College seems like a distant dream

Today has been a really hectic day–to think that I was hardly at school at all. My interview at UAP was supposed to be at 10:30 a.m., and it felt hella good to be getting up at nine instead of the usual six. My interview went well, and it was surprisingly short–ten minutes tops. I expected it all to be more formal and to be asked really difficult questions, such as my opinion on whatever is on today’s newspaper headlines. But I was asked a lot of questions about myself, my family, and school. Easy stuff like that. Kriya’s interview was as short as mine too, but Patsy took forever. I found out later on that the reason why it took so long was because she was asked about her stand on overpopulation and birth control. Hmm. While waiting for Patsy, Kriya and I went around the campus, and suddenly remembered that Dona studies there. So I got my phone, told her that we were here for an interview, and when we met up we were all like, “Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re heeeeere!” Hugging, squealing, laughing, and looking very high school.

We walked around campus for awhile and then when Patsy was done, we met her at the entrance and went out to lunch at this Italian place. Patsy and Kriya couldn’t get over how the atmosphere at UAP was very nice, clean and peaceful. They kept saying how the location was so perfect–near all these restaurants and hangouts–and that the crowd was so good and that they were definitely going there if they don’t make it to Ateneo.

I said nothing because I didn’t want to acid rain on their parade, but the truth is, I wasn’t very impressed. I mean, fine. It is very clean at UAP, and they’ve got nice classrooms and an A-class crowd. But it’s a very small school as well. The entire campus is probably as big as my school–which is actually pretty small compared to the more popular high schools in Manila. And since UAP is such a small school, I’d probably know everybody’s life stories by the time I graduate from college. I mean, where’s the fun in going to school everyday to see the same old faces? Also, even though the location is nice, I’d probably be very sick of the campus and the nearby restaurants after five years of going there everyday. Then there’s also the matter about open-toe sandals and sleeveless tops not being allowed in the campus. Like I said, UAP sounds like a coed, college version of my high school.

Another thing: although there are a lot of cute guys at UAP, there are so many pretty girls as well. And I’m not just talking about pretty girls, I’m talking about really pretty, tall, sophisticated-looking girls. How can I possibly compete with them? A lot of them looked like the bitchy, hair-pulling type when they find out that you’re after the same guy they like. But of course, I could be stereotyping. But still. Being the only average-looking girl in a school filled with model-type girls won’t do much for my dwindling self-esteem.

After the UAP interview, the three of us said bye to Dona and headed back to school. There, we met up with the student council president and vice president so we could promote our school play at several schools. (I noted that I was again the only underachiever, and the only member of the Committee on Promotions present.) Man, was that ever a tiring ordeal. We only went to three schools in Makati and three in San Juan, but it took a very long time because of the traffic. It was a lot of fun nonetheless; we kept goofing off in the car and laughing till our tummies hurt. I certainly hope that all that trouble we went to was worth it. We didn’t actually do much promoting; we just sort of handed letters and complimentary tickets to the principals, and sometimes to the security guards because they wouldn’t let us inside the school without an appointment. As if we would snatch up rich-looking little children, stuff them in sacks and whisk them away.