Fifth grade when I first saw her wearing our school's uniform during our 7 AM flag ceremony. I instantly noticed her not because she's the typical popular girl in school on first days but has typical bangs as a hairstyle or the one wearing glasses and was picked by everyone.
Simply because she has this strong aura for a girl. She seemed too composed and bright for a girl our age. At first glance, you'll know she can handle herself alone. I didn't get the chance to introduce myself as a friend so I was forced to say my name out loud in class at that time and introduced myself officially as her classmate.
"Hello everyone! My name is Gabriel Silang"
We were far from being close. As an acquaintance or even a friend but I can say she is more than her name.
Eighth grade when I finally get to call her as my classmate again after two years of not being to. The growth I saw in her from before up to this day is completely out of the league. She was able to establish a great sense of leadership in the class and is able to use her wit in good arguments that instantly make a person listen and open to different perceptions she presented. We were not yet friends at this time but I knew as her classmate, the class will be in good shape with her in it.
That moment, I knew she is more than her name.
In eleventh grade when I get to call her as my co-party in a campaign on the campus. Not as her classmate but as her co party and a friend already. I initiated to offer up my friends to her when we were still in the ninth grade before I chickened out and regret not even trying. Having her as part of my running party towards building an organization on campus is a wholesome experience.
I was able to hear her opinions and tactics in the possible plans laid out if we win. I ran for the president position and she is my vice president which is much unplanned.
One time when we're assigned to arrange papers in the teacher's office I asked her.
"Why don't you run for president?" Believe it or not, she is more suitable to be a president than me but she insisted to make me run for it. I thought she was going to blurt out a good and valid reason for my question because that is what she's good at.
She smiled while holding the papers and looked up to meet me in the eye and said
"I'm the support you needed for the position I believe you deserve and will get it without a doubt"
That moment alone, I knew this girl would mean so much to me. Truly proving she is more than just her name.
We won and we ran the council for two years. I built good relationships with the people around me especially with her. We've been very close and we understand each other deeply since we share the same interest although with different levels of views. We respect each other's side and that alone kept our friendship stronger than before.
We got ourselves into college and ended up in the same department with the same field taking up political science. I stepped up my own game and did my utmost effort to get into the college field I wanted to explore and learn. Knowing she was with me in this journey puts me at ease since she is the only person who knew so much about me and understands it. Our always go-to plan was to run for positions in these kinds of institutions not just for the experience but also for practice but right now we are in a bigger stage which is college.
