TRANSITION

FOREWORD

The transition from a new school is hard, let alone the gradual transition from online classes to limited face-to-face classes, which is even more challenging.

In this journal, let us look back on the great heights that we have climbed and how we celebrate the victory above.

Against all odds our voyage will continue.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

CHAPTER II THE LEAP

SECOND YEAR ACCOUNTS

THELEAP

THE MOST CHALLENGING TEST I TOOK

The mid months of 2019 are probably the most challenging months of my life back then. Since senior days are almost over, I constantly ask myself what’s next for college or what to do now. This question always tickles my mind whenever I have alone time, asking and imagining the future and the possible problems that the subconscious answers will not be pushed through.

Contrary to what is seen, believed, or portrayed, life in the senior high day has its highs and lows, but it is very simple to pass if you put in an effort. It is an easy yet challenging process to gain colors, but life after that is different.

Personally, I am a pessimistic person. I saw the worst in every problem, with that, I came prepared to face it since I made a bunch of ways to solve it thanks to the pessimistic mind that I have.

During the immersion day, I realized that I want more learning, I want to improve the things I have, and I want to learn and re-learn more than they thought. So that I can be more competent enough to be who I may be in the future, the desires of my mind and heart shifted as if these two agreed on one goal, a better lot.

I knew that I would lose both when I will not take a huge leap or take the risk. From the moment the class opens, I’m thinking about how to take my life in the following college year how to leap.

This anxious voice always and never fails to whisper and remind me of my plan, so I took it as my inspiration to learn more and prepare for the battle ahead. I am well familiar that the maritime university will help you more than what you ask for, the education benchmark, as they say.

soon. We had small talk. I ask him how he s doing in his school, so is he? We both share stories that normal students could relate to since we share the same strand. We talk about almost all of our experience taking the subject. His story helped me to consider transferring because why not?

He shares stories that I enjoy. I ask questions about the school, and he is warm enough to answer my thoughts. Then he said, “transfer ka nalang ba” [you should consider transferring school]. It took a moment before I replied an awkward yes. For me, it back flashes again the possible worst things that I may encounter. What if I will not pass the voices of whoever it rose the pump of my heart? I shifted my story because I could not handle those.

The typical day of seniors came, usually school fair, the unnecessary activities, the hustle, and of course, the hell week that broke our knees. But all of that passes through. The half part of my 2019 was focused solely on academic achievements because who doesn’t know what to graduate with honors, right? I know it is just a piece of paper but isn’t it fun to reward yourself one?

January 2020 few days before graduation, the anxiousness and the overthinking for the future strikes again, considering the few inches of time remaining for a lifetime to be changed. It is challenging and thoughts decision of what step to take.

One of the most helpful subjects that aids me a lot is probably working Immersion. It is a subject that develops and guides you to choose what is best for you and align the track you took for the job you will be taking. Although we had no class on this, the processing of paper the interview helped me more and boosted an inch of my selfpraise.

There I fully understand that I will leap, a huge one, and I will never fail before I welcome the spirit of failing, but after a bunch of realization, I forgot the feeling of failing because I will not.

The month of waiting for John B Lacson’s entrance exam, every day, I ask my friend and dorm mates to update me about the universities entrance exam. I always check their page for the announcement, but there is none.

On January 22, 2020, it was Wednesday every Wednesday. He has few class. I think there is only three, two in the morning then one in the afternoon, so I habitually stay up late during Tuesday evening since it is not necessary to wake up early for the next day’s morning class, class begins at ten (10) in the morning, so I take my time to get up because there’s no need for rush plus exams are done so it was a hay day.

As I rode the jeep heading to school while inhaling the filthy and polluted streets and it was a rush hour, there was nothing to do besides scrolling social media on a jeepney. After a minute or two of browsing, I saw a shared post of my instructor in maritime about the enrollment and exam schedule for non-lacsonian students. Once again, my heart raises as if it was about to explode. I saw the poster. Immediately I screenshot it to save it for future reference. I don’t know why I didn’t take a second look after I screened shot it, but the nervousness and the strange feeling kept me uncomfortable that ride.

their guidance center, his friend was also amazed how vivid our small talk was it was a short walk, and he leaves me with a wave and good luck.

I went inside the room and processed the papers. While I was there, I had some costudent who also wished to take the exam from familiar schools. Sir Donnie was very kind and warmly assisted me with all my papers. There are a lot of processes. I have been through a simple color-blind exam payment of 1000 pesos for the exam and some stuff. After I’m done with the paperwork, sir Donnie asked me about my comfortable schedule.

I replied the last day and the first hour, so I was scheduled for February 27, 2020. It is on Friday, so I have plenty of time to prepare. Before leaving, he reminded me to review basic questions about Math, Science, English, and Maritime. I thank him for leaving the university, hoping that it will be my second home.

I attended my afternoon subject, which eventually turned nothing this week. The country was challenged by an unknown disease that rattles and threatens the nation.

Normally when things like the exam, we often sugar coat things up to be less challenging and few judgments, if any. When we asked if you reviewed did you commonly open notes, we replied no hard no.

But to be honest, although the guidance office warned me of the possible subject that will come up, I did not do a thing nor review, zero reviews if you still can get it, I know it was stupid. I do not encourage you to do so. What I did is what I will probably be proud of.

So funny that I waited so long I dreamed it, it gave you nightmare, it gives countless heart pain, and it even scared me from failing it, but when the moment came I didn’t even do a thing to fix those burden, it’s just like going in a war zone with sticks and stone hoping to emerge victoriously. The night before the exam, I socially distanced myself from social media. I tapped my inner self and questioned him whether or not we would continue the battle. I received non. The day of my entrance exam was also my dorm mate’s navigational trip. He let his friend stay that night in our dorm so that they came as a group early in the morning.

That’s their plan, but I think they came to our dorm at 1 am from a comp shop. I was awakened from a heavy sleep because of the noise, but I let it pass through. I woke up at six, receiving a message coming from Jed. He said they were heading to Bacolod. I took a bath to prepare after I did so, I asked Lance, my dorm mate, and friend, if he could lend me his calculator, it is not just an ordinary calculator, but it’s advanced. I don’t know how to describe it, but it’s way up compared to the scoff calculator that I own. Lance replied whether what will I do about it since he has a quiz, and I replied with a being tone entrance namon el, he did not hesitate to lend me his calculator even though he needed it he said damo to hulman ah. I thanked him and as I was about to tie my shoes, I sent a message Jed that I will be borrowing his sling bag so that the calculator will fit in he replied kuhaa lang da, he even told me that they had just arrive at Bacolod where his Immersion was. I arrive at John B with an empty stomach since that week is everyday payday for different stuff, and usually I didn’t stay there on Friday I mostly spent Fridays at home.

I arrive there at 7:45 hungry and exhausted. The exam was in the library I even lost. I thought the exam was on the first-floor library, but it was not. I went to the library on the third floor, greeted by a few fellow exam takers. I didn’t know what to do because I didn’t review a single one. I have a lance calculator, a stored knowledge ball pen, and an empty stomach.

Around nine in the morning, they open the library. We found our spot, and I was seated at the fourth desk in the first raw with number 12 booklet. Just like a normal exam filling out is always a must, and after we finish filling out, we receive a test booklet. They also stressed that the calculators, phones, and other gadgets should be kept in the locker. Oh my GOD. I answered I submitted, answered, and offered for as long as I could remember. I took around 500 questions that day. Imagine how my hungry stomach and brain suffered from that stage.

Break time came. I ate a bingo vanilla biscuit the family packed one. I thought I was feeding myself up, but I could chew it. My legs are shaking, and I realized I messed up. I did a review.

20 minute break time was over, and sir Donnie, the same person who gave the entrance exam application, stood in front and explained the weight and the seriousness of the exam that we were about to take, it is the official entrance exam of the university comprising of 60 questions compiled from subjects like, math, Science, English and Maritime.

I answered a couple of English questions like basic subject-verb agreement for a moment of loss in my memory no matter how hard I wanted to recall it I could not, so I did the most ingenious things student that ever done. Rhyming the word, if it rhymes, then that maybe it is the answer if it doesn’t, you are probably looking at the wrong choices simple yet absolute fail.

Afterward, I proceeded to answer Science as soon I shifted page my hope for passing denigrated I knew nothing there except for my four sure and solid answers, photosynthesis and I forgot the three. So I move on next page was math honestly I think I only got one points there for sure I could recall the question nor choices because that was total chaos.

Probably the one that I think will cover those suffering of scores was maritime but as soon as I read the question number one, it was over. The question asked me how to convert the speed to knots, and I could help wonder how. I just answer question one randomly and as I read the remaining nine question it brings me to the path again.

I am the first one to finish the exam I think it was a bad idea even the instructor notice it and nervously spoke to me review ha anay but he didn’t know that I had already reviewed it. Out of shyness to the group I pretend to review.once more, little did they know that behind the stroke of my pen and the constant shifting of page was a honor story is born, While shifting pages and reading questions, all I do is to solve my score the one that I am confident with my answer, know matter how review and shuffle I do I always end up to 22 far from the cut of score of passing which is 30.

Its sounds funny to hear that 60 items question with 50 percent passing rate is so hard to pass so unbelievable to pass but it really is.

Times up the proctor said, when he utter that word it was like a bullet that stroked me into chest implying that I’m dead.

That’s life we have control but yet we let fate decides on to it as we are leaving the instructor announce that by last week of march expect the result to came out, I walk on the halls of John B accepting that this university is not for me I accept that I can’t settle for more if I can’t even give more it’s a win-win situation and today was not that day. I leave it’s gate and probably it was my last I reach my wallet with 50 pesos on it I’m hungry so I bought a Japanese pancake 5 pesos each I bought 4 to feed my stomach as he’s preparing my eyes was caught with dust I rubbed it as an excuse for my silent tear, ok ka lang noy? Naiwan ka napuling? He said which sus concern more so from a stranger, I still continue to rubbed my eyes and nod at him when he ask me those concerns, he gave and extra pancake and smiled at me, those smiles calm me as if he knows what I’ve been through, probably he did?

So I rode the Baluarte, Molo jeep to find an ATM machine because the money that I have as 20 only its Friday and I must go back home.

I return to dorm empty-handed I return jed bag so is lance calculator telling I packed my stuff and when to bus terminal that was the less excited going home ride I felt, usually I’m so excited to go home but that day was a mess. hint that I’m about to show something, I replied with a giggle, ha?. His face was so on confused and when I show the whole screen he smiles and give me a huge baw! He even ask me to send the link to see it firsthand. Besides surviving the pandemic that is probably the most rewarding gift I receive those days. I didn’t believe that a person like me would pass that test without any takes but I did it so are you.

We win and we fought for our small battles in life the paths are though we do something worth fighting or otherwise, sometimes we came prepare other time we felt nothing, we lost hope and regain trust towards our self. However the bitter sweet of life is hard to swallow there is always a time for failure and day for triumph, failure sucks cliché as it sounds but use the failure to move forward again what is the best on both is the experience we gain when we are trying.

Self-doubt is the biggest problem I’ve encountered and I’m working on that too. The distinctive noise constantly whispers on our ears that you can’t. It is a rough journey to silence one but you will come on that day.

As of these day I’m leading for a more better, more patience and less problematic phases of life, I learn to face the problem, social media is not and will never be enough to serve as an excuse to procrastinate beating the problem is, and facing it with outmost strength bearing the memories and failure from both up and lows of life.

So next time you face the same problem as I had, believed on to it that you CAN

ACCOUNTS

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Weeks after our On-board-Training at M/V, Captain John B. Lacson’s announcement came that we would have a face-to-face laboratory class. It has long been awaited for some.

The laboratory class is for midterm labs to the subjects such as Power Plant Diesel (PPD), Physical Education subjects, particularly Rowing, Machine Shop 3, or Gas and Electric welding.

Auxiliary Machinery 2, where we learn about refrigeration, and the last part is the auto one, where we learn and demo a pneumatic.

The lab starts mid to march, where we return to John B. in a scheduled batch or per section.

All of the laboratory activities for the midterm took two days to finish. Usually, day one is dedicated to orientation. They tell you the rubrics, how important the lab and the learning will gain from it, and also they teach us the process or ways to perform well and have a better output.

Probably things like this would enter my nerves, I felt a slight pressure since the announcement was sudden, and most of us were caught off guard, Especially me. I have no boarding house to stay or place to rest since we thought that the limited face-to-face would be the next school year, and the reaming months and term of the second year will be purely online.

Days passed, and the lab was heard before that I did stream my expectation. The stream vod was uploaded to my channel link is here.

Things that I mentioned as my expectation is, of course, to learn something, especially seeing the materials, equipment, and machinery. I also hope to adjust that easily, know more of my classmate and have fun.

The first week of our lab slaps it is so challenging, and I was late. I overslept and arrived at school; they already fell in line for further instructions.

Our first lab is The Power Plant Deisel or the PPD. It is a subject specialized in discussing the parts, function, and overall purpose of the ship’s main engine.

We all know that the main engine is the vessel’s heart, just like the actual heart. It uses liquid well. In this case, the main engine or the engines uses fuel to function, and that is our lab for the PPD fuel line and the fuel injector.

After I arrive at the campus, there is an orientation and 30 minutes discussion of the things we should know and do when we enter the laboratory workshop of John B.

For those who know, the workshop, or the shop of john b, is a vast room filled with different machine parts, actual machine parts. They even have a small main engine they day it is from a shuttle vessel.

Our laboratory is two days, and on day one, our instructor discusses the fuel line and how it travels from the main service tank as it flows to the fuel pump to gain momentum to enter the ejector until it reaches the fuel injector.

After our instructor discussed things we should remember, we proceeded to fill up forms to borrow safety gear and helmets as such.

It is crucial in this field to wear our Protective Equipment of PPE since it will protect us from any untoward incident.

As we enter the workshop, the main engine is seen then the discussion starts.

The instructor pinpoints the fuel injector parts: nozzle, spring, body, barrel, compression lock, and the lock.

After that, we also tried to disassemble and assemble it and name it one by one.

After that, we name the line where the fuel passes through from the fuel service tank until it reaches the fuel injector. If I can recall, I think it is only a half-day, and on the following day, labs only.

What we learned will be demonstrated today, starting in random sequence depending on how you pass the lab form. The first activity was tracing the fuel line, followed by naming the fuel injector parts. I’m surprised that we no longer asked me to disassemble and assemble it.

Even though it was challenging and stressful, things went well, and on the next voyage, it was PE time.

It’s our third week in Laboratory class since we have no laboratory class for week two, and It’s PE time.

Our Instructor asks us to be on time at exactly eight. We should be there so since I already have a boarding house I come back to the city and arrive probably eight in the evening since I left cuartero past six it’s two-hour travel, and usually, it will take an hour and a half since theirs is passengers at night. I arrive at the bus terminal near eight and travel through Jaro until I reach my boarding house.

To live in the city, especially if you are only in a boarding house, is expensive. For example, I arrive in the city, night carendirias are close, so I take out at Jollibee, and the 82 pesos chicken joy with coke is now 99? I was so shocked and broke my saving and budget. So next time you want to save money, try budgeting it even more and avoid temptations like fast foods.

Better off eating at unli rice restaurant. That thing is enough, and you can get what you paid for.

It’s night, and I ate my chicken had a shower since I travel, then slept and set the alarm. It will be embarrassing for me if I oversleep even though I am already in the city.

I woke up, had some batch prepared, and calculated my time, I left the boarding house a few minutes past seven, and one hour travel time from Lapaz to molo is pretty enough for me.

I arrived at campus 15 minutes before I actually went to the gym. I thought I was the early bird. I went to the gym since the office of our PE instructor is at the gym, so it will make absolute sense to stay there.

I opened the GC, and most of my classmates were already in the pool waiting for our Instructor. Our subject is PE4 fundamentals of paddling and sailing, and our lab for the midterm is to memorize basic strokes in paddling, actually 10 of them, and perform them in a video to upload on google drive. Just what? Has been adopted since the first year.

For a good 1 hour, we practiced our strokes, and after that, we recorded them one by one. Nothing fancy about it became a memorable day since a message popped on my phone telling me that I was qualified for….. (next time, I will say to you).

Supposed to be It is a two-day lab, but since we are in close contact, the section was divided into two to maximize the venue fully, so the thing is on the first day, we will practice then It should be uploaded on the following day, same with batch two. It was a fun, exciting, and challenging lab as well.

I remember I messed up my strokes a lot. I kept mixing the forward and backward as well as some similar stokes.

After the lab, I rush into my boarding house, pack some stuff and go home, and during the evening, I start editing them so that I will not be a hustle since I love finishing my work to avoid overload or overwork.

Pre pandemic Lived in the city in a boarding house. Actually, I lived in two boarding houses.

During grade 11, I lived in Jaro, a few meters from the Jaro Cathedral, and the building is Near the Jaro Elementary School. I’m with my cousins and spent the rest of my grade 11 life there. It is far from the city-city and far from my school, but the place is safe. The building is new, and it’s near the school, so there are a lot of food stalls around the corner.

Then during grade 12, I transferred to a boarding house. I lived with my friend Lance, Jelo, AND Jong. It wasn’t close to my school, but it was decent with many night food places available. Plus, seven-eleven is a few meters away. Huge malls and Barbeque places are everywhere.

This time I had a new one for the midterm lab since I compute I can save more time, money, and energy to have a place to stay rather than go back home every now and often. My new place was at Commission Civil road, where Jaro and Leganes jeep shortcut. It was a one-way ride to whatever essential place.

I attempted and did stream the whole place. It was the best place, wifi was fast, and I was the only one in the room. It’s pretty accessible and safe.

The last blow for the second year ends with the laboratory activity again for the final. Still, this time only one day, unlike in the previous term, when it took two days per subject for the training and the laboratory work. In PPD or Power Plant Diesel, we simulate how to operate the generator by connecting the two generators on board to share the load. After that, we had a short written output and submitted our paperwork online.

The following laboratory was Auto 1 or Marine Automation. On this day, we also simulate, connect and discuss the diodes and measure current and resistor flow. Meanwhile, in the Aux Mach 2 laboratory, our instructor asked us to identify the parts of the cleaner, and later, we had to simulate and answer the assessment online. The laboratory for PE was done outside the school. We had to perform ten paddling strokes.

As we were about to enroll, the AAO or Academic Assessment Office announced that they had an assessment for us for the subjects Mach 3, Aux mach 2, PPD, Electro 1, and Electro 2, the most examination given by AAO by far. Thank God I already finished them, even though It was a challenge since the assessment was scheduled for June 13, 2022, the same day as our town fiesta.

Everything was done, and no more backlogs for the first and second years. I’m considering the enrollment and the medical exam before that to comply for the next academic year. But to say the least second year was a rough and challenging situation. The gradual shift from online to the limited face-to-face laboratory was not a joke.

It started as a scare and joke. It was really our final exam was finally held in a face-to-face setup.

Last May 25–27, the six subjects held their final exam at school. It is chaotic, as I expect.

An afternoon before the exam, I went back into the city to stay for three days at my uncle’s house since the rent on my old boarding house was over, and we did not renew it, thinking that we would no longer use it.

I arrive there at Five in the afternoon, prepare my thing in place, and set up the PC I bring. I put it in this huge suitcase everything fits, the monitor, the system unit, the peripherals, the wire. It is as if the suitcase was built for him.

I bring the PC since all my files from review materials and modules are stored there. It is fair and decent enough to bring that with me to have some reference.

On the first night, I review the Power Plant Deisel subject or the PPD. Since it will be the first exam of the day, it cost me three hours of my time to review it since it is more technical and it is a new subject, not like the auxiliary machinery subject or AUX MACH 2, where it is a pre requisite of the AUX 1 subject. I mean, it is much easier to learn the lesson if you already have the basic knowledge or if you have already discussed it. It is a different story when it’s a new subject and abruptly shifts the exam to face-to-face.

PDD and AUX MACH 2 are our first exams of the day. I reviewed PPD for three hours while the night’s remaining hours focused on AUX MACH. I woke up at four in the morning to refresh and review what I learned in the evening. Not to brag, but I came to prepare for the first two exams. I HOPE SO.

I woke up at four, started preparing at six, and finished preparing my 6:40, enough time to go to John B. via commute. I’m from Leganes good 40 minutes of the ride is well enough to catch the 8 am call time.

As I walk out the door, a jeep heading to John B. passes by me, so I ride. It cost me 20 pesos from Leganes to John B.

I arrived at school with a bunch of clamors. Our room was assigned to the archive room or the third-floor library. If you recall, it is also where I took the entrance exam way back on February 22, 2019.

We were lucky that our room is a decent airconditioned place, to be honest if you want to take the exam.

The exam is a minimum 40 items quiz and a maximum 60 items quiz. This is what I observe for all the questionnaires. Our answer is written on a card, figuratively called as a lotto card since we are just shading the choices. It is as if we are answering the NAT of grade 6 and NCAE of grade 10.

First exam PPD, the things I review the most, as I recieve I got imediatly tiled half of the question is unfamiliar haven’t seen them on modules or hear of them, to be honest, my brain got shut down automatically. I thought I was the only one. It ended up almost all of them. As I observed the gestures and facial reactions, everyone got tilted. But it was fun shading, to say the least.

Next exam AUX MACH the subject that I did not focus on. But after reading and scanning the question, this exam is where I am confident and pleased the majority of the question I know.

The exam was only half a day, and it ended. I thank God I survived. I went home after that. I don’t know. Maybe It’s Covid?. Perhaps It was not after the exam flu caught me. Or maybe it is because of the temperature shock. I don’t know.

I got tiled again since, instead of reviewing for the whole afternoon, I can’t get out of bed since my head is heavy. I slept and woke up in the evening and jumped into the review.

The second day of the exam includes NGEC 7 and Auto 1. Just a usual one review for the entire evening and woke up early in the morning. It was draining, being honest, so it’s always part of the game.

Went to school, and I had no idea about the sets of the exam. If you focus on these things, it will not come out, but if you do not focus on them, it will go out.

Still have a sick but decided to have my lunch at Man Inasal in tagbak terminal. It was a total mukbang. I ate PM1, and small halo-halo sat there for one hour, enjoying my food.

After that, I bought meds at the pharmacy. Lucky, the severe headaches and flu gradually flew.

The last day of the exam was a bit busy due to time constraints. The last exam was Ngec 10 and Mach 3 again. Focus and de-focus issues once more strike.

The exam was stressful, so I want to share what happened afterward.

After the exam, we had some pep talks and small congratulations from our adviser she commended our achievement and valued our struggle. She delivered a small message of encouragement. She gives it the most wonderful news and will talk about that in the future. I’m scratching this ending statement to make room in the future to tell you what is the full version of the story.

On the last day of the exam, what I thought was too draining came into a new light and miracle.

We bid farewell, and I headed back to leganes to fetch my things. My uncle has their youth water baptism, so he drops me off at the bus stop after they leave.

Their journey will always be rough final exam was over, and it is completely gone.

For the past month, education has become challenging. Pandemic connectivity and staying focused were among the difficulties learners faced during this time. Education plays a crucial role in our success; there is no easy way or shortcuts if we want to achieve our dreams.

Today is June 20, 2022, sweet, three weeks after our final exam. One week prior, they announced that the university would have its first face-to-face awarding ceremony since the pandemic. I saw the post on the Facebook page of John b’s student organization, and I thought that is for the graduating batch of 2022. It’s as if it’s their recognition since the posters say academic awarding and ring hopping ceremony.

Traditionally ring-hopping ceremony is held for the graduating batch to have their batch ring where they dip it in holy water or something to bless their batch and their respective voyage. In the back of my mind, it is that event. I did not expect the two words in the program, “academic awarding,” to be for us. And here is the story.

If I recall, the last awarding ceremony I had was during my grade 11, Senior High School. That long the gap is so long it took three years. We did not have face-to-face graduation during SHS, even though the Covid-19 case at that time was controllable. I guess they don’t want to take the risk. Instead of traditional graduation, they served as long-overdue virtual graduation. Thanks for that, at least. I value this event so hard since it comes only for a bit. We cannot turn back time if we can treasure this moment.

One day before the event, I woke up and entered our living room, seeing my mother debating with my sister about what to wear for the ceremony. Clearly, she was more excited compared to I. She spent the next hour fitting her dress and ensuring that all was well. While me I’m just chilling, thinking about whether or not I will go since expenses in the city, especially gasoline, is pretty costly. The day ended as it should, and everything was settled.

I have no idea how the programs in John B work. All I know is it is a typical program. I guess it has a registration, the program proper, and the awarding ceremony. In our case, the registration starts at a wiping seven in the morning. Of course, we were late. I oversleep. To be honest, I woke up around six in the morning, the time we supposedly left. We have an hour delay to our trip. Even worse, we leave the house at seven in the morning. And by the time we go, registration is already rolling.

During our trip, I felt confident knowing things would go smoothly, which they did. A cozy ride welcomes our travel. It is a comfy ride, to say the least, where vibing and chilling while listing to morning music blasting on the radio. OH, I completely forgot. The night before the event, I ensured the car was clean, so I did my carwash in the vehicle, which was exhausting. It was going back.

It was a rush trip; we forgot to eat breakfast. That is fine. We arrive at the city around 7:20ish. We got stuck at the Pavia overpass since it is just a one-way lane road, and we cannot do the traditional left turn. For ten minutes, we were stuck in the street. After that, the ride was smooth as the multi-lane of the city welcomed us within.

We reach John B. The mass is nearing an end, so we stand for a bit for respect, we find a permanent set after that, and the re-registration began. Aside from us, there were many late students as well with their parents, we did some high and hello to my former classmates at Bravo and Polaris 1A, and I also greeted and asked my classmate in Polaris 2A where will our actual seats be.

You know that John B. is valid on its core values, time discipline when they say it is nine, it will be nine. It is so rare to find a program that sticks to its schedule. We arrive and register and see our seats I’m number 32. The arrangements are alphabetical.

For a hot minute of sitting in our seats while observing the protocol, the program starts. Enter of colors singing of our national anthem, city hymn, and JBLFMU hymn.

This is the moment where I appreciate more the hymn of John B. for every lyric it contains and the message it speaks. It translates into me. My favorite part of the lyrics is “the tide may sweep us to shore and seas” as a seafarer. Our life is anchored into two categories, shore, and seas, so whenever we are, we must uphold the values we learn in the four corners of John B. into our life.

The program starts with a message from School’s student affairs head, administrator, and the maritime dean. I love their speech. It’s raw and straight to the point.

Awarding proper, a set of ten people fall in line, and the host announces their five will walk upstairs and simultaneously dawn the medals.

I was awarded as the university’s dean’s list and academic scholar. I expect to have a medal to the least, but one thing that shocks me is they have us star pin indicating that we are indeed an academic scholar of the institution. The star is colored red with the seal of John B. Molo outlined with gold.

After dawning, the medal picture taking was next. Every parent is busy taking a snap on the achievements of their son. Huge thanks to Kim and Franklin for taking a picture of me.

For every awarding, there has to be a photo op with the statue of Capt. John B. Lacson, so I strike some posts with a huge smile. After that, we returned to our seats and let the program finish. We have a scheduled laboratory activity for electro 1. Our backlogs last first year since all are busy for the event and the graduation tomorrow at Iloilo Convention Center, labs were postponed since the electric labs were close.

It was a fun day. Despite the tiresome journey, my father, who was on board, did not know about this. All he knows is a screenshot of Facebook live of the same academic awarding ceremony broadcasted online. While we were leaving, I sent him the picture, and I guess he was surprised. It warms my heart that simple achievement is a lot for our parents. It is as if they win a lottery how much they prepare and rejoice for it.

We leave john b with the assurance that there were no labs and we spend the noon at SM