[FEATURE STORY] Senior High: A Blessing in Disguise

A Blessing in Disguise
By Rohaina Dansal

Photo by Ma'am Grace Torion

The bright stars were about to flee but would be back again to give hope in the dim starry night. The majestic sun has awakened, and the fluffy clouds started to unveil their lightness from the atmosphere. The birds sang mellifluously, creating melodic tunes. The roosters crowed, trying to awaken the folks in reality. The wind placidly raged, making the leaves of trees dance along with their natural gentle motions.

It was an exquisite, ideal morning for every creature except for some, particularly, the senior high school students.  I spent most of my life with students. That’s why my heart felt a sense of cozy connection with them, though they break my heart sometimes.

It’s 7:00 AM, and I come early again before the students. I know they’re rushing on their way to reach school. I know they always get holdup from this perennial traffic in the middle of the city, that’s why I can assure you that some of them can’t avoid being late. After a few moments, the students started to arrive.

I know, some of them didn’t take their breakfast yet as it is painted on their faces. Some of them gained eye bags, perhaps they sacrificed their sleep last night because of their performance tasks. And some seem jaded and not in the mood, perhaps their concerns in school floated together with their dilemma at home.

It’s 7:30 AM already, yet I can still hear loud footsteps walking hurriedly upstairs. Oh, that’s what you get if you are late and your respective classroom is on the 4th floor of the building. Tired from walking upstairs, they slowly got inside and settled themselves. After a few minutes, an instructor suddenly came in. “Prepare your calculators, clean your desks, and one sit apart.”

They then moved immediately despite being surprised. They seemed too serious upon staring at their papers as if they were struggling to analyze and answer the given business transactions about their certain lesson. Almost one and a half hours had passed since they’d finished the test. Most of them felt like they got rejected by the person they loved the most. The period ended, leaving most of them traumatized.   

They spend the rest of the day listening to discussions, working on performance tasks, and doing their roles as learners. Research papers there, and role-plays there. Reports there, and presentations there. I’ve been with them for several months already, and it seems like I already know them, very well. It made me contemplate how I feel about them.

“Before the implementation of Senior High school, the discouragement of most students, the dismay of parents, and the negative issues that floated before because of this additional two years of high school education is a blessing in disguise. It is because Senior high school made the students more equipped and well-prepared for college. Students expected that they would proceed to college after junior high yet senior high floated which means the usual four years of high school becomes six. Being a senior high student is an arduous one. It may even be burdensome to others. They always look glooming when they go to school, yet it’s contrary to how they look at the end of the day. They always have a hectic schedule, especially when they are a graduating class. Performance tasks there, activities everywhere. They’ve sacrificed their sleep, time, money, and their health.

Yet, what’s more, made it a good thing? It’s when I’ve seen that they’ve stopped complaining the moment they remember how senior high school influenced their lives. Senior high school made them experience things that they’re thankful for. Most of them were given the time to shine and can nurture and showcase their talents in every task they do in school.  It also made them feel the fun as they collected experiences. Thus, it made them more equipped and well-prepared to face the next chapter of their lives.”

Senior high school is like the stars that vanish every morning. They’re not meant to stay for a long time. But just like stars, thy memories are always there, what’s important is to know that meaningful moments are worth keeping. They’re always there if we want to reminisce about them. Someday, they will rise from bed just as how the sun rises in the east and say “I missed being a senior high school student.”

I just came from a painful heartbreak. As I contemplated and stared at them, I felt saddened by the fact that they would also leave me soon. It reminds me again that people do come and go and were not meant to stay for us forever. This redundant experience of mine made me strong enough than I was yesterday. I’m already used to being hurt and left behind by folks. It’s part of my existence in a classroom.