I learned...

Finally! The term has come to an end. Things didn’t turn out exactly as I hoped for, but there’s no use crying over spilled milk. I am just so very happy that after all the worries, the much dreaded day arrived and we all came out of it---ALIVE!

And honestly, I can’t believe we survived it all. The brainstorming. The research. The paperworks. The defense. The revisions. Not to mention the 12-week on-the-job training, the endless “pakikisama” with professors, and all the frustrations that went with it.

But despite my relief that the term has ended at long last, I am strangely happy to have experienced everything that occurred in these past four months. No, I don’t want to go through all those hardships again! I am just happy because I know that because of everything we experienced, we all became stronger and better persons. I know I did.

And as a bonus, I learned a couple of things, too. Let me share my top ten learnings out of this stressful term.

#10: Things aren’t always what they seem to be. Need I say more?

#9: In school, the most important thing is not really to learn, but to meet the right people and get enough connections. It can be a great help in the future!

#8: Your mistakes aren’t always your own fault. People around you contributed a great deal to it.

#7: Never be too easy to trust. Anyone can be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

#6: Laughter is still, and perhaps will always be, the best medicine.

#5: Worries get you nowhere. When tempted to fret over stuff, either do something to keep your mind busy or face what you fear.

#4: Grades don’t define a person. Instead, it simply tells if the person was lucky enough to have the nicer and more considerate teacher.

#3: Sometimes, it’s still better to pretend and keep what you truly feel inside you. When in doubt, SMILE.

#2: Less talk, less mistakes.

And lastly… (drum roll…)

#1: When in distress, it’s easier to survive when you have true friends with you.