Brave Souls

Prologue

Halos masira ang speaker ng cellphone ko dahil sa lakas ng sigaw ni Papa sa kabilang linya nang sabihin ko na ga-graduate na ako bilang Magna cumlaude. Kahit naman ako ay sobrang saya dahil sa kabila ng mga paghihirap kong makatapos ay onti-onti ko nang nakakamit. Sobrang saya na sana nang usapan namin pero nang sabihin ni Kuya Josh na hindi sila makakapunta ay parang medyo bumigat ang dibdib ko.

Hapon ngayon ng Marso, alas tres ng hapon nang magsimula ang program. Nakaupo ako sa unang hilera ng mga Graduating students dahil kabilang ako sa mga ga-graduate bilang Magna cumlaude.

“Vergara, Valerie Angel Veronica, Espadilla, Bachelor of medicine and surgery, Magna cumlaude, Class Valedictorian.“

Dahan dahan akong tumayo nang marinig ang pangalan ko at nagsimulang lakarin ang daan patungo sa stage. I feel so proud to stand up in front of numerous people with my achievements. I feel so proud for succeeding the first battle in my life, I am graduating now.

“Good day, Visitors, Stockholders, Parents, Non-teachers, Teachers and my fellow Graduating Students.“ Nang tumigil muna ako para huminga ng malalim ay isang masigabong palakpakan ang pumuno sa lugar na iyon. “Before I begin my long and dramatic speech I want to congratulate my fellow graduating students for reaching this greatest achievement and I want to express my gratitude to the DepEd, to this school and to the teachers who did not stop from fulfilling their mission to teach us well.“ Muli nanaman silang nagpalakpakan. “I am proud to see my fellow graduating students right here right now. We are here. We triumphed our first battle. During my first year high school in this school, was not really good. I received a lot of criticisms about my family background, about my looks before and about my grades but that thing never stop me, I continued my school year in this school till I reached this stage. The entire of my school life here was not nice but I keep on having conversations with them because I always said to my self, I should be kind, how they could be kind to me if I am that bad too? Life is give and take, You get what you give and that’s life. I grew up without a mother beside me, I grew up with my dearest father and my two brothers and we are happy even though we are incomplete, we’re happy with each other. Even they are not here, even they couldn’t see how I climbed to this stage, I am thankful and happy. I know they are so proud of me, knowing that their princess is starting her new life with the profession she always dreamed. I should always be thankful because they are always there through my ups and downs, supporting me, loving me and caring about my feelings... But I was really really happy not until I remember that this is my last here, this is our last seeing each other, our closeness and secret care for each other will stop here.“ Napahinto ako nang maramdaman ang init na namumuo sa gilid ng mata ko. Ganoon din ang ibang mga tao sa baba, nagiging emosyonal na din. “Seriously, I felt sad when I remember it is my last day here. I got so emotional because sooner or later I’m gonna leave this school and start my new life with my dreamed profession. When I was in my high school I dreamed to graduate immediately but when I turned into college, I wished I was in high school again, having fun with friends, enjoying every sunrise and letting problems just to fade away. Because being adult  isn’t easy, it isn’t like we were kids. We are now having our own path, sooner or later we can build our own family... and now we are leaving where we began. We’ll just farewell with each other and we'll gonna part our ways, we will head our assigned paths. But even if we leave this place, we shouldn’t forget our memories here. We should cherish our memories that will be just a memories. We shouldn’t let our future to stop remembering our life’s history, our life where all failures and success began. Because you know? We can’t just be here without our past. We can’t just stand here without our past. So even if life turn around, don’t forget your past. Don’t forget where you really belong. Don’t forget where you learned to dream. Don’t forget those people who helped you when you’re definitely nothing. Don’t just forget your parents or guardian who supported you since day one. Don’t forget your love ones who stayed at you even you pushes them. Don’t forget your former self who just learned to be strong, who fought alone, who failed just to succeed... To teachers, parents, non-teachers and my fellow students that are here right now, listening to my speech, getting emotional… Just remember We are not here, without our past. We are not successful without our failures... Thank you and again, Congratulations, Graduates!“