This is not a post literally on the subject of my dad eating my pack of French fries because it never happened in real life. I was browsing Know Your Meme when I noticed the above subject as one of their trends so in temptation I clicked on it. The conclusion to this story will follow up later because I have something more relevant to blog about after keeping this as a secret for a week. In fact, it’s been eight days since it happened; however, this would be the sole opportunity for me to write about this. Laugh all you want after I tell you this, make a mockery about all I would want to get off my chest. I will not say this explicitly but I hope you can read between the lines: I would have to take all of my floating subjects first then graduate later than many of my batchmates. There, you can all laugh at me now.
Downright humiliating, right? Everyone was shocked when they found about the grim news. I was supposed to post some status about it on Facebook but everyone was against it because it would only get worse. Out of 34, only half of them were accepted. Trust me, seeing the list made me and everyone realize even the best ones were given their prematurely packed suitcases from the Literature department. When I didn’t see my ID number on that piece of paper, I immediately broke down on the floor and cried, "I am never going to graduate!“ The litany of fury out of rejection went like this:
"I will never graduate by 2014…”, “I will never be as successful as my batchmates who will get to graduate on time…”, “While my friends are there in their caps and gowns, I would be in my chair finishing this 1000th draft of my final thesis…”, and the worst of all, “I won’t be smiling next to the Lit professors; therefore, all of my efforts put into writing are put into the trash bin.” I was so devastated I shouted at the top of my voice, “I am going to shift." Why does it have to be always like this, closing out on all open opportunities for me? Name it, one Joker’s laugh for each: The Lasallian, Candy, Manila Times…what’s next? That night after the worst headline of the year came out, I planned on deleting all of my blog entries and setting my articles, stories, and poems in flames. Thank God that plan only went on for ten minutes until I realized it would be the stupidest thing ever to do out of frustration.
So when I got went out of William Hall, Monzie and I went at the Miguel Hall entrance and I burst into tears. I was telling things like I’m a big loser, a failure, and not talented enough to get in the high-caliber Literature program. I began to question myself, "If I was meant to be here, then why did I not get the glory I am supposed to have?” More blockmates of ours flocked into our sides, Monzie showed them the photo of the results, and most of them started making plans on shifting to different courses. Friends of ours began to comfort us saying there are better things yet to come. Whoever you are, thank you so much for trying to cheer us up in our darkest moments :“> In Zaide, the two of us and Kevs were huddled in a table talking about the results. Once again, I unleashed my inner monstrosity which included telling them that I’m too idiotic to be a Literature major.
Like everyone in the circus, Kevs and Monzie objected to my mental assumption. They were giving me words of encouragement like the ever-cliched yet true better plans, the right time, and most of all newer opportunities. Furthermore, they emphasized the fact a lot of notable people (JK Rowling, Michael Jordan, and Albert Einstein come into mind) have failed more than the number of our fingers then went on to be engraved in history. Everyone believed in what I grew up to love, so I should never stop cultivating my interest in it. Besides, getting the pink slip from the qualifying exam neither would make me less of a writer nor let me be successful. On the other hand, when I told my parents about that, they discouraged me from my plan to stop writing.
Wait, was I supposed to say that? Yes, I almost quit writing last week because of that piece of paper like I said sentences ago. During that moment, I grew disenchanted with my interest in creative writing and reading thanks to that qualifying exam. According to the university rules, we could reapply for it next term if ever we don’t make the cut on our first try. In fact, I already have that in mind. Nevertheless, I already have a back-up plan which it is to shift to another Liberal Arts program. But what course? I wanted to take up Psychology but some people thought it would be hard to find a career there. My second option was Communication Arts; however, it’s kind of crowded already. Another one was Philippine Mass Media (a top two back-up course) but I’m worried about having to write a thesis paper in Filipino (one of my not-so-good points in writing). Lastly, some friends were encouraging me to take up History since I knew a lot of events and names with many career options as a bonus.
Next term may not be the time for me to take my majors, but God has a way for me to get into the road I’m destined to take. Who knows, I may finally get the yes I’ve been anticipating one term later and still graduate from the course I’m in right now. We may never know, it might be a stepping stone for me to work in the media or anywhere else with success in hand regardless of my college degree. To end this post, good things come to those who wait.
