1 Ride Home
The night sky somehow feels soothing.
After a rough day at school doing laboratory experiments and fighting against boredom and drowsiness during class, the scenery of the dark cloudy night sky is as if telling me that it's already time to go to bed.
As I was looking outside the window of the LRT Train, the radio which was playing the theme song of LRT suddenly rang calling the attention of all the passengers of the LRT Train.
Ring, ring, ring...
"Arriving at Betty Go Belmonte Station, paparating na sa Betty Go Belmonte Station." Says a female voice in the radio.
So, this train is now arriving at Betty Go Belmonte Station, which means my destination is next. Araneta-Center Cubao Station.
I looked above a screen that displays ads and stations list. I looked at the lower left part of the screen and saw that it was already 7:30 in the evening.
I inserted my right hand in my right pocket and brought out a round case, slightly bigger than my clenched fists. I opened it and get my Augmented Image Lens, and finger bands inside. Augmented Image Lens is monocle like device worn on either the left or right eye of the user.
Augmented Image Lens, Ailens for shorts.
Well, me? I prefer to wear my Ailens on my right eye since I am wearing my Augmented Finger Bands on my right hand, thus, as I navigate my augmented reality interface, it is aligned with my point of sight.
I snapped my fingers. It was the gesture I set for the main menu.
Holographic icons aligned vertically shows up on the right part of my field of vision. There are 9 icons; From top to bottom:
The first icon is a silhouette of a man, which will open a window that shows my profile, this serves as my resume that I can show to other people via Ailens.
The second icon is a book icon with a silhouette of a man, which will lead me to the list of my contacts, I can either send them messages or call them.
The third icon is a telephone icon, which will allow me to make a voice call.
The fourth icon is the envelope icon, which is a shortcut for messaging.
The fifth icon is a video camera icon, which is a shortcut for video call.
The sixth icon is a globe icon, which will open a holographic window and keyboard, I can navigate the window by touching it, and I can use the keyboard to enter text inputs. This is called the internet navigation icon.
The seventh icon is a circle with 4 squares aligned symmetrically in the middle, this is the all apps icon where I can open apps I installed on my own choice. This is where apps that are not pre-installed can be located, such as games, document readers, video players, and many more.
The eight icon is a shopping bag icon, which will open a window that will allow me to browse different apps and download it.
The last icon is a gear icon, which will open a window that shows the settings of my Ailens.
The eight icon has a small red circle on the upper right of its circle. There was a small text in the middle of the red circle, it says 10+ in white font color. "Hmm," I muttered, "There are 10 updates in my Ailens apps?" I asked myself while the LRT Train starts to move again, moving near the next station, which is also my destination, Araneta Center Cubao.
"..." I took a sigh and watched the scenery change as quick as how the LRT train moves.
"Hey bro, bro." a random guy wearing long sleeves which appears like he was on his late 20s calls for the attention of his friend who was also wearing long sleeves. The only difference is their facial features and the color of their long sleeves.
"What is it?" Says the guy wearing pastel-red long sleeves.
"Is it necessary to wear these even though what we do is just give brochures and pamphlets?" says the guy wearing pastel-blue long sleeves.
A cute girl near those guys giggled hearing the conversation between them. The guy in pastel-blue slightly smirked knowing the girl find him funny.
"Bro, bro..."
"Look, if you will just complain, shut the fuck up."
"No, no, no, listen..." says the guy in pastel-blue long sleeves eagerly. "What's the next station after Betty Go Belmonte Station?" the guy in pastel-red long sleeves raised an eyebrow and answered "Bro, it's Araneta Center Cubao Station!"
"Bro, mali!" replied the guy in pastel-blue longsleeves. "It's Betty Go Back!"
I silently imagined myself doing a damn face palm, how fucking corny! I think he was so eager to make a joke to make the cute girl laugh again, but, the cute girl didn't even move an inch.
"Betty Go Back~" and he even fucking sang the song. A face palm in my imagination!
I groaned and cringed!
This bastard is fucking eager, damn it!
"Korni mo bro!" his friend replied.
I just shook my head as the radio rang again.
Ring, ring, ring...
"Arriving at Araneta-Center Cubao Station, paparating na sa Araneta-Center Cubao Station."
That guy's eagerness to catch the attention of the cute girl reminds me of someone in my class. That person was so eager to beat me on examinations and even take an all-nighter just to beat my score on examinations. But, the results were the same, whether I studied or not. It's either I am higher or I am a point lower.
"..." I took a deep sigh as the door of the train opens.
Either I am eager to study or not, I always manage to pass the exams in just a snap of my fingers.
I took a step out of the train and let out another sigh, "..."
Did I come to the right course? Is this really what I wanted?
As I walked down the stairs of the train station, I thought of my grades during my last year in High School.
Pre-Calculus, 88%
Mathematics, 93.5%
Advanced Physics, 89.9%
Advanced Chemistry, 87%
Physics, 90.5%
TLE, 98%
English, 96.7%
Hekasi, 81%
MAPEH, 86%
Technically, based on my academic performance, I could take on any course I wanted.
I could take education, since I am a jack of all trades when it comes to different subjects. I can take on any major if I take Bachelor of Science in Education. I can take major in MAPEH, since I wanted to involve in Physical activities. Or how about, major in English, since it was the subject I taught during teacher's day. Ahh, I remember that day when our class adviser assigned as different subjects to teach the lower year students in our High School.
There's also major in Social Science, but geez! I hate Social Science! Even though, the Philippine history is till embedded in my head, and the Philippine constitution, the Preamble which I memorized for 3 fucking days.
We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane society and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure ourselves and our posterity the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution.
Seriously?! I still fucking remember that?! Well, thanks with my memorization skills, I could have got a grade lower than 80% if I haven't memorized passages such as the Philippine constitution preamble.
Hmm... but, if I took BS in Education, it was as if I am neglecting my technical skills when it comes to computers. I am not bragging but, I can do vast things, from programming to hardware servicing. So, I could take Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, or Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.
In Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, I can use my web development and programming skills. While in Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, I can get the opportunity to study programming and computer software on a deeper sense, thus, expanding my knowledge when it comes to computer software.
I also take in consideration the Engineering courses.
The elderly says a lot, "Oh, magaling ka naman sa mathematics, bakit di nalang Engineering ang kunin mo?" (Translates: Oh, you're so good in math, why don't you take Engineering courses?). Well, why the heck am I discussing about different courses to take in College? I already am in College, and already in my 3rd year as a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.
Where did I hear about my course (Electrical Engineering)?
Well, I didn't just hear about Electrical Engineering only. I also hear about the other Engineering courses. But, since my father was a former employee of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines or NGCP for short.
NGCP is the only Electrical Power Transmission company in the Philippines. That's why I understood Electrical Engineering more than the other courses.
I remember, my father, and my TLE teacher which was also my mentor had a talk during my last year in High School.
I still remember it quite well...
It was around October, I don't know the exact date, but I know it was around October.
I am in a competition that time. The competition was already over, and I already predicted what the results of our competition will be. That's why, I took the free time as an opportunity to talk with my mentor, and my father.
We had this kind of conversation...
We were at the main hall, sat at the last row. I was sitting between my mentor; who was on my right side, and my father; who was on my left side.
"Sir, your son John is now a graduating student, have you talked about the course he will take for his college?" my teacher asked while I, in my mind is screaming 'Any computer related course.' But my father answered, "I wanted my son to take Engineering." Sir John, my mentor eyes' puffed. "Oh, there are lots of opportunities in Engineering, especially those with board examinations."
"Oo nga po sir eh, I wanted my son to take Electrical Engineering since I can take him in NGCP." Says my father, then, I didn't expect my mentor to ask me. "So, John, what are you planning to take? Your father said he wanted you to take Electrical Engineering." I couldn't answer in that very moment. But, during that time, I really wanted to take Computer related course, so I answered... "I wanted computer related courses since it's what I do right now," it was what I've been doing that time, the competition we were attending that time was a computer related competition. "But," I added, "I take Engineering in consideration since there are vast opportunities."
"Yes, you can say that again. In computer related course, you need to get trainings, and different certifications such as NCII. But, in Engineering, you only just need to pass the board exam and you are already something!" says my mentor. "But, here's the difference John," my mentor added. "If you take computer related courses, you must not stop studying and keep up with the latest trend of technology, since technology is developing quickly. In Engineering, there are theories, principles, standards and laws that are followed." I nodded as a reply to my mentor. "But, since your father is working at NGCP, why don't you take Electrical Engineering? You already have your way in that big company."
During that time, I researched about Engineering, and discovered that there are lots of Engineering courses.
Chemical Engineering. It is the application of physics, chemistry, biology and engineering principles in order to carry out chemical processes? Their specialization is chemicals.
Civil Engineering. It is the design and construction of public or private infrastructures such as: airports, roads, reservoirs, buildings, bridges, tunnels, dams, etc. Their specialization is in structures.
Electronics Engineering. It is an Electrical Engineering discipline which utilizes nonlinear and active electrical components such as: semiconductor devices, transistors, diodes, and integrated circuits, to design electronic devices and systems. Their specialization is in Electronics and Electronic Circuitry.
Computer Engineering. It is a branch that integrates several fields of computer science and electronics engineering. Their specialization is in making computer systems.
Mechanical Engineering. It is the design and manufacture of physical or mechanical system such as power and energy systems, aircrafts, weapons, transportation, engines, robotics vacuum technology, etc. Their specialization is in Machines.
Industrial Engineering. It is an engineering profession that is concerned with the optimization of complex process, systems, or organizations by developing and improving integrated systems of people, money, knowledge, information, equipment, energy and materials. Their specialization is Project Management.
Electrical Engineering. It is an engineering profession that is concerned about designing and studying systems for power generation, power transmission, power distribution, and efficient power consumption. Their specialization is in Electrical Power and Circuitry.
Engineering is simply an integration of different science, and mathematical aspects.
When did I choose this course (Electrical Engineering)?
It was my day of enrollment.
In Polytechnic University of the Philippines, we are falling in line (You'll literally fall in line if you can't stand the heat and crowd, LOL just an exaggeration). Around thousands of students are in line, waiting for their turn in the admission office for processing enrollment documents.
I was in line, around 11 in the morning when I choose Electrical Engineering. Not to mention I was there since 7 in the morning.
Why did I choose this course?
I choose this course since I know some basic Electricity concepts, Coulomb's law, Ohm's law. And I also wanted to expand my knowledge. On my last year in high school, I was exposed with computer related things such as computer related quiz bee, programming trainings, and hardware servicing trainings.
I don't want to limit my knowledge with computers, so I chose Electrical Engineering.
What made me choose this course?
I could take any other Engineering course really, especially Electronics and Computer Engineering, but, I realized that without Electricity, there will be no lights, no powers for machine. Electricity is so essential in our life.
And also, I choose Electrical Engineering beyond Computer and Electronics Engineering because, Computer Engineering is a branch of Engineering that integrates some of the principles of Electronics Engineering and computer science and Electronics Engineering is an Electrical Engineering discipline which utilizes nonlinear and active electrical components.
In my opinion, Electrical Engineering is the best Engineering.
How did I made a decision to take this course?
How did I decide to choose Electrical Engineering?
One, school quality.
Look at the school you are going to. Since I am in PUP, a state university, the facilities are expected to be average, and PUP is known because of their intelligent and wise graduates. So, I would choose courses that doesn't necessarily need computers and gadgets.
Two, employment.
Will you be easily employed after you graduated in that course? Well, since my father is a former employee of NGCP, I'm sure I will be easily employed.
Three, knowledge.
Always choose to learn new things rather than clinging to the stuffs you already know.
I looked at a big screen that shows different ads. There was a big text flashing in the screen with catchy backgrounds and flashy colors. It says...
ARE YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH?
"..." fuck! Am I?
