high school infernos

I had a very typical high school life and just like everyone else, I have stories to tell. What better way to do it than blogging, right? :)

Now, I went to two high schools. The first one is a public school in a small town called Oton which we will name o2. The second one, a private Catholic school located in Jaro which we will call cs. I will not name names, I might get into trouble. Yes, here in the Philippines you get into trouble when you tell the truth. That's why we have political killings. I will talk about that some other time.

Anyway, it's pretty obvious that o2 and cs are very different. In o2 we don't pay any tuition and, since it's a public high school, it gets its budget from the government. We all know how that's like. Books are old, we lack classrooms, chairs; even teachers. Most of the students came from very poor families. However, the community was great. Everybody knew everybody else. There was camaraderie everywhere and everyone was like family.

I like o2, I felt like I belonged there. I empathized with my fellow classmate when we had to pay Php80.00 for an activity. For her and her family, Php80.00 is a big deal and she had to look for temporary work in order to pay. I complained along with my 59 classmates when the classroom was too hot since we only had one working electric fan. There were 60 of us. Imagine the heat. I groaned with at least 10 of my friends in the back row because we don't have any chairs and sometimes we had to stand. I walked home from school with a fellow friend named Julie. I buy cheap smoothies outside school and hanged out at the town plaza. That was high school life in o2.

Cs on the other hand was very much like hell. Yes, I hated cs. I stood out like an ugly duckling in a swarm of evil wolves. Hehehe... :) Don't get me wrong, I had friends at cs. Very good friends but the rest of them? Evil - pure evil. Oh sure, we had fancy uniforms, classrooms and laboratories. We had expensive books and lastly a facade that we are pure, innocent and good because we went to a CATHOLIC school. [barf]

I was discriminated because I came from a public school. Because I'm an activist, an agnostic, a skeptic and a critic to their very oppressive and very judgmental views.

I comforted a friend in the girl's bathroom while she cried because she was scared and ashamed of her sexuality. Because the whole school kept repeating that homosexuality was immoral and that homosexuals will be doomed in hell. I listened to a classmate complain to our group leader that Php150.00 is too much for a morning snack (agape) and then helplessly bowed his head because our group leader said he was complaining too much. She continued by adding that Php150.00 is cheap and in her opinion mere pocket money. My homeroom adviser forbade me to hang out at UP saying that UP students are bad influences.

Every Thursday (or Friday, I'm not sure), we would have a meeting with our religious group. I asked my homeroom teacher if it was okay not to join any and she said no. Having no choice, I chose a group where most of my girl classmates are involved. When I entered the room, a girl quipped: "Why are you here? You don't believe in God. You don't belong here." I froze; I literally didn't know what to do. I wanted to scream: "I didn't have a choice, MORON!" but of course I didn't. I could've gotten suspended. :)

It got worse when I started arguing with teachers. I stood out. I was different and because of that I was bullied. And then, I fought back. I stood firm and held my ground. I'm glad I did. I'm glad I wasn't normal.

Eventually, I was able to find friends that accepted me for who I am and until this day I'm very thankful I found them. They helped me survive high school.

I graduated high school with my head held high -- my left fist clenched and raised.

P.S.

damu pa ni mga stories but laba na gid. pasensya if medyo emo, malawig nga panahon nga wala napa utwas. salamat sa pag inchindi. :)

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