November 7, 2010

November 7, 2010

It was around 6:30 in the evening when I went inside my mother’s room and kissed her goodbye. My father, as usual, brought me to the port and kissed me in the cheeks before he bid his goodbye. I left home with a heart heavier than that of my suitcases.

It was the moment before I went to my mother’s room that I felt the saddest the most. I look at myself in the mirror and I realize, I wasn’t a child anymore. There, around me, are my suitcases, constantly reminding me that sooner rather than later, I shall leave in the comforts of my parent’s embrace. If God allow it, with his blessings and guidance, in five months time, I shall do “the walk,” this event in life, only happens only four times.

There is the first time you walk, you very first few steps, with someone there happily cheering you. You were then a child, you would probably not remember it but the people who witness it, will never forget it. Then there is the walk of graduations. This symbolizes that you are a person that has accomplished something in life. Graduations may not be as important as the last two, but it is still a walk one would never forget. Of course, there is the walk that a lady has dreamed about, and that is walking down the aisle. This, for both men and women, is a symbol of a journey through marriage, family and most of all, love. This is the walk that would turn your world upside down, the walk that would change your future forever. Lastly, there is the walk of death. In this chapter of your life, you walk and embrace death as you embraced God. For in this moment, you will never feel pain, or suffering ever again. You embrace God’s touch and from then on, eternal life is easier.

In five months time, with God’s grace, I will be having my graduation walk. This is the moment that I have been waiting for. Finally, I am done studying with my notes, done making papers and essay; I am done with all the easy things. Because after graduation, comes the difficult part. The real world is a continuous learning center. It is a school that doesn’t have any building or campuses, a school that doesn’t grade you with what you have achieved in life but how you used it to help others.

As I sit and wait patiently for the announcer to say the boat is ready for boarding, I thought about the things that I would do someday. I want to become a travel journalist or a travel host for that matter. All I want is to travel and at the same time do something that I am good at. I want to write and publish a novel so that other people can see an inkling of my mind. I want to get married with my “the one,” and I want to have a family with that person and watch my children grow. I want many things in life and I wonder if I can reach one of them.

I am yet to touch the real world. I am yet to feel real joy and pain. I am yet to see what the universe has in store for me.

I kissed my mother and father goodbye and I boarded the boat, with my hopes and dreams. But first, I need to be sure to make that walk and study hard.