School Life With You

09: Leader in the Making (part four)

Chapter Nine - IV
Leader in the Making

Kabado ako habang papunta sa loob ng conference room para sa 2nd and 3rd step para makapasa bilang opisyal na kandidato. Ngunit alam ko naman na kaya kong mapagtagumpayan ito kaya kinalma ko ang aking sarili.

Nang pihitin ko pabukas ang pinto ay nakita kong nakaupo sa semi-circle na table ang mga opisyal na magiinterview sa akin. Narito si sir Johnny na English teacher namin bilang adviser ng student council. Mayroon pang tatlo pang Senior high na estudyante, isang lalaki na nakatingin lang sa binabasa niyang folder, isang babae na seryoso lang ang tingin sa akin, at isa ring babae na naka-ngiti sa akin.

"Before we start Chelsea, I'll introduce the panel." sabi ni sir Johnny pagkababa niya ng kanyang iniinom na kape.

"First is Xian Gozon, the current president of the Senior high student council, and the evaluator for Wise Republic partylist." Pakilala ni Sir Johnny sa katabi niyang lalaki, saglit lamang na tumingin sa akin si kuya Xian at saka tinignan muli ang folder na hawak nito.

"Next, the vice president of the Senior high student council, Lira Gomez. She's the evaluator for People's Choice partylist." Tumango lamang si ate Lira sa akin habang nakataas ang isang kilay. Napalunok ako dahil nakakakaba ang vibes niya, para ba itong strict teacher na nagpaparecite na lang bigla.

Actually, ayaw ko makipag-eye contact kay ate Lira o kay kuya Xian, dahil nakakatakot silang pareho. Pero kailangan ko na isa sa kanila ay piliin ako. Sabi kasi ni Violet kapag nasa 3 major partylist ka ay maikakampanya ka nang maayos.

"And lastly, we have Ms. Anne Dizon, a grade 11 student, and the evaluator for 789 Partylist." kumaway si ate Ann at ngumiti ito sa akin.

"Now Chelsea, you will be evaluated today through your background, and intellectual. It's up to these leaders if they will put you on their partylist or not." Paliwanag ni sir Johnny kaya tumango ako kaagad.

"Dahil hindi ka naman Grade 7, 8 or 9, ekis ka na kay Anne from the 11th Government. Kung bet ka ni Lira you'll be in People's Choice, if bet ka ni Xian you'll be in Wise Republic. Kung ayaw nila sayo, ako ang magdedecide kung rejected ka, pero kung accepted pwede ka magtayo ng sarili mong partylist kasama ang iba pa na hindi tinanggap nitong 3 major partylist. Understood?"

"Yes sir." Sagot ko at tumango naman ito.

"Let's start!" Masayang sabi ni sir Johnny at napaclap pa. Iyon ang naging hudyat nang biglaang paglakas ng tibok ng puso ko, kaya huminga ako nang malalim para maikalma ito.

Tinanong nila ang basic informations ko at sinagot ko naman iyon lahat. Madali lang naman pala, kaya nawala na rin ang kaba ko.

"You're homeschooled for almost 10 years?" Gulat na tanong ni ate Anne. Tumango naman ako kaya lahat sila ay napatingin sa akin maging si kuya Xian na palaging nakatingin sa binabasang folder.

"Please give a short explanation how homeschooling works." Sabi ni kuya Xian kaya napalunok ako at napatangong muli.

"My mom actually attended and completed a seminar for the homeschooling program that she enrolled me in. We can hire a tutor that is also trained under the same program, but in my case, my mom was my instructor. It's allowed for parents to homeschool their children. But they won't spoon-feed all of the lessons and discuss it like a normal teacher, we students need to study on our own, and if we don't get it then that's the time to ask them." Paliwanag ko na ikinatango-tango nila.

"What are the important skills you've learned in homeschooling?" tanong ni ate Lira.

"I think, it's time and self management. Because of it, I became independent, disciplined, and honest." Hindi ko alam kung satisfied siya sa sagot ko dahil tinuon niya na ang binabasa nitong folder.