Retrospect.

Hi Kyle!

Congrats! You got in UP Los Banos. All that hard work paid off. Now get up on your feet. It’s your first day.

I know it feels all right and good now but get ready. No seriously, get ready, ’cause what’s coming to you is one of the craziest, mind-bending, heart-breaking, stress-inducing chunks in all 19 years of your existence.

I have met a lot of people already. They all helped me be what you are going to be five months from now. Great advice from a lot of good people and I hope you would listen to them when you meet them.

“Taasan mo EQ mo!” -Kuya Ludwig

Get ready for the emotional and mental roller-coaster that is college. There are a lot of people in that community. Some can inspire you, some you can inspire. Some can love you, some can hate you. You would have to learn how to tiptoe around these people; I know you can do this. Besides you have a lot of experience with people.

You are going into a new frontier, and what comes with that are new people, new relationships, new advocacies and new problems.

“UPCAT? madali lang yan, wait ka lang.” -Ate Yeye

Now we both know that we did not pass UPCAT. Ask Kovi if you meet him, even he didn’t pass that test. Don’t worry man, don’t be ashamed. At least you got in right?

Focus up on your studies, ’cause now that you’re inside UP, you better do good to get out of there. As some alumni say “Madaling pumasok sa UP, ang mahirap diyan ay paano makalabas.”. Make your academics part of your priorities!

“Sabihin mo na kase.” -Erica

Don’t be afraid to tell people how you feel. Don’t be “liberal” okay?

The people you interact with on a daily basis – your soon-to-be-friends, they don’t need you kissing their asses. We live in an age where almost everyone in our generation understands each other; so just be constructive with them.

“He a go-getter!” -Kylie

As one Kylie Victoriano said, and yes, I know this is the header but I’m going to say it again be a GO-GETTER!

In “Elbi” there will be lots of opportunities and chances to gain more experience through socialization and exposure. Do not be afraid in joining groups that can help you in these areas. The future you already joined Umalohokan Inc., and I’m sorry but, if you won’t join that org, I will go to the past and MAKE you.

“Isipin mo sarili mo.” -Kelly

Lastly and most importantly, prioritize yourself. I’m not joking about the problems you will face in the next five months. It’s okay to think about what you want. Never lose sight of who you are, you are a good person and the options you chose should be mainly for yourself and not JUST for others.

You should be well first before you can help others be well. Just trust that either way, even with all these challenges to come, you’d get over them. Even if you can’t by yourself, you have people who love and support you even though you’ve just met them during the last five months.