Galimgim

/7/ Baptism of Fire

Time passed quickly, and suddenly, it was my first day as an engineering student. I had rented an apartment near campus---travelling back and forth  would have been too much of a hassle. It was the practical choice, saving me hours on the road so I could devote more time to studying.

On that first day of class, I felt small. Almost all my classmates seemed to have impressive backgrounds and long lists of achievements. I didn't want to brag, so I shared only a little about myself.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed someone---tall, well-off, and undeniably handsome. He stood out the most, but I quickly reminded myself not to let feelings distract me.

Adjusting wasn't easy, especially with six days of classes a week. Sometimes, I even came in late. The first week was just orientation---introductions, course overviews, and meeting our instructors. But the second week? That's when the real battle began.

I hadn't expected engineering to be this demanding. My days became a blur of lectures, assignments, and reviews. Rest was a luxury, and I had to study daily just to keep up. I had graduated with honors, yet now I felt far from smart---sometimes, I even felt stupid.

It was harder for me to adjust since I had come from a TVL strand instead of STEM. Maybe I should have chosen STEM, but that thought was useless now.

Worrying wouldn't help. I learned to stay present in every lecture, listen closely to my professors, and review their lessons the moment I got home. The pace was relentless, and in that hustle, I lost precious time with my family.

But I told myself---this is the sacrifice you make for the future you want. My family wants me to chase my dreams, even if it means being away from them. Sooner or later, I would have to live on my own anyway.

There's really no difference between "later" and "now". There's no perfect timing. If you can do something today, why wait?