Dear Father Sean,
After all the periodicals we had in school, I managed to read the Misyon Magazines that the school is providing. Reading them was not a mere obligation or a responsibility for me but a mission personally. An article from the youth’s page entitled “Searching for a Best Friend”, completely brought me to a halt and pause for a while. The writer found her best friends and it was none other than Jesus. “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
It often occurred to me the feeling of being left out and neglected. Maybe it’s because of me being too possessive of my friends. I have a lot of friends in school or simply I know a lot of people. I allow myself to make friends with other people and learn how to deal with them. But I never had the usual relationship with a best friend. It’s not in my social life to have one. But if time tells me I won’t miss the chance.
When I was in First year high school I belonged to this group of friends who were my classmates back then. We look up to each other at the Mahogany trees after classes. I had four close friends in the group and we ate together during breaks. When I’m with the two people would always call us two towers because I stay in the middle of my two tall friends while walking and I was the smallest. Then, my second year came we were still together except for some who left. I always told myself that I’m never leaving these friends I have because I know this will last. Jesus will always be there for me. “I-O rocks!” my friend would say. Now, I’m already in my junior year very few were left. I thought of bringing them back but I realized that I don’t have the right to choose friends for them. So we had separate “tambayans.” A friend made me realized that our friendship could still go on even if we hang out with other people and stay at different tables in school. She was absolutely right because I ran after her when I was having the most painful problem and she was always there all through out. My time with I-O will always be a memory to me and it will remain forever.
In class, I always had the best times life can give because life showed me a different world. I lost and soon after gained friends. It just happened that I began hanging out with them though I look very different from them. But if it were really called friendship they would love me for who and what I am. The painful part, which I never intended to happen, is not being with my other barkada I had all the time. It was then I realized why some left the group. I guess that’s what life is. I see myself staring at our table empty. How I wish I could bring back the memories I had with I-O now and see what a big difference it can do.
Letting go of the peer pressures, I tried to see things in a positive way and continue playing this game of life. I hope to look for friends I’ll treasure and have the best times with them. In Jesus, I’ll continue living the life that God gave me. This is what High School is all about- this is life.
God bless and more power!
Sincerely yours,
Marie Jeanne Therese M. Apacible
3- Humility
St. Scholastica’s College, Manila