I’d like to take comfort in the fact that I just finished one seemingly psychotic week. Perhaps that is somewhat of an overstatement. But allow me the liberty to make that exaggeration, especially after just enduring one of the most extremely trying weeks of my Ateneo academic life. I’ve technically got less that two weeks left before I end my junior year. Unfortunately, I really don’t have anything to rejoice about until the very last day. It will end when it ends. For the mean time, I gotta make the most out of it. More importantly, I gotta do well.

Days pass by so swiftly as I struggle to find time for myself. I feel as if instead of fitting into my schedule all the group reports and meetings, research and paper work, OJT applications, org meetings, interviews, etc., it feels as if I’m the one who has to fit myself in all those things. Maybe that doesn’t really make sense, but somehow I feel like I have to adjust myself. Sometimes it feels like everything else has been bigger than myself. Sigh. Nevermind. Simply put, it just gets quite exhausting.

Not that it hasn’t been any fun. Nor do I end up sacrificing fun ultimately. I’m so happy to be an incoming officer for COA (Council of Organizations) next school year as the Performing Arts Cluster Head, working with organizations that share the same passion for the arts. I’ve also gotten to know most of the COA officers, and I only have positive things to say. Moreover, I’m equally ecstatic to be the Associate Editor of Aegis 2009 (the Ateneo Yearbook). Embarking on my last year is something I never thought would happen all too soon, but the reality of it all is that it’s really THAT fast. And really quite exciting, which makes being active so worthwhile. I’m so determined to do a beautiful job.

Highlights of the past few weeks include watching two huge concerts here in Manila: Maroon 5 and Incubus. I got to watch it with one of my closest friends in the whole world, Dan (for both) and my sister, Rubie (Incubus). Here are pictures that were taken by my good friend, Jorja and her brother. Credit goes to her for these beautiful pictures.

Maroon 5 was so much fun. Great, great lighting! I never expected the band to be that good, but they were! Adam Levine is really so likable! I also had amazing seats beside and between celebrities, so it was quite a thrill!

Incubus is definitely on that list of top 3 all-time favorite bands of mine, so I am so not missing them. Back in 2004, I watched them for the first time and was just completely floored by how amazing they were. And they definitely didn’t disappoint during their most recent concert here. The crowd felt the energy and emotion, and I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by it all. They were that good, and I will keep watching them every time they come back here.

Amidst all the school, personal, social life buzz, I long for my much-anticipated vacation. But somehow before I suddenly succumb to my penchant for melodrama, I don’t want to forget that there are still so many wonderful things happening to me. That even after every darn draining personal struggle, life has still been very good to me. And I’m very thankful. There have been a lot of surprises here and there. Some things that I’m just not ready for. Some things that I just can’t wait to take on.

I refuse to lose sight of the big picture. It’s there already. Somehow within my reach. I can’t let all those slip away right now. Eventually, everything in between is all going to be worth it.