| [30 March 2005] The bus ride that narrates my 2nd year 2nd semester
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Who would think that one bus ride can symbolize my second semester of my second year in UP Manila?
My usual ride and route home is a bus from Faura to Pasong Tamo, then a jeep from Pasong Tamo to our condo. I normally fall asleep on the bus (strange though, I can't sleep when I'm in the car), waking up just in time to go down at my stop. Unfortunately, two Fridays ago, which was March 18, I missed my stop. I woke up, I know where I was... but that wasn't where I was supposed to be. I missed my stop. I couldn't go down just anywhere because I didn't know how to get home from anywhere else other than my stop and the last stop, Ayala. And it was raining really hard. So I had to go all the way to Ayala just to get home. Traffic. Not only on the road, but also inside Glorietta. People everywhere. Midnight madness. Just great. But I got home, eventually, after waiting for about 20 minutes for the right jeep to pass by. And after waiting, I wasn't able to get on the right jeep even. I had to transfer yet to another one so I can get home without getting too wet. But I got home.
Now, how is that bus ride related to this semester? The theme is... NOT KNOWING WHEN TO STOP. Let's make analogies. Legend: BR=Bus Ride.
And so, the sem goes by normally (BR: going home through my normal ride and route), with the addition of more Chorale activities (Dec. 4 concert, singing at UP functions, mini-concert, everyday rehearsals, etc.). I got too caught up in the other things (BR: sleeping) rather than in my academics that I was doing that I did not know when to stop (BR: missing the stop). Because of that, I faced a lot of consequences and obstacles (BR: heavy rain and traffic). I failed some of my exams, I did not get enough, or even, any sleep, I fought with my friends and family, all of which I am not very used to, and experiencing all of these devastated me. When I realized all this, I knew that I should lie low a bit, having to absent myself if I have an exam (BR: finally stopping at Ayala). However, the path was still difficult (BR: massive crowd in Glorietta). But through hard work (although what I did to catch up was still not hard enough) and determination (BR: getting on the jeep and just transferring just to get home), I was able to redeem myself, at least even a bit (BR: getting home). For instance, I got exempted from taking the Zoo 102 finals (yet my pre-final grade is loooow... ick. What can I expect... Duh.). AND, I am proud to say that I passed my 4th Chem 31 exam (it's not that high as well, though, but still!).
Oh yeah... at the end of the bus trip... I asked the bus conductor how much was it until the last stop, coz I'm sure it's greater than P12.00. He did not make me pay for the extra kilometers that I travelled. He told me it was okay. What's this in my semester? God did not make me pay as well, at least, not yet. He is still giving me a chance. He gave me a tough ride, but in the end, he tells me that it's okay, and He let's me off the bus, tells me to move on and try my best to find my way home.
Thank you, bus conductor. Thank you, Kuya Jess.
My 2nd year 2nd sem is so far the worst sem in my college life. I can already forsee a "tres"... a grade I have dreaded since I entered the university (but of course, I prefer that over a "quatro" or "singko"). But it was one heck of a sem. I learned so many things. I just have to apply these things that I have learned in the next semester.
And I will. Aja.
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