A few years ago, I attended the Holy Mass for the 25th anniversary of my high school graduation.

Yep, 25 years felt like it just flew away. I am now in the phase where I now say, “But that was just yesterday!”

However, months prior, I have wrestled with the thought of whether I should attend our high school reunion or not.

It was a debate I had with my mother and a few friends. I even asked some classmates if they were going. It’s once in a lifetime, why not go? Some of them said.

My reasons:

1. Majority of my high school friends are now living abroad. They didn’t come home.

2. Much as I adjusted well during this phase (new chapter, new school, new friends), I never really liked high school. Every year, my Math and Science subjects were always in the 70s grade. I eventually had to take summer classes in Geometry before I was allowed to enroll in my senior year. I could go on and on with the battle of subjects and almost failing.

3. I was the average kid. You know, the person that you just pass by because she’s not exceptional?

Looking back, not everything was all bad. Remove my all-time hated subjects, the average normal high school me took the phase one day at a time.

To be honest, I realized that braving the whole phase made my high school me the bravest me of all. Because even if the situation wasn’t ideal, I took everything in stride!

So when an update came about the reunion Mass, I signed up to attend. At least give thanks to the Lord and to the saint that inspired my education, right?

When I entered the school gate, it felt like I was a big kid in the same old place.

I brought my Papa’s parent-teacher ID, because beyond all my average kid whims, he stood by me.

I went home after the Mass with peace in my heart. I know the high school me is happy.

Here are rANNdom (sorry I just love my name, it had to be there) 10 things I reflected on for my high school self:

1. Ok lang kahit hindi mo pinansin ang career assessment report mo. You found your way to Marketing, anyway.

2. Ok lang kahit nag-summer ka sa Geometry bago ka napayagang mag-enroll noong fourth year high school.

• Una, hindi mo naman ginagamit ang Geometry.
  
• Pangalawa, natuto ka nang gumawa ng profit and loss reports.
  
• Pangatlo, kapag hindi mo naiintindihan ang data sa harap mo, you get an expert’s help.
  
• Pang-apat, nalaman mo na tao din ang mga teachers mo. Nasa core memory mo ang mga teachers na nagta-takbuhan sa loob ng classroom at hallway kasi inasar nila ‘yung Geometry summer teacher mo kaya nagkaroon ng five-minute break.
  

3. Ok lang kahit hindi ka makapunta sa mga meet and greet ng Backstreet Boys noong nagu-umpisa sila. Napanood mo sila ng maraming beses in concerts. At ibabalita ko din sa iyo na umabot ka sa point na hindi ka na manonood ng concert nila dito.

4. Noong high school ka, na-realize mo na marunong kang mag-adapt sa sitwasyon – tanggapin kung ano ang meron, and work your way through it.

5. Ok lang kung may ibang classmates ka na hindi gusto ang tawa mo. They never mattered in the end anyway. At masarap pa ding tumawa.

6. Tama ang sinabi ng Computer Teacher mo: sometimes, common sense is not common.

7. Tama ang sinabi ng Religion Teacher mo: una, God will always make a way. Two, “As Long As You Love Me” is a good song, but not a good metric in finding love. At sasabihin mo ito sa teacher mo kapag nagkita kayo decades later at tatawa kayo pareho.

8. Hindi ka weird noong tinawag ka ng English teacher mo na “Newspaper Lady” dahil alam mo ang parts ng newspaper. Kasi matalino ka.

9. Hindi ka weird noong 5 chapters ka ahead of others sa Noli Me Tangere reading. Third year high school ka nito. Bakit? Kasi hinintay mo ang pagkakataon na pwede mo nang basahin ang novel kasi hindi pa pwede noong Grade 6 ka. Patience matters, and it paid you well.

10. Sabi ng dati mong high school classmate, naa-amuse siya sa parents na a) active sa parent-teachers association at b) tatay ang pumupunta. You had those two gifts, thanks to Papa.

Kaya kahit na iniisip pa din ng old self mo kung a-attend siya ng homecoming o hindi, isa lang ang totoo: you did what you could during your time. And you were so dang good.

Proud of you girl.

The Average Kid went back to her alma mater.