First Day

"The youth is the hope of the nation" – one powerful line etched into the minds of present-day Filipinos, courtesy of the legendary Jose Rizal. He was known far and wide as a Filipino hero and a wordsmith extraordinaire, and Rizal's writings still resonate today. His work isn't just ink on paper; it's a rallying call for every Filipino to embrace nationalism. Rizal's spirit lives on, urging the youth to be the beacon of hope for our nation.

Jose Rizal's famous quote always relies on the students expecting to do their best to achieve higher for the nation's sake.

But the question is: how ideal is his statement?

Several generations have passed since the death of Jose Rizal, and numerous waves of people have succeeded one another. As the years have progressed, poverty has not disappeared from the Philippines. It continues to worsen. Poverty stands out as a critical issue plaguing the nation, and one contributing factor is students discontinuing their pursuit of education.

Many young people are choosing to leave school, whether it be college, high school, or even elementary school. There could be various reasons behind this decision, such as early employment, early parenthood, or difficulty coping with education. However, some individuals are not taking education seriously, which leads to dropping out. 

Childhood experiences are something with which everyone can relate. However, as time passes, it becomes increasingly clear that poverty rates are worsening with each new generation. Abandoning education eventually leads to a lack of quality employment opportunities, which, in turn, becomes a significant burden on society.

So the question remains: Are the youth indeed the hope of a nation?

However, it's important to remember that students are not all the same. People have different abilities, and not everyone learns in the same way. Some may find certain subjects challenging, but it's unfair to label them as "stupid" or "lazy." Each person has their strengths, or some may excel in intelligence, while others shine in various skills.

Becoming a genius is extremely rare, with only 1 in 1000 people falling into that category. Apart from being a genius, society also highly values skills. Being skilled in a particular area is considered a mark of professionalism. Encouraging skill development helps create a society that recognizes and rewards different talents, making it a place where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Regardless of deciding on who's valuable or the so-called hope of the nation, everyone is a candidate. It just depends on whether they can prove their value.

But can someone who's sleeping in class prove their self-worth?

In a particular school, within a classroom, the sun streamed in intensely, casting its warmth across the room. With the clock striking 9 in the morning, it was no surprise that the atmosphere inside had become sweltering. Despite the rising temperature, a male student remained sound asleep in the class.

"Wake up."

The person beside him tried to wake him up, but he didn't respond. They tapped his shoulder, but he still didn't react. Eventually, they had to shake him vigorously to snap him out of his deep sleep.

"...huh?" Finally, he woke up and lifted his head from resting on the table.

"Hey, the teacher is looking at you." His seatmate lowly said.

After overhearing his seatmate's comment, he noticed everyone staring. Looking ahead, he saw his female teacher also gazing at him.

"Well, you're impressive, sleeping on the first day of school." The teacher said.

"Huh?" He seemed confused.

"Name." the teacher mentioned.

"Huh?" He seemed confused again.

"I'm asking for your name." the teacher reiterated.

"...huh?" He appeared confused and didn't understand what the teacher said.

"Are you deaf? I'm asking for your name."

"Hey, just say your name." His seatmate whispered.

The person in mind appeared lost in thought and fixated on the teacher–despite his seatmate speaking to him.

"Well?!" The teacher slightly raised her tone.

Before things escalated, his seatmate answered, "Ma'am, his name is Adrián Cabanas."

The teacher glanced at the person who spoke and quipped, "Well, well, well, it had to be your seatmate who answered. You never fail to impress me." Then she shifted her focus back to Adrian and said with a hint of disappointment, "Mr. Cabanas, we're only on the first day of class, and you've already earned yourself a demerit."

"..." Adrian remained silent.

The classroom was silent as Adrian remained unresponsive. The teacher took a deep breath and looked around at the eager faces staring back at her. "Listen up, class," she began with a determined tone. "Your future career depends on the effort you put in now. Without hard work, college might not be an option for any of you."

That's a fact. Several colleges impose high standards on their prospective students. As a result, many high school graduates opt to start working instead of pursuing higher education.

The teacher spoke to the class, emphasizing that their achievements determine their success. "Until you prove yourselves, you are worth nothing. It's either climb the ladder of success or fall flat on your face. That is the harsh reality," she declared. Turning to Adrian, she remarked that his behavior would impact his evaluation and potentially jeopardize his college aspirations. However, since it was only the first day, she overlooked it. "But if you do it again," she warned, "I'm not sure whether you'll be college-bound."

"...." Adrian still hasn't said anything or even flinch.

The teacher no longer minds Adrian's silence and proceeds with the class. Since it's only the first day, they focused on self-introductions and an overview of rules and regulations. The teacher also offered insights into the subject she would be teaching and outlined what students could expect. Introducing herself as Dolores Gloria Miranda, she specializes in Disciplines and Ideas in Social Science.

After introducing herself, she proceeded to facilitate the introduction of each student in the class. The self-introduction of the students was carried out row by row.

The introductions followed a straightforward format: sharing their name, age, birthdate, hobbies, and even their parents' names. While including parents' names might seem unusual to some, it's a unique aspect of introductions here in the Philippines, adding a touch of cultural richness to the exchange.

The process continued until it reached the middle row, where Adrian was seated. Students in that row were called one after another, except for Adrian.

As Adrian prepared to rise, Ma'am Miranda intervened, remarking, "Mr. Cabanas, there's no need for introductions. Your true nature has already made quite an impression."

"..." Adrian doesn't say anything.

With his buttocks briefly lifted from the chair, he settled back down. A hush enveloped the room as all eyes focused on him. Without delay, the self-introduction resumed seamlessly. The introductions of the others proceeded without a hitch.

A subject had only had an hour before another teacher with a new subject took over the class. So, after Ma'am Miranda's time–she left the room, and another teacher came in. 

Following Ma'am Miranda's session, a male teacher took over. Like Ma'am Miranda, he started the class by introducing himself and revealing the subject he would cover. Furthermore, mirroring the previous session with Ma'am Miranda, the students were once again asked to present themselves, sharing details such as their name, age, birthdate, hobbies, and parents' names. 

However, this time, there was a unique twist: two students had to ask each other about their profiles and then share the gathered information with the class. The pairing happened with their seatmates, making the process swift without any problem. 

Given the change in teachers this time around, Adrian can fully participate. He chats with his partner like it's no big deal, tossing questions and getting answers with a seamless flow. It's so chill, almost like they've been doing it forever. The whole thing feels easygoing and natural. After spending some time conversing, each pair takes the stage to present the life profile they've gathered from their partner.

"Adrian Cabanas, Age: 17 years old. He likes to play games. And his father was Rodrigo, while his mother was Martita." Presented by Adrian's partner.

The introduction ended fine. Everyone was able to convey theirs.

Similarly to Ma'am Miranda, there was just an hour in his class before another teacher took over. So, after he wrapped things up and left, another teacher came in.

Just like the other two teachers earlier, this new one also does the same as them. It introduced itself and explained its subject.

Now you think about it, it was the norm that the first day should be an introduction. It was too typical that every batch always does that, from kindergarten until this grade level. It was so repetitive that it felt hypnotic. The only thing that differed was how they did the self-introduction of the students.

And so, every subject had its unique way of conducting self-introductions, each with its gimmick. When the clock struck noon, the last teacher announced, "Alright, everyone, it's break time."

Upon hearing the teacher's words, a buzz of activity filled the room as everyone began to stand up from their seats. Some stretched, shaking off the stiffness, while others immediately engaged in lively conversations with their friends, much like Adrian's seatmate. The classroom transformed into a dynamic scene of movement and socializing, signaling the well-deserved break had begun.

"Hey, what's up with you?" His seatmate posed a question, then continued, "Why aren't you answering the teacher and just staring at her? That's why you got scolded."

Adrian can't find a good reason and just say, "Well… there are a lot of things on my mind lately…." and scratch his head with a finger.

"What's the problem? Have a house-related problem?"

"No…."

"Then what?"

"Well… I can't tell about it…."

His seatmate sighed and said, "Fine. But to let you know, I'm here to help whether you have a problem."

"Right, thanks."

As this topic wraps up, voices emanate from the front.

Continuing where it left off about what the students do when the break time starts. There are who went asked the teacher, "Sir, kindly ask, where's the canteen?"

"It's on the first floor," the teacher replied.

After getting the answer, they thanked the teacher before leaving the room. 

As this exchange happened, Adrian's seatmate suddenly asked, "Hey, wanna check out the canteen?"

"Sure…." Adrian accepted. And he then followed, "But first, I have to go to the bathroom."

"Oh, then I'll go with you."

"No, you don't have to."

"Alright, I'll wait here then."

"Thanks, won't take long," Adrian said as he walked away.

He needed to go to the bathroom, but he wasn't sure where it was. Unable to ask the teacher, who had already left, Adrian exited the room and strolled through the hallway. While walking, he noticed some other students passing by, apparently heading towards the stairs.

"Looks like it's break time for them as well," he mused, watching them exit their room.

Curiosity led him to glance further down the hallway. Oddly enough, some classrooms were still in session. 

Unfair, right? Why do some get a break while others don't? 

Well, it turns out that's not the case at all.

Break time spans an hour, just like any other subject. However, with the school brimming with students, they've devised a system. Two break times to accommodate everyone, neatly splitting the student body and assigning them schedules. In Adrian's case, they only get 30 minutes of respite. His crew's on the noon shift, and the second half gets their break at 12:30.

Realizing he only has 30 minutes, he picks up the pace in his quest for the bathroom. Swiftly, he discovers it tucked away in the corner. Once inside, he turns on the faucet, allowing the water to cascade over his face, refreshing him in the brief reprieve.

Gazing into the mirror, he mutters, "I'm here..." His reflection, almost like a silent confidant, continues to stare back. His hands touch his face, wipe it down, rub his eyes, and then, almost trance-like, it resumes its stare.

Luckily, the bathroom is empty, sparing him from being labeled as odd. Yet, he pays no mind, especially when he puts on a serious expression while lost in his thoughts.