When I entered Grade 11, the situation began to improve. Vaccines were rolled out, and the government started lifting restrictions. Schools reopened, though things were still different. We had limited face-to-face classes, and wearing masks became part of our routine. Despite all the challenges, that school year became one of my most memorable ones. I studied harder than ever because I wanted to make my parents proud.
In 2023, during my final year in senior high school, my parents gave me my first motorcycle as a graduation gift. It symbolized freedom and responsibility at the same time. I graduated from Grade 12 with the honor of being listed as With Honors, a moment that made all my efforts worthwhile.
When I started my college life as a freshman at ISU Cauayan Campus, I felt both excited and nervous. The environment was new, and everything seemed more serious. I realized that college was not just about passing subjects; it was about building my future. As an Information Technology student, I faced a lot of challenges. I had to learn programming languages such as C++, C#, and Java. At first, it was confusing and frustrating. I made countless errors and spent long nights debugging code. But every small success gave me a sense of pride and reminded me that hard work always pays off.
In my sophomore year, we had a midyear class, which I honestly did not like. It was supposed to be our vacation, but instead, we had to attend face-to-face classes. To pass one of our major subjects, we were required to create and defend a website using Laravel. It was stressful, but also fulfilling. When our group finally presented our project, I felt proud of how far I had come, from someone who barely understood coding to someone who could actually create a functioning website.
Now, as a junior student, I have high expectations for myself. I know this year will be filled with challenges, but I am ready for them. It still feels surreal to think that I am already halfway through my college journey. There are days when I feel exhausted and unsure, but I remind myself that every difficult moment is part of the process. Whether this year turns out to be stressful or rewarding, I have promised myself to enjoy it fully, to learn, and to grow as much as I can.
Looking back, I realize that life has never been perfect. It is a mix of joy, pain, laughter, mistakes, and lessons. Every experience, good or bad, has shaped the person I am today. I learned that growth does not come from comfort, but from the challenges we face and overcome. My childhood taught me happiness, my teenage years taught me responsibility, and college continues to teach me perseverance.
I know that my journey is far from over. There will be more struggles ahead, more moments of doubt, and more lessons to learn. But no matter how difficult the road becomes, I will keep moving forward with the same determination that brought me this far. My family, my friends, and every experience I have gone through have built the foundation of who I am today. And as I continue to walk toward the future, I will carry every memory, every mistake, and every lesson with me, not as a burden, but as a reminder of how far I have already come.