5 short lines

by angela magnolia pacheco
(philippines)

True short story of personal development...

High school is not really a fun memory to me. I achieved my desired grades in order not to flunk to a lower section. Mainly, I choose to maintain my current standard to keep the pressure off, to maintain my sets of friends, and still be able to join other clubs and still be popular.

I was not tremendously popular when I was in high school, my name was more popular than I was, so I played the game well. My name has always been the commercial... it is a brand of ice cream.

I joined the student council because I liked to get away from physics class which was my first period. Election campaign started in the morning and before campaigning we gathered first to Mrs. Ramos science room. Once everybody was present, we start campaigning.

I was not running for president nor for vice president... I was just campaigning for public relation officer in English. And the other party, had a girl campaigning for the same position that I should say, was better than me when it came to fluency... and here my story goes.

The first drama occurred when we were given at least 15 minutes of our time to introduce ourselves and be known. The parties had different platforms, and I was, well, just being practical, I had nothing to offer to them really. I was just there to make up numbers... to stand and complete their sets of officers.

People glanced at us and read our names on our tags. As they mentioned my name it easily registered to them, and again and again teasing me about my name. But I knew I had nothing to lose if I just smiled, and that's what I did.

When it was my turn to introduce myself, to their disgust I introduced myself in 'tagalog'. Our campaign manager showed his dismay and walked out of the room. I definitely acted like it was not a big deal to me. There was only one girl who had the guts to approach me and she told me that I should play fair. She said I was only known for my name, but I should also prove to people that I could speak english well like Myrna Liza who was the candidate for the other party.

I had listened to Myrna's campaign once, and as I have said she spoke fast and fluent, and she deserved the position. But she rarely made the effort to show up for the campaign. She showed up only once and other than that, she was absent during the whole campaign period.

During that time, I never really appreciated myself anymore. I thought that I was just wasting my time and should probably be attending my physics class instead.

There was one other person that approached me. He was a candidate for 'Sgt. at Arms'. His name was Rhenen. He said "I know you can be better than her. If she is better then where is she? She should be showing her face here if she really wanted the position and if she really wanted to help her fellow students. I believe in you."

And then Mrs. Ramos told everybody that they should be proud of me because despite of everything I was there to support the group and they should also be proud of me if ever I get the position, because we belong in the same party list and I stand for their name too.

Meeting de Avance does not give any thrill for me. I practiced my lines and and got ready for all the possible questions I might encounter. I never thought of Myrna Liza as I was preparing. I never thought of winning. I was just there because aside from my few contra fellows, there were many people out there who believed in me... and I wanted to do my part.

I had not yet introduced myself but already I could hear the majority of the students cheering for me, calling my name, wooo hooo!!!, idol!!, shouting "I will vote for you, grandslam!!" And I did my part... speaking my line very well in English. My short 5-line introduction was done purely and personally by me. The crowds cheered after that.

Then Myrna Liza was called. But, again she was not there to campaign. Once again it seemed, luck knocked at my door... perhaps it really was for me.

The following day, election day, I vote... for myself of course. I was still sure that aside from my sister, I would be the only person who would vote for me. I did not stay to the end of the election count. I just went home and slept and slept... all day! Finally, I thought, after the busy campaign period I can finally have a nap in the afternoon.

The following day I hurried up to go to my respective line for the flag ceremony. I was certain I had not won because I had a nightmare about it in my deep sleep.

Yet, when I arrived for the ceremony every body was cheering, and calling my name! Our campaign manager, even if he was not thrilled about it, said, "you won, Lilet is only 3 votes higher than you... you could even have run for vice president and won that!"

I did not believe it! I got the position because of my perseverance and hard work. Even if I did not have the best skill, they knew that I had other qualities that made me deserve it. Thanks to those people who believed in me, they helped me appreciate myself more. I realize that there will always be some people I cannot please.

I am now a professional graduate. I studied science because I know I am better in science. I am now working in the medical fields as a medical word specialist. And not just that, I do reports for an English compliant company where grammar is strictly observed.

I would still not say that I am a perfect English speaker, nor that I can do better than all of those who looked down on me. But the beauty of it is that, because of those who looked down on me and didn't think I could or should make it, I made myself a better person!