Required Entry #7: Change Ahead

There is no permanent thing in this world, even our lives are temporary so it is very important to be open in everything that is ahead of us. Changes will ALWAYS happen. Sometimes, it even occurs in my life in the moments when I least expect it. That is why I learned to consider these changes as challenges in my life. If you approach a challenge with fear, you will most likely fail in overcoming it but if you consider it as an exciting challenge and you tackle everything that comes in your way with a sense of discovery, you are certain to win in the end even if you do some mistakes in the beginning. This is how I approach new things in my life. I never settle for the old stuff because I know that there is always a room for improvement in my life. Every changes is a new chapter in my life, an opportunity to gain knowledge and experiences, a chance to meet new people, discover new places and skills. If you want to make more of your life, you need to get into the habit of creating your own path. Change is the only constant. Change is a door for another opportunity. Life is too short not to deal with this new "adventures" without enjoying it.

Required Entry #6: Daydreaming

I don't usually daydream about stuffs but well, even those who are the most attached to reality find themselves in their own head sometimes. I have this daydream, the only one I could remember, wherein I'm performing in front of a crowd as a dancer. I'm already professional in my daydream, professional both as a performer and as a medical doctor. I have my own house and car in that daydream, of course a very successful young lady but I don't see my own family or the man of my life in it. As ironic as it may be, I think my daydream tells me how focused and driven I'm actually are in my goals in life. Maybe the reason why I don't see a the man for me in my daydreams is that I'm too afraid to fall in love because I know the feeling of getting hurt and it is just a distraction for me. It's probably all about a big promotion or a successful endeavor I've been working towards my life, I like to keep my eye on the prize and my priorities straight, even if I am imagining these realistic events in a fantasy world for comfort and satisfaction until they come true. 

UAAP CDC 2015!

I was disappointed when the UP pep squad wasn't the one declared as the champion of the recently held UAAP Cheerdance Competition because of course, I'm a student of the University of the Philippines. Well not to be biased with the other squads, I watched live in the Mall of Asia Arena and I thought that if our pep squad didn't win, UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe could've. Both teams performed best among the rest. That's why many people were unhappy (including me) when NU won again the competition. I did not expect them to retain the title after several errors during their performance, including one where they failed to complete a pyramid. Other people even said that the competition is cooked or there's already a champion even before all teams performed. Yes, everyone know that they are one of the best who performed last October 3 but I really didn't think that all of their errors still brought to the top. After all, UP Pep Squad and UST Salinggawi performed the cleanest routine and either of them deserved the crown. But on the brighter side, I'm happy because the majority thinks that the performance of UP Pep Squad nailed it and what's important is their advocacy regarding "Equality". I was overwhelmed with the number of people in the arena supporting our Pep Squad and I also think that their theme "Utak at Puso" made their performance even stronger and it made the UP nation unite as one.  

Required Entry #5: Gender Roles

An individual's personality is influenced by both biological and environmental factors; culture is one of the most important environmental factors that shapes a personality. This is why male and female are separated by "gender roles". Being a girl, it is expected that my personality is associated with nurturing, passivity and subordination. But then I know that my gender won't limit me from the things I can do and would do. I believe in the saying that "gender roles are a social construct. When we attempt to assign strengths and weaknesses to either gender, we literally cut our potential as the human race in half." That is why I try to be dominant and strong as much as possible in order to prove to others that gender roles doesn't control the capabilities of anyone. On the other hand, I still see to it that my movements and the way I speak is appropriate as a female so that other people (especially boys) would respect me. In my own opinion, gender roles are just secondary when it comes to shaping one's personality. Our kind of family, the people who brought us up and our surroundings while growing still have the biggest role in what and who we are today.

Required Entry #4: My Life Would Be Different Without You

The expression "No Man is an Island" is an old cliché and I think no one would not know it. Well it is true that all of us couldn't ever survive alone and I'm pretty sure that every person in the world have that special someone whom he/she could not live without or someone who could've changed their life forever... Mine is my parents. I can't even imagine my life without my mom or dad. I am very thankful for having such a lovely couple as my parents and my life would be completely different without them. They raised me to be a responsible lady and they are my inspiration on working hard and fulfilling my dreams. Everything would be different without them. Everything in my life and the ways I live. Without them, no one would be there to limit me from the things I want to do. No one would be there to scold me when I did something wrong. No one would be there to control me, I don't have to ask anyone's permission when I want to hang out and stay late with my friends. Surely, it all sounds like "freedom"... Who doesn't want any of that? But why would I choose freedom over them? Besides, I would prefer someone who helps me recognize the right things to do than to be left with my own choices and may lead me to the wrong direction. They are the Mr. Mallards in my life but unlike Mrs. Mallards, I want them to be with me forever.

Required Entry #3: Do What I Want Or Do What is Right?

I studied in a catholic school since I was in preschool until I graduated high school. For some people who doesn't know the culture in catholic schools, it is where all students aren't allowed to dye their hair, wear shorts and sleeveless, and most importantly, we are not allowed to say anything against the admins of our school even if there is really something wrong.  So basically almost all my life, I was trained to practice "discipline" (doing what needs to be done even if you don't want to do it). This was my practice since I was in preschool so it was really just normal for me following the rules of our school. It was normal until I entered senior year and have been elected as the president of our student council. Everything became different.

Teachers and admins in our school guarded all my acts and even a single mistake had been pointed out to me because I'm the president and everyone expects me to be the role model. For me, that is the "Esperanza" or the responsibility I have to take care of in my life. Good thing is I have my amazing friends who have always been with me through thick and thin. Being with them is where each one of us can act in a way we want to without anyone judging us. They keep me happy and I could always count on them every time I have a problem or even if I'm already stressed from all the things I should accomplish. Having them around gives us the comforting feeling of freedom and escape from all the social norms we have to face everyday. That makes them the "Julias" in my life. 

Required Entry #2: Equality vs. Competition

There are many aspects under equality such as social equality, gender equality, economic equality and civil equality. These types of equality, for me, have a positive effect on our society. However, the equality that is being portrayed in Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron" is total equality which, I believe, is very dangerous. Due to the insistence of the Handicapper General on total equality, the citizens are forced to dumb themselves down and hide their special capacities just to achieve mental and physical equality among everyone which results to a society of stupid people. Total equality, in the story, is achieved but freedom and individual achievement suffered. 

Competition, on the other hand, also has its own branches like biological, social and economical competitions among individuals. It pushes the people to strive harder in order to succeed against other competitors in their own fields. People will have the perspective of improving themselves in the process of winning the competition, thus, creating more efficient citizens and workers. Despite all of these, competition can still harm our society if people try to gain advantage by hostile actions and contemptible methods. These can undermine the potential of competition on having positive effects in the society. 

Though competition also has its own disadvantages, I still think that it is better for our society than total equality.