Coming of Age : 2022

The Sovereign Youth

-COMING

Literary Folio

Group 2

XI - Davy

GRSHS-X

OF

AGE-

The Sovereign Youth The Official Student Publication of Group 2, XI- DAVY

Gusa Regional Science High School - X Copyright © 2022

Cover Design by Mikhaela Angela C. Nacalaban

Coming of Age

PREFACE

Coming of age is a universal experience. We were born to grow, born to have a purpose in this world. Most of us have or had already dawdled at this stage, believing what everyone said was exciting and full of wonders. Parents look at their children and expect them to be better than they were as teenagers. It’s the least that they could do to change their mistakes, buried deep within their past. However, we should visualize adolescence differently than what the world romanticizes it to be.

This Literary Folio emphasizes the different circumstances of a teenager's adjustment to entering adulthood and the details of these varieties of baggage. It emanates words onto our emotions and understanding that being a teenager comes with turmoil and havoc concealed while putting on a façade that hides the imperceptible battles and scars that will forever stay.

Reality has become our friend. What was once foreign from our childhood has turned into familiarity. Hierarchy is evident in teens’ environment. We want to fit in by changing our physical appearance, our behavior, succumbing to peer pressure, following trends influenced by the media, and trying to be what our parents expect us to be.

We have different ways of coping. While the strongest are feeble as they use feistiness as a shield to conceal their vulnerability, the innocent are scared as they contain themselves from showing their potential to achieve success. With these different ways of coping, it has changed our mindset and our thoughts have consumed us that we forget our own identity, that originality has become a struggle too.

Adolescence is about figuring out our individuality. Within this planet of 7.7 billion people, each should question themselves, "Who am I? What do I want? What is my purpose?"

In between the journey towards adulthood, we slowly begin to absorb the realization of maturity. In hindsight, we look back on the moments we deeply regret and formulate what-ifs as if they would undo the damage. Although it isn’t a linear process, we heal by asking for forgiveness, being better, moving on, and letting go. It has molded us to become who we are in the present or perhaps soon to be. We surreptitiously decide that all significant memories must be kept in our own imaginary box. Each may be lost towards the end of this labyrinth but deep down, we are proud of ourselves for having the power to conquer the challenges back then and enter the next stage.

Eina Gayle A. Flores Editor-in-Chief The Sovereign Youth

The Sovereign Youth

Coming of Age

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

With the perpetual support of each and every one, this literary folio would not have been published if it weren’t for all of you. To those who have given us ideas, assistance, encouragement, and suggestions; the Sovereign Youth Publication Staff appreciates all of your contribution and would like to send their fullest gratitude and respect as to make this literary folio bring more significance and sentimental value to the readers.

First, to our dearly beloved parents, who gave us this life, who have been our mentors ever since we were brought to this world. We truly dedicate this to you as a part of our reconciliation of the mistakes we deeply regret that are hidden within the corners of our past. We also want you to hear out our struggles that we have never expressed during times of calamitous events in our adolescent years. May this literary folio bring you the truth and more capability to understand us, your children.

To our friends who have been nothing but encouraging us to dive deeper into our own creativity. We cherish the support system you have gifted to us and as for this literary folio’s success, we hope that you will also continue to love us despite our flaws, even as we share the similar struggles of being a teenager in the 21st century.

To our Reading and Writing Skills adviser, Ma’am Fe S. Pablico, for guiding us and giving us the opportunity to let students experience the thrill of writing. You have shined a light on us to reach more capabilities with this experience and for that, we thank you for your teaching and guidance on our academic life.

Lastly, to the One and Only Lord Savior, for gifting us the knowledge and wisdom which have made this literary folio more enhanced than what we can offer. You have been with us since day 1, through our thick and thin, through our uphill battles but with Your guidance and our strong faith we have still made it possible to exist today. You are the reason for our purpose, and we dedicate each second that passes by to You. Thank you for being so consistent with us despite our imperfections. May You always bless our hearts and pave our way towards success.

The Sovereign Youth

C O N T E N T

1

Narration

Secrets by the Seashore

6

Description

Love in my Pocket

9

Comparison

Self-Conception

11

Persuasion

Wiser Media User

13

Cause & Effect

Learner's Marathon

15

Classification

Mental Health Issues: Its Classification and Adverse

17

Exemplification

Disciplined but Disoriented

21

Definition

Nostalgia

23 Tightrope

Problem - Solution

narration 1

Secrets by the Seashore

by Sean Steve Genner G. Ilayon

PHOTO BY MIKHAELA ANGELA C. NACALABAN

I

t was early afternoon as I was heading down to our living room, my mother told me to get ready for a vacation and that we were invited as she was on call with her sister, who is my aunt. I could tell from her expressions that it was good news, and

I'd been dying to ask her why. She excitedly exclaimed that they would be celebrating my older cousin’s triumph as a successful engineer on a beach overnight.

I was glad to hear that my cousin's hard work and perseverance had paid off. He was like a brother to me because we were so close; he taught me everything and served as a terrific role model for me, but it all started to fade when he started pursuing college life. It was reasonable, given what I'd heard about how difficult college could be.

As I started doing the dishes, I overheard my mother on the phone with my aunt that she was asking what career I wanted to pursue. My mother had high hopes for me since I have been doing well in my academics and never had a problem with my grades. She implied that I’m going to be a successful doctor or entrepreneur from what I eavesdropped on their conversation. I’ve never really given much thought to what I want to do when I grow up. I've always imagined that everything would turn out fine and that I would land a high-paying career that would cover my expenditures and repay my parents for their hard work. After I did the dishes, I rushed back to my room to prepare for the vacation my mother mentioned. I couldn’t help but to think about what my mother had said after I packed my belongings. She was so proud and confident that I would get a career as a doctor or entrepreneur. I couldn't tolerate her disappointed expression, and I was terrified that if I didn't get that job, she wouldn't like me anymore. I drifted off to sleep as I was lying down to my bed, dreaming about what I wanted in the future. I could vividly see myself being married to the love of my life, having my dream house, my dream car and even having everything I wanted to give to my parents, but the only thing that was a blur was my job. I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do, what my passion was, or what career would allow me to pursue that dream. We went to the beach the day after tomorrow. The trip was exhausting since all I could think about was what my future would look like.

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We arrived at the venue late in the afternoon, where my aunt and cousin greeted us. They stayed up all night celebrating my cousin's success. It was around midnight where I sat on the fine grain of dark sand on the shore, accompanied by the sea breeze and twinkling stars of the night. I was wondering about what would happen if I messed up. What if I didn't want to treat patients or be at a meeting with businessmen? What if I fail to live up to my parents' expectations? I was so immersed in my thoughts that I didn't notice my cousin went beside me, facing the serene waves of the ocean. He asked if I was alright, and I asked him what was his secret to discovering his passion, as well as his path to becoming a successful engineer. He smiled at me, and his response was not what I anticipated.

He told me he was happy with his job as an engineer. I asked him how I would be happy if I didn't like what I was doing. He told me that I already found the answers to my queries. He said that I was so focused on what might happen in the future that I had forgotten how to live in the present. He advised me that I should always keep in mind that everyone deserves and has a right to dream about the future. No matter how down I am in my life at this very moment, I should not make doubts about what the future can offer. My cousin really influenced me to be optimistic and open-minded and he was right. I had become so preoccupied with what might happen in the future that I had forgotten how to live in the present.

Knowing this, I knew I needed to have a talk with my mother about my career intentions. Even if she despises or disapproves of my choice for not pursuing my dreams of becoming a doctor or an entrepreneur, at least she knew I didn't like the concept of becoming what she envisioned me to be. On the way home, I told my mother what I had been meaning to tell her. It turns out that what I overheard on their phone call with my aunt was erroneous. My aunt was the one who proposed that I should become a doctor or an entrepreneur, so that my mother's family would have different professions. My aunt's suggestion had piqued my mother’s interest, because she was skeptical about it. She assured me that as long as I am happy, I can be whatever I want to be. I was pleased that I had told my mother about how I was feeling and how it was distressing me. I suppose communication really is the key to understanding.

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PHOTO BY EINA GAYLE A. FLORES

PHOTO BY MD. ZAHID HASAN JOY (UNSPLASH)

4

5

Description

LOVE iN MY POCKET

by Jasper Clark C. Butcon

Y

oung love is referred to as puppy love by adults, but for me it's like water, the purest form of love. Romance when you're young is like a disco in France, some smell of perfume, and head in the wind. Teenage love is like floating in the sky riding the clouds of youth and carries a lot of emotions with it. Being in love while you're young is like experiencing euphoria a thousand times. In the heat of the summer, love brings a breeze to your window side. It can be an incredibly wonderful and intense sensation but it can also be extremely confusing. The great protector is what you'll be when you're in love, the knight in shining armor saving your own princess. You're the Prince Charming walking down the hall on his way to escort her young queen. Adoring you is as simple as breathing and that is love.

The lack of knowledge or exposure is the downhill of most relationships. Early birds in love often end up on break ups because of the inability to be vocal. When adults take a journey down memory lane, the nostalgia of love when they were young always comes rushing to their senses. Sweet kisses under the bright lights of the city, hands wrapped tight with each other. The fondness of love when young is as warm as the sun in an afternoon ride, the ability to be the rawest most simplified version of love. It's like waking up every morning with a smile on your face, watching her do the stuff she loves, making you want to learn all that stuff.

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Barefoot we run towards each other with open arms, the moment I touched your skin I've fallen a million times again. The younger we are, the greater our capacity to immerse ourselves in love. We are not afraid to fall again and again because we’re young, careless and reckless. We always take the risk, no matter how deep the ocean can be we’ll dive head first when it comes to love. This is because we don't have years of baggage being carried around clouding our emotions and we don't avoid potential connections out of fear of being hurt. Society always looks at us with their judgmental eyes and non stop chattering telling us our emotions are invalid because we are young lacking the wisdom to support our thoughts. The dating world is sick, especially because we are young. It scars you, changes you; it makes you start planning the rest of your life in order to avoid being hurt again but maybe naivety isn't really that bad. We are more open to receiving love and showing ourselves honestly. We dig less and trust ourselves a little bit more, knowing who it feels right to be with.

I do understand that our brain isn't fully developed when we are teenagers. We are emotionally driven, less mature, and we are more likely to make impulsive decisions but aging leads to experiences and experience gives us more knowledge and enhances our ability to rationalize who will be good for us and who will screw us over. We might get hurt from this emotionally driven confidence but we teenagers are also given the opportunity to learn.

Adults end up searching for someone who seems logically good, rather than someone who feels right. So, maybe, being young and dumb and in love is actually the smartest, most honest thing we will ever do. To always take the risk and trust the process is part of teenage love. I don't know what the future holds for I am still young but with this love in my pocket whatever happens I'll treasure her smile.

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Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016)

8

Contrast & Comparison

Euphoria S02 | HBO Max

Self-Conception T

by Nica Angela C. Samson

9

eens' self-concept continues to grow during adolescence. Their ability to consider multiple options and reason more abstractly may explain how one’s self differentiates further during adolescence. However, teenagers’ selfperception is frequently contradictory.

Young teenagers may perceive themselves as outgoing but yet reserved, happy but unhappy, and intelligent but also ignorant. These inconsistencies, combined with the teen's growing awareness that their personality and conduct seem to change depending on who they're with or where they're at, can make a young teen feel like a fraud.

They may appear angrier and sullen around

their parents, more outgoing and silly around . their friends, yet silent and careful at work.

Self-image is a tangible process of yourself as a physical body and as a person.

The sensations and ideas that come to mind when you think about yourself are significant. A positive body image entails seeing yourself as you are and feeling comfortable in your own skin. How you feel about your talents, flaws, and abilities is also part of your self-image. Similarly, how we feel about our bodies has an impact on how we think about ourselves as persons.

Because our bodies are continually changing as we move through life, our selfimage can also transform as we age.

Self-esteem, on the other hand, refers to the feelings or thoughts you have about yourself. It's how you feel about yourself, how you perceive yourself, or where you rank in your own estimation. It's how you feel when you look into a mirror or think about yourself, your accomplishments, and your skills. Self-esteem is also responsible for extroversion or introversion, as well as how a person interacts with the environment and other people, as well as the ability to realize one's actual potential and claim one's proper position in it. The prevalence of depression rises dramatically during this stage. Many factors contribute to the increased prevalence of depressive symptoms in adolescents. Low self-esteem has been highlighted as a key element in increasing depression vulnerability. Low self-esteem can lead to several mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Due to this reoccurring issue, it

Dead Poets Society (1989)

influences many of the developmental issues that teenagers face, such as identity construction and social relationship remodelling.

Several factors influence self-esteem, one of which is self-image. People will have low self-esteem if you have a negative selfimage. A person who has a positive selfimage feels much better about themselves.

Self-esteem may be influenced by the perception and experiences, as well as how life, people, and circumstances have treated it. Self-esteem and self-image inevitably develops throughout adolescence, and an individual's self-esteem and self-image may improve as a result of their accomplishments, resulting in increased self-worth. Growing up allows a person to get a deeper awareness of themselves and how to deal with problems more successfully and confidently.

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Persuasion WISER

MEDIA USER

by Zed Seidel H. Gesulga

W

ithout a question, teenagers use social media on a daily basis in today's society.

Whether it's for chatting with their peers or updating their status on how their day is going, social media has become an important part of a teenager's daily routine. Teenagers are always on their phones, comparing themselves to others on social media, bullying each other, and yearning after the attention that social media provides.

Excessive usage of social media, rather than having a good impact on teenagers, may have a harmful effect on them mentally and emotionally. And you don't want to be a victim of social media's negative consequences, so you better get movin' and become a wise social media user.

To begin, being a wise social media user means recognizing a problem and then taking a step back to assess the entire situation. It's hard to respond to other people, but if you want to address interpersonal problems wisely, start by asking yourself if it's because you've spent too much time on social media. By thinking carefully and rationally about this topic, you try to skip social media for a day and

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and compare it to when you're using it.

When you're dealing with a problem that's incredibly complicated and you don't know how to solve it, put down your phone, get out and do some exercises.

Teens are losing sleep as a result of the negative effects of social media on mental health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), social media influences cause 78% of teens throughout the world to lose roughly two hours of sleep each night. Teenagers are emotionally tied to and "invested" in social media, and lack of sleep makes them vulnerable to anxiety and depression. A person of your intelligence deserves much better. Therefore, due to the pressure that teenagers face, it is important to be wise on using social media and allow your parents to limit your usage of it. Because of the negative consequences of excessive use, we should come on board, be attentive, and let's all support one another by limiting our use of social media. This can reduce or even eliminate the risk of negative impacts such as depression and low self-esteem.

Who doesn't want to be emotionally stable? You are the key to be one of wise social media users - we will be with you all the way. Another persuasive reason for limiting teens' access to social media is the recent rise in cyber-bullying. It has grown in popularity as a result of how simple it is to bully another individual online. Because there is no face-to-face interaction while one is behind a screen, there is no immediate exchange of

emotion where it can be seen that someone's feelings are hurt, and the bully may hide behind the screen and avoid being confronted. As a result, it is important to be logical, and parents must inform their children about the dangers of using social media excessively. Safe and wise social media user means comfort, reassurance

and peace of mind for you, your family and your friends. And just by doing so, we learn that using social media wisely allows us to determine an accurate and healthy manner, as well as identify misunderstandings and resolve daily problems in our lives. So, what do you have to lose? Take a break from social media, set some boundaries, and use it wisely.

you

need

a recharge too 12

MARATHON

CAUSE & EFFECT By Giuseppe C. Pajaron

13

PHOTO BY EHIMETALOR AKHERE UNUABONA (UNSPLASH)

E

ducation broadens one's horizon. As we journey on our future, school opens doors to new opportunities. The school became our second home that had shed new light on dark spaces. However, COVID-19 Pandemic has shut all schools around the world. That led us to study in our home.

Education is the cornerstone of our society. Therefore, humanity expects learners to excel in the thought that we are the hope of the future. Consequently, this puts us under a lot of pressure. There will be several puzzles to complete as soon as we enter the school.

These are the pressures that we will encounter.

Bullying puts a lot of pressure on students that could drive them to depression or suicide.

Parents tend to demand more to do better.

Hence, it creates fear in learners to make mistakes.

There is also intense pressure inside the classroom as you get compared because everyone does well.

As I entered the school for the first time, I got scared that I may not make friends.

Bullies have always worried me because they remind me of wild beasts waiting for their prey. As a result, I imagined the school as a prison and tried to avoid it. As I grew up, I found out how important it is to study. Therefore, I got many accomplishments by doing my best. However, everybody expects me to always be the top student which led me to making mistakes in exams and tests that made me nervous. I became unhappy and began to overthink everything. Thankfully, I was able to escape from this pressure by accepting limitations that I can handle.

Achieving Academic excellence puts a lot of hard work and effort. We must accept ourselves to escape the pressure. After all, learning is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time and determination to reach the end.

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CLASSIFICATION

Mental Health Issues: Its Classification and Adverse by: Khryzel Mae D. Abrogar

A

djustment to adulthood drew out many dilemmas to teenagers, which causes mental health issues to increasingly populate. Fortunately, health organizations and governments are addressing these issues. Neurological and mental health complications are one of those that must be addressed, as it is interconnected to different human states. Albeit, anyone can have this, but it is a common issue to adolescents and youth. Moreover, what are the common mental health problems that the youth are facing, and how can it affect their lifestyle and psychological state?

The following are the categories of mental health disorders and its types that are experienced by adolescents: anxiety disorder, mood disorder, stress disorder, eating disorder, and sleep disorder. Anxiety disorder is the most common disorder that is mostly developed by adolescents. A person may feel anxious and show physical signs, such as sweating and increased heart rate.

This also interferes with the person’s ability to function, emotional state, and reaction.

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Some of its types are: Social anxiety and panic attacks. Social anxiety is also a disorder that causes a person to be afraid of social interaction, and avoidance of judgments. Currently, many pressures, uncertainty, and problems that have experienced to most of us. And these are the factors that might lead to panic attacks, in which a person might feel like they are losing control.

Another category linked to mental health issues is mood disorder. This primarily affects one’s emotional state that causes behavioral changes and coping with routine activities.

A common mood disorder is the major depressive disorder (depression). A person that has depression can feel intense dejection and despondency. It also triggers the negative thoughts leading to harming itself and this must be addressed properly.

The End of The F***** World (2017)

Moreover, stress is not eyeopening to most of us. People normally experience being stressed.

There are four types of stress that a person encounters amidst stress disorder: physical stress, psychological stress, and psychosocial stress. The first type of stress is physical stress. It refers to any stress that can impact the physical state of a person or a thing. Next, psychological stress is linked to the mental state of a person that processes emotions and causes emotional distress. The last type of stress is psychosocial stress. It is a lack of social interaction and problems affecting the emotional state.

Lastly, sleep disorder connects the person’s relationship to sleep.

Facing many challenges and pressure can disrupt the quality of sleep. People can experience sleep deprivation and oversleeping along with the problems.

This crisis is one of the leading factors in deteriorating a person’s mental health. And can greatly affect one’s productivity and the inability to function well. Health organizations and authorities must keep an eye mostly to adolescents and youth in line with these issues.

As they are more vulnerable to mental health problems.

16 To the Bone (2017)

Perks of Being A Wallflower (2015)

Eating disorder is associated with the person’s relation to food. There are many problems that adolescents have experienced that greatly caused unhealthy eating habits.

Some of its types are anorexia nervosa and binge eating disorder.

EXEMPLIFICATION

DIS CIPL INED

but

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DIS ORIE NTED

BY JAN MARK J. TORRES

B

eing the biggest continent in the world, Asia contains about 60% of the world’s population and is growing each year. But although forty-two different countries make up this huge continent, much of the apparent similarities are in their family values. Customs and traditions might be different now because western ideas and influences have wiped out many of those customs and created new ones in most of the countries in Asia. But even in comparison from country to country, the new ways and ideas are still similar and many still regard the Asian practices, specially the parenting style, as somewhat destructive.

As a child growing up in an Asian household, I quickly became aware of how different my parents’ style of teaching was compared to my other friends in elementary school. I remember feeling very surprised to hear how lenient most of my friend’s families were. Being a Filipino comes with discipline. An example of pure discipline in our household is how I still couldn’t ask my parents if I am allowed to stay over at a friend’s house or perhaps when I used to do house chores every weekend and excel in my academics on the weekdays. I also find it strange whenever I hear stories about how close and warm my friends’ families were; where there were dedicated nights for board games or nights where they would watch TV together. Those activities were never present in my house, but I never questioned it. I always assumed that my parents knew exactly what was best for me. There was a time when I was blamed for the things I didn’t do, then got scolded for “speaking back”. Often, they would leave me to deal with emotional problems on my own and it was traumatizing. Then if someone bullied me in school my family would typically say, “Just ignore them. You go to school to get good grades, not make friends.” Whenever I did something wrong, they tell me they don’t love me anymore and now another kid is their favorite.

Comparing was my mom’s favorite thing to do as she seldomly compared me to my cousins and told my whole family my flaws. My aunt would intentionally put me down by saying my grandma favors her daughter more than me. I’ve always been rebellious in the sense that I never was what they wanted me to be because their expectations didn’t fit who I am.

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PHOTO BY EINA GAYLE A. FLORES

So growing up, I was taught that education is one of, if not, the most important thing in a person’s life. It was instilled in me that I needed to get more educated than my parents. It was as if their whole life and how others view them through the social lens highly depended on their offspring’s achievements or status in life. For example, a child studying at Yale is clearly more impressive than a child living at home, working part-time at a restaurant, paying for his own bills, and going to a community college.

The present-day Filipino culture, on the other hand, still embraces superstitions that cling to ancient beliefs and practices. Some may be quite amusing, such as serving noodle dishes like pancit during birthday celebrations as it is believed to represent long life, while some sounded more serious, like thinking that faith-healers can heal certain ailments. Filipinos, especially older adults, tend to cope with illness by relying on advice from family and friends, and by faith in God. In fact, experiencing a complete recovery from an illness is often regarded as personally witnessing a miracle—greatly influencing how Filipinos view healthcare. And because of this, it is believed that it is vital to debunk most of the common superstitions that a lot still believe. Many irrational beliefs from the pre-colonial past still exist and continue to shape the opinions, decisions, values, and actions of Filipinos in modern times. And while it may seem harmless at first glance, pamahiins often interferes with how Filipinos cope with illnesses and respond to mental health issues, even going as far as referring to mentally ill people as crazy and bewitched.

So with all these still happening and still being practiced in the present, how does a child grow up in an Asian household without developing low selfesteem? Although I got better and got good at coping up with all these, I don’t think that I’ll be able to recover parts of me that I have lost during the process. I still can’t relate to my family and I already feel entirely disconnected to them. So if this is the case for me, it may be the case for a lot of the others as well. This is why we really need to change and abolish these damaging practices. Children deserve to be heard and children deserve to have a voice in their own lives. Let’s help break the stigma that Asian households are toxic and help one another in making this world a better place to live in.

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end the

toxic

cycle.

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PHOTO BY JULES A. (UNSPLASH)

Definition

Nostalgia.

by Micah Ela A. Tapia & Reanne Grace Paderna

C

hildhood and reminisce are two different words – the word childhood describing the stages of life between infancy and adolescence, extending from ages 1 to 13; and the word reminisce describing the act of recollecting past events – but when joined together to form the phrase “childhood reminiscence”, it fosters feelings of nostalgia brought about by old memories from the earlier years of living. Some people may become delighted when they see swings, while others may act like children when they see the playground. The explanation for the facts is that we are constantly reminded of our early recollections.

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Childhood reminiscences brought happiness but also many realizations. When we were young, we wanted to stay as a child and not grow up. Why? Rediscovering your inner kid may make your life a lot more enjoyable and less stressful. It can teach you to value the tiny but significant things in life. Being an adult entails a plethora of obligations and duties, which may sometimes leave us feeling anxious. Adults, instead of living in the present, are preoccupied with the future and the past.

Thus, children observe the world with open minds and find inspiration in everything.

Instead of thinking about their employment prospects and obligations, teenagers spend their days living in the present moment, finding happiness and joy. More reasons why practically everyone wishes they could go back in time.

Memories are one of the most important things we can hold onto throughout our life.

They shape our personalities because they store all of our prior information and experiences. There are remembrances from the distant past as well as the current past. We may find some solace in revisiting our

anamnesis during these trying times.

We can get through our days with the support of these memories and assist us in a variety of ways. Childhood clearly has an impact on our adulthood; our early experiences form our beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world.

As a result, we adopt rules to protect our self-esteem because they might make us susceptible. Although there are distinctions between children and teenagers, life would be less enjoyable without both periods.

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ave you ever wondered what it would be like to cross the end of a tightrope? To feel the victorious relief and hear the jubilant cheers from the audience below? Sometimes, existing in this world feels more of like a chore than your own free will to enjoy living. It certainly is similar to the anxiety of wanting to finally end the circus show, but something is stopping you: the vigorous tug and pull of balance and satisfaction from the audience clouds your mind. Instead of focusing on the tussle of balancing on the piece of rope that keeps you from falling towards the gravitational pull, you are more conscious of the eyes of the audience than you are of making it to the other side. How ironic that you’d rather make others feel the pleasure of joy than save yourself. Isn’t it so unfair how much pressure we put on ourselves just to make others feel satisfied?

Due to the expectations we constantly absorb from the media, we visualize a teenager's life as being exciting and carefree. The truth is that being a teen comes with responsibilities and finding your own identity. A lot of things are simultaneously influencing our lives; academics, love, family, health, friends. The unnecessary endeavor to fit in with what is perceived as trendy, or even dire, superior to others shouldn’t be normalized. What is perceived as eclectic/extraordinary/ different has now been internalized as estrangement and peculiar in today’s society. This social construct that has changed people’s lives, has caused more damaging effects especially to one’s mental state. From our perspective, it is easier to follow what society practices rather than accept our authentic selves, but this change also comes

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with ambivalence and anxiety. People spoke about responsibility developing in growing up, but you were oblivious of this saying. Now it has become a reality and fear has consumed you. Constant pressure impacts our decisions which leads to permanent outcomes. Problems are inevitable, but how to deal with them is the issue. You have the choice to tolerate toxicity or to learn from your mistakes. If you really want to hold on tight to that tightrope, you should choose the second option. You analyze what you did and think about why it went wrong. Why did you fail your grades? How did your relationship fail? Why do your parents act that way? Is it your fault that arguments turn into chaos? Is it because of you or because of them? When you find answers to your questions, then you try each day to be the best version of yourself, hoping that they will see the new you. You decide to cut off people who prevent you from becoming the better you, remove unhealthy habits you’ve practiced that benefit others more than you and realize how much easier life is without these blockages. Of course, it would take a while to change, but that doesn’t stop you from growing into a better person than you once were. Slowly, you get to see the difference between the present you and you years ago, just like how caterpillars turn into butterflies.

Teenagers should have the liberty to be whoever they want to be. Our life should be based on what gives us happiness and what we see as something we belong to. One’s volition shouldn’t be everyone’s practice. Don’t be afraid to fight for yourself, and don’t be afraid to be different. It is not an act of selflessness, but rather, seeing your worth and having self-love. You’ve blossomed into a wonderful person; the past has shaped you because you’ve chosen to accept that the world is cruel, but you believe in yourself.

Learning to forgive, forget, and move on has become a habit. Although not everybody grows the same way as growth is a choice and life isn’t a steady path to walk through. It may take a while to be mature, and it may even last when you’re in your twenties.

Nevertheless, life has no deadlines, and once you’ve reached the end of the tightrope while applying new habits that make you become a better person in a healthy environment, you receive the deserving applause and the elated howls of merely the people you surround yourself with. Remember that you are the author of how your life turns out in the future and at the end of the day, it is only you that can save yourself.

TIGHTROPE WALKER BY FEDERIC BELAUBRE

24

Coming of Age

Eina Gayle A. Flores Editor-in-Chief / Managing Editor

Mikhaela Angela C. Nacalaban Layout Artist / Photography Director

Micah Ela A. Tapia Article Editor

Khyryzel Mae D. Abrogar

Zed Seidel H. Gesulga

Giuseppe C. Pajaron

Jasper Clark C. Butcon

Sean Steve G. Ilayon

Nica Angela C. Samson

Reane Grace E. Paderna

Jan Mark J. Torres

The Sovereign Youth

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