The debate competition was amazing as well! I went with my debate club, and we were so close to making it to the octo-finals, which comprises of the top 16 debate teams. Although, I didn't actually do any debating lol. Aside from the debates, there was also a public speaking portion in the event, and that was where I participated in. Though I didn't win any awards, it was a fun learning experience nevertheless ❤️

Now that I'm out of high school, my parents have been enrolling me in different skill-based classes to equip me for when I'm on my own. I finished driving lessons a month or so back, and right now I'm in beauty school learning to cut hair! I've only been learning the basics, so if you show me a picture of your desired haircut, I wouldn't be able to recreate it (yet). Perhaps someday, I can make this my side job. A lawyer/hairstylist extraordinaire— that certainly is an odd combination!

Anyways, my dull life post-high school has had its own set of challenges; mostly emotional burdens that were accrued due to feeling estranged to my friends' current lives. I love my friends and I love hearing them talk about how their lives are in college, but I guess it makes me a bit sad to hear funny retellings and stories filled with unfamiliar names, when just last year those stories contained the names of people I knew and went to school with.

I'm a really sentimental person too, so it's hard for me to leave the people I care for behind. My friends, my family— I won't see them as often as I'd want to anymore. I won't hear their voices, feel their touches. If that's what it means to leave behind my life in the Philippines, then it's a heavy burden for me. I wouldn't want this year to end. I don't want to leave.

But at the same time, ever since this plan to have me study abroad was set in stone, I started to appreciate the things around me even more; especially the simple things in my life right now.

The way sunlight filters through the bedroom curtains in the morning and lands on slept-in beds. The smells and sounds of our kitchen— garlic, wooden chopping boards, and the radio tuned into the local station. Mid-afternoon commutes, when the train isn't crowded or noisy because everyone's having lunch. The way the train gently rumbles as it hurtles through the tracks, the bright afternoon sun filling the car. Our big mango tree here at home, when it bears fruit and you could see the flowers from below. The bright blue sky, framed by lots and lots of trees and some wires from telephone and electricity poles. It's things like those that really helped me appreciate how amazing life is. I know I'll miss every one of those moments. That was how my life went; how it will be until I have to leave it all behind for a fresh start in college.

In a way, I'm thankful too. Life isn't always gonna be how it is now, and attending university abroad will be a great experience to help me learn more about myself and the world. And, I suppose, this'll happen eventually anyways, so there's no need to delay the inevitable.

For a while now, I've been taking lots of short video clips of the things that remind me of home. I plan to edit it all into one video, so that I can look back to it when I get homesick. Perhaps when I finish it, I'll give you guys a link if y'all wanna see it 😊

Ever since I got out of high school last June, another thing I've been thankful for is the chance to pursue hobbies I've been waiting to for so long. I picked up the viola, which is a really amazing instrument! The best way I can describe it is by comparing to to the violin; if violins are sopranos, then violas are altos. I quite like the rich, medium tone of the viola though. The sound is also warmer than the violin, and though it's just as wonderful too, violas are so criminally underappreciated! I guess that's why I opted for it over the violin lol.

I'm also writing a musical! I think I mentioned this in my first Sunday Currently entry, and yeah, I'm still working on it. I love musical theater, so I decided that maybe this is a thing I could do. The details aren't quite set yet, but if I do make significant progress, I'll be sure to write about it here 😆

Anyways, now I'm just enjoying what little time I have left in the Philippines, my home. Our church hosted a Christmas outreach as well, and it felt really fulfilling to see the children happy ✨ Last Christmas eve, we had a big potluck lunch in church as well. We had looots of sushi lol.

On more recent news, I did have my wisdom teeth removed just yesterday, boy are my jaws swollen. I look like a chipmunk. This is not a good look. It's a good thing the surgery itself wasn't so bad— I actually didn't feel anything due to the anesthesia (my eternal thanks goes out to the creators of this numbing elixir).

I've also taken up bullet journaling! This year I've decided to try and organize my life a little bit more, as I do have an intense procrastination problem lol. I've always wanted to try this out as well, and though I'm sure that I will not be able to maintain this sort of aesthetically pleasing journal, I do hope that having a planner will help keep me on track this 2018.


Well, I guess that's everything noteworthy that has happened to me so far. Writing this has been really therapeutic, and it felt good to open up about how I really felt. If any of you guys have something weighing on your shoulders, try writing it down! It doesn't have to be on a blog if that's what you choose; nevertheless, engaging in some form of self-expression is cathartic, and will help you stay sane lol.

That's all I have to say for today. Thanks for reading! Please take care of yourselves, and take time to rest when you're tired. And spend time with the people you care about because those times will be memories to be cherished ❤️

The debate competition was amazing as well! I went with my debate club, and we were so close to making it to the octo-finals, which comprises of the top 16 debate teams. Although, I didn't actually do any debating lol. Aside from the debates, there was also a public speaking portion in the event, and that was where I participated in. Though I didn't win any awards, it was a fun learning experience nevertheless ❤️

Now that I'm out of high school, my parents have been enrolling me in different skill-based classes to equip me for when I'm on my own. I finished driving lessons a month or so back, and right now I'm in beauty school learning to cut hair! I've only been learning the basics, so if you show me a picture of your desired haircut, I wouldn't be able to recreate it (yet). Perhaps someday, I can make this my side job. A lawyer/hairstylist extraordinaire— that certainly is an odd combination!

Anyways, my dull life post-high school has had its own set of challenges; mostly emotional burdens that were accrued due to feeling estranged to my friends' current lives. I love my friends and I love hearing them talk about how their lives are in college, but I guess it makes me a bit sad to hear funny retellings and stories filled with unfamiliar names, when just last year those stories contained the names of people I knew and went to school with.

I'm a really sentimental person too, so it's hard for me to leave the people I care for behind. My friends, my family— I won't see them as often as I'd want to anymore. I won't hear their voices, feel their touches. If that's what it means to leave behind my life in the Philippines, then it's a heavy burden for me. I wouldn't want this year to end. I don't want to leave.

But at the same time, ever since this plan to have me study abroad was set in stone, I started to appreciate the things around me even more; especially the simple things in my life right now.

The way sunlight filters through the bedroom curtains in the morning and lands on slept-in beds. The smells and sounds of our kitchen— garlic, wooden chopping boards, and the radio tuned into the local station. Mid-afternoon commutes, when the train isn't crowded or noisy because everyone's having lunch. The way the train gently rumbles as it hurtles through the tracks, the bright afternoon sun filling the car. Our big mango tree here at home, when it bears fruit and you could see the flowers from below. The bright blue sky, framed by lots and lots of trees and some wires from telephone and electricity poles. It's things like those that really helped me appreciate how amazing life is. I know I'll miss every one of those moments. That was how my life went; how it will be until I have to leave it all behind for a fresh start in college.

In a way, I'm thankful too. Life isn't always gonna be how it is now, and attending university abroad will be a great experience to help me learn more about myself and the world. And, I suppose, this'll happen eventually anyways, so there's no need to delay the inevitable.

For a while now, I've been taking lots of short video clips of the things that remind me of home. I plan to edit it all into one video, so that I can look back to it when I get homesick. Perhaps when I finish it, I'll give you guys a link if y'all wanna see it 😊

Ever since I got out of high school last June, another thing I've been thankful for is the chance to pursue hobbies I've been waiting to for so long. I picked up the viola, which is a really amazing instrument! The best way I can describe it is by comparing to to the violin; if violins are sopranos, then violas are altos. I quite like the rich, medium tone of the viola though. The sound is also warmer than the violin, and though it's just as wonderful too, violas are so criminally underappreciated! I guess that's why I opted for it over the violin lol.

I'm also writing a musical! I think I mentioned this in my first Sunday Currently entry, and yeah, I'm still working on it. I love musical theater, so I decided that maybe this is a thing I could do. The details aren't quite set yet, but if I do make significant progress, I'll be sure to write about it here 😆

Anyways, now I'm just enjoying what little time I have left in the Philippines, my home. Our church hosted a Christmas outreach as well, and it felt really fulfilling to see the children happy ✨ Last Christmas eve, we had a big potluck lunch in church as well. We had looots of sushi lol.

On more recent news, I did have my wisdom teeth removed just yesterday, boy are my jaws swollen. I look like a chipmunk. This is not a good look. It's a good thing the surgery itself wasn't so bad— I actually didn't feel anything due to the anesthesia (my eternal thanks goes out to the creators of this numbing elixir).

I've also taken up bullet journaling! This year I've decided to try and organize my life a little bit more, as I do have an intense procrastination problem lol. I've always wanted to try this out as well, and though I'm sure that I will not be able to maintain this sort of aesthetically pleasing journal, I do hope that having a planner will help keep me on track this 2018.


Well, I guess that's everything noteworthy that has happened to me so far. Writing this has been really therapeutic, and it felt good to open up about how I really felt. If any of you guys have something weighing on your shoulders, try writing it down! It doesn't have to be on a blog if that's what you choose; nevertheless, engaging in some form of self-expression is cathartic, and will help you stay sane lol.

That's all I have to say for today. Thanks for reading! Please take care of yourselves, and take time to rest when you're tired. And spend time with the people you care about because those times will be memories to be cherished ❤️