin siya madamot sa grado, dahil gaya nga ng palagi niyang sinasabi 'he was once a student'.

"Okay class, so in this semester I am still your prof in Aircraft Structures, we have 5 units so mahaba-habang panahon ko pa kayo pag-titiisan." Sir Ocampo said with a bit of humor forcing everyone to laugh.

"Hindi pa namin kayang mawalay sa'yo Sir."

"Kung pwede hangggang ojt Sir."

"Mahirap pala bumagsak sa'yo Sir, 5 units eh."

Ang gugulo ng mga blockmates ko, lalo na yung mga lalaki. We have a total of 30 students in this section, 10 are girls and the remaining 20 are boys ofcourse. Bihira lang naman kasi ang mga babae sa ganitong kurso.

"So, since your subjects are compressed...by the way, how many units do you have this sem?"

"32 units Sir." my blockmate Edison answered.

"Oh alright, that's still a lot, last sem you had 36 units, right?"

Everyone nodded as a sign of agreement.

"This class and the 2nd year BSAeE students are both under my two different subjects so we will be having our project aircraft as compliance to your 2nd semester's performance task."