I paid attention to myself and found that I was someone else

The UA&P Freshmen Orientation wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Yeah, it was pretty dull, but if Michelle weren’t seated with Angelica and me I would’ve regretted why I woke up so damn early on a Saturday morning instead of sleeping in. The three of us came in half an hour late and as a result, we were given seats at the balcony. We chose to sit at the side and share two seats so we wouldn’t be seen by the speaker. The auditorium was deathly quiet, and the speaker was talking in this very monotonous voice. Five minutes later, we were all talking and giggling like a bunch of airheads. There’s something about Michelle that brings out the talkative person in me. I suppose I must’ve been talking too much because we kind of got in trouble with this one woman who must’ve been a teacher or some sort of important person. She didn’t scold us exactly; she just sort of stood nearby and glowered at us. We got the message and shut up.

In other words, I didn’t pay attention to the orientation much. Actually I really don’t need to, but I guess I should’ve just kept quiet because Angelica would be studying there. The only part I paid any attention to was when they started talking about my course–Masters in Communication (MIC). And after hearing all that, I’m now fully convinced that UA&P is not the school for me. Not just because I can’t imagine myself spending 5 years in such a tiny place, but also because my course is way too technical. There’s just too much stuff about business that I need to take up in my third and fourth year, stuff which I probably won’t understand. And 25 units–are you kidding? No bleeding way. I want to have a life outside my academics, and with a workload of 25 units I just don’t see that happening.

Even though MIC students are guaranteed a job if they graduate, I know that there’s more to life than working for some multinational company or writing ads for toothpaste. Yeah, I’m sure that it’ll bring a lot of money, but I can’t imagine myself finding any happiness or fulfillment in that. I don’t want to wear business attire to work. I don’t want a desk and a 9 to 5 job. I don’t know what I want but whatever it is, I know I can’t find it by joining the corporate world.

I went to Power Plant with Kriya and Patsy after the orientation. Michelle and Angelica were supposed to come with us, but since Michelle is very disgusted with herself for going out with Patsy for two years she refused to join us. And Angelica needed a ride to Glorietta so we went our separate ways. I think I should’ve just gone to Glorietta or something…when I’m with Kriya and Patsy I’m not myself. I mutate into this snobby, shallow version of myself and I hate it. 50% of the things we talk about are about people whom we think are cool or whom we label as losers. And it’s weird because whenever I see a person, like any random person, I know exactly what Kriya and Patsy will think of them just by looking at their face or their clothes. Why? Because I hanging out with them makes me think like them too. And a lot of those thoughts aren’t very nice. They’re fun, but I have to find more decent people to go around with. I really do.

The list of high school friends (if you can call them that) I will keep in touch with after graduation is getting shorter and shorter everyday.

Oh yeah…he probably won’t read this, but I’ll say it anyway. Congratulations to my cousin Anthony for making it to the UP Intermed Program (instead of the usual 8 years to finish a degree in Doctor of Medicine, the program is only for 6 years.It’s such an honor cos they only accept 20 guys and 20 girls nationwide every schoolyear)!!! *worship, worship, bow, bow* You are so freaking smart. I seriously feel like the only underachiever in the family. I only have one other cousin in college, and he’s taking up BS Math. Wow.