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Accidentally In Love
In the Ateneo High School, there are a lot of things one can learn. From theories to formulas, from the classic Shakesperean tragedies to learning to write an essay, from learning who killed who during the Franco-Prussian war, from learning to lead and learning to really care, from broken friendships to unending bonds formed, from finding love in the seemingly right places only to find out it is not meant to be, there will always be two things which stand out: The lesson of who God really is and why we are here. My Days With The Lord experience and my appointment as the Socio-Spiritual Cluster Head helped me realize that.
I entered my 3rd year of High School not really knowing what to expect. I heard from a lot of people that this was supposedly the hardest year ever. “We’ll see about that,” I said to myself “This will be my year in academics.” Little did I know that things were not really what they seemed.
As usual, I drifted through my 3rd year doing my homework in school and just studying at the 5minute bell. I was satisfied with what I was doing. I didn’t really see the essence of doing anything without cramming, it was just much too boring to do at home. I was going along this torrid pace until I was told by my classmates to join Days With The Lord. I heard about this “retreat” from my siblings and they told me that my life would not be complete without it. I signed-up for Batch 200 but I got in Batch 199 by accident. I just assumed I wouldn’t be accepted in Batch 199 since there were 45 people who signed up and they were going to shorten the list. I was just surprised when I saw a palanca envelope with my name on it. Big things do come in small packages.
I packed my bags excitedly on February 12, 2004 in preparation for it. I did not know what to expect, naturally. But after I stayed for 3 days and 2 nights in the Ateneo and fully experienced who God is and what He should be for us, I’m not ashamed to say I was changed by DWTL. In Days, God is given a whole new image. Jesus is the brother of all, “Kuya Jess” to Dazers. He is the one we must run to whenever we are burdened with problems, He should be as close to us as our friends because He will always be there to listen and to respond according to what is best for us. Days also made me realize how much a lot of people love me. From the heart-warming letters I saw the sincerity and real emotions of my friends and family who took time out to write me palancas. But I also learned that the challenge is to go out of Days and live the Days experience. It should be no problem if you’re a real Dazer, because “There is nothing in this world that you and Kuya Jess can’t handle together.”
After that experience came the shocking election of myself as Org Head. I didn’t have the experience or the knowledge on how to run an org, but still I went on anyway. Then, I was forced by the outgoing Socio-Spiritual Cluster Head to run for his vacant position. At first I didn’t want to, but my Days experience taught me to treat every event in my life as a gift, so I ran and got elected as the Socio-Spiritual Cluster Head. I attended a series of talks and leadership seminars informing us of our jobs and I realized what I got myself into. I was in charge of all 7 religious organizations and I got in one of the most dynamic sub-councils of the Sanggu-Hs. I had never experienced anything like that before. After a summer of working with my co-Cluster Heads in preparation for SY 2004-2005, I’m glad I was forced by the outgoing Socio-Spiritual Cluster Head to run. Call it a blessing in disguise, call it a wolf in sheep’s clothing, call it whatever you want. All I know is, through talking about the CSO’s (Council Of Student Organizations) aims and thrusts, through enjoying and working at the same time in our 3-day planning session in Antipolo, through typing up org write-ups, through beating deadlines, through contacting all the orgs under me, through making backdrops, I have come to realize one thing: This is what service is all about. We are here to serve people. They might not see and appreciate everything you’ve done for them, you might not even see the spotlight on you every so often, but at the end of the day, there is this funny feeling in yourself that makes it all worth it.I guess doing the right thing does that to you most of the time.
After all these, I’m now accidentally in love, in love with God and in love with the work that is before me for SY 2004-2005. I now have a reason to go to school, I now see why I have to go to Mass, everything seems much clearer now. I have reason to believe in a wise man called Father Arrupe who said, “Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide what gets you out of the bed in the mornings, it will decide what gets you through the day, it will decide everything.” Fall in love, stay in love. It works.
FYI: This is my essay for the Ateneo College Entrance Test. :) |
