Back to School
For most kids in the Philippines, school’s been back for three weeks. Sometimes I wish to go back to that young and carefree life, but then I remember how much I didn’t like school. Really. I may have been a good student in the eyes of classmates and teachers, but deep inside I was itching to be outta there. Homework wasn’t something I cared much about, but they had to be done. And waking up early! My gawd!
Oh okay, it wasn’t that bad. I didn’t hate it. I just really didn’t like studying. I really love reading, just not books for my academics. Although I did enjoy reading school books one summer while I was in elementary school. Guess what they were? The Noli and Fili. It was either my kuya or our kasambahay’s books that I read. So I went through the required reading for Pinoy high school juniors and seniors just because I liked it. But when I had to read along as a high school Senior myself, I didn’t. I read Greek/Roman mythology too, from my brother’s books. But we didn’t tackle them in English class much (bummer).
I further realized how much I didn’t like being in school when I gave up dreams of being a lawyer. Seeing Malcolm Hall regulars with their 4-5 inch thick daily readings turned me off. Spare me the agony. It just wasn’t for me. Years later, when Friendster was all the rave, I went through a crisis. Batchmates in medical school or law school made me envious. That should be me! Instead, I was working at an NGO (I loved my work then, don’t get me wrong). It felt like I wasn’t chasing after my dream.
But then I realized, well, it could be me. If I really wanted it.
It wasn’t a question of whether I could make it through law school, or med school. I’m sure I could. But I had to be realistic. I would be miserable at least half the time!
Now there’s something I really enjoyed while I was studying: Writing. Not copying notes, mind you. Composition writing. Theme writing. To a certain extent, I liked having to do ‘papers.’ Some kids would complain about having to write essays on exams; as for me, I loved it!
I had no problem getting good essay writing. As long as there was a question to answer, and I was inspired, the words would flow through my pen to the paper. How many “my memorable summer experience” essays did I have to write in my life? ‘Don’t remember. Sometimes I wish they were returned to me, or that I bothered to keep them. I don’t think kids have to write those themes anymore.
No doubt, the yearly journalism workshops we did for the school paper (Young Trinitian’s Voice) were invaluable experiences. They did help me write better. I attended for three years, grades 4 to 6. I missed that when I moved on to (a different) high school. When I look back, I knew more about writing and putting a paper together when I was younger. Now I know zilch. And my writing’s gone bad I can’t make money doing business in research paper for sale. haha!
So there. I guess I didn’t hate school after all and it wasn’t a dreadful experience. 
How about you, did you look forward to writing exercises in school?
By the way, photo is mine. Those are my colleagues taking notes during the big meeting we all attended back in April.
June 22, 2012 @ 5:26 pm
I love to hear about back to school when I was young … Get me more exciting because I have a new stuffs and to meet up again my friends and teachers.
June 22, 2012 @ 5:50 pm
Right now, I am searching for preschool for my little angel and I am quite busy preparing all school materials she needs.
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June 23, 2012 @ 6:17 pm
Sure, you didn’t hate in going to school. But you hadn’t been spared from such “dreadful” experience. Hehehe!
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June 26, 2012 @ 2:23 pm
There had been a time in high school when I was just reading books. l almost finished all the Nancy Drew Mysteries. I would sleep late watching the late English night movies on RPN 9 and arrive just on time for school which was just walking distance where we live. I also loved Rizal’s Noli and Fili. Looking back I never regretted spending time with books and late night movies. Perhaps even then, I always thought I would write someday.
I believe education is not just learned inside the confines of the classroom. I told my kids as long as they have good grades, they can read and watch all the good things meant for their age, just as long that they do not wake up grumpy and cramming for school projects and all.
No wonder my eldest was reading HP 7 during her Finals. Lol !
June 26, 2012 @ 7:20 pm
no regrets definitely! In grade school the librarian told me i was the only one interested in checking out the school’s collection of Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys. They were very old then and falling apart.
My nephews and nieces don’t have the same love for books, but little Amir seems very interested in the picture books we got him. So hopefully he’ll grow up to be a reader too 🙂
June 28, 2012 @ 12:06 am
You didn’t really unlike school..it was just that you had other interests and that was more of reading and writing. Same thing for me. I love reading. I love essay writing too. Maybe it was an easy job for us then since we read a lot. I just wished I had involved myself with writing workshops then my writing skills would have been developed.Lucky for you coz you had a chance. 🙂
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June 30, 2012 @ 6:31 am
I remembered when I was young, I felt very happy and excited when I heard the word back to school.
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June 30, 2012 @ 9:16 am
I wish I didn’t totally waste that chance!
April 30, 2015 @ 6:32 pm
Hi…Going back to school is one of the great things which we have to do in our life for once at least. Being a young girl now and going to back to school makes you crazy when you saw or noticed that your school is changed now.
July 2, 2015 @ 7:01 pm
Back to school is one of the craziest things when I was a kid.