When Old Times are Just Past
“Good morning maam!” greetings coming from the people to my grand mother. Those were people who were under her teaching profession when she was still young enough to teach.
She is sitting at the corridor, while looking at every people who pass by, telling me her story of how she handled her pupils and about how they pursue on their studies.
She said “Look at them before they were my pupils, their so young and cute, playing cheerfully at the schools playground, yelling at each other, laughing at each other, but now their matured, professional and are having their own families”.
I just kept myself silent and let her finish her story when she asked me “What do you want to become when you’re old?”
I said, “To have a degree and be professional.” and she responded, “You know being a degree holder and professional sometimes is not really what we want, we only think it is because it’s what our parents implanted to us and to always make in persuasion”.
She paused and took a deep breath.
“Look at her…” while pointing on a woman having her way to school where she is teaching, “Did you know that she is a Pharmacy degree holder? But why did she choose to become an ordinary teacher?”
I didn’t answer anything but shook my head to make a sign that I don’t really know and she continue telling the story
“Her parents send her to the city to take BS in Pharmacy, and she did it, she graduated as the topnotcher of their batch and passed the board exams, she worked abroad for 3 years and came home after those years. She took her second course which is BS in Elementary Education and everyone were so shock when she did that, but she didn’t mind it anymore even how hard it took her. She finished her second course taking immediately a review and took the board exams. She passed the exam and start teaching.” And I ask “Why she did that grandma, she exchanged her wealthy life for a lower one?”
"Well my boy! You know where forced to take something because it’s what our loved once is dictating us to take even though we hate it, but at the end the decision still lies in our hands whether we take it or take the other we want to be. Look at that man there…" She is now pointing to a beggar at one side in front of us.
I ask "What about him grandma?". Then she started to utter "Hmm… What a poor man… He came from a very wealthy family before when he was so young. His complete with everything, his father was a business man, while his mother was one of my co-teacher. His really a spoiled brat before, he could get everything he wants to, he can go anywhere he wants to, his invited in any type of party or night life living. That man really enjoyed a lot before, spending the money of his parents in different type of enjoyment, but when it comes to his school performance almost all of his subjects are failed in status." Then I ask again "Then what happened? That he became like that now?"
She paused for awhile and get a plenty of water from the pitcher which is on top of the table just located on a table not so far from us and after drinking the water she started talking again "Because his father is a very influential business man many people are jealous of him, so he was murdered, his mother has a Cancer and suddenly died. All the wealth of the family were left to him, but he spent it to nothing. Party there, party here, night life there, night life here, till he was able to sweep everything that was left, and got nothing. Now look at him his begging for any small alms from any people who would then pass by just to feed himself, no shelter where he could rest. You know my grandson… Not everything we have now will always be with us forever, life is always having a permanent property which is change. Things suddenly change without further notice or warnings they just change, and when it comes you should be ready and prepared. Changes in our life may have different effects depending on how you live your life; if you lived your life at it’s best now then you’ll get what is ought for you in the future the same thing if you live miserable now. The decision is always yours, whether I’m saying this to you or even how many times I speak to you about the facts of life it’s up to you of what to take as your choice, but whatever it maybe you have to be ready with the consequences it may bring in return."
Then I responded "Woh… That’s so miserable."
My grandma said “You know were sometimes deceived by what other people want us to become or by what we believe remains forever, and causes us to get confused of what we really want and what we should be. We follow what other people want us to become because of fear; fear that they might hate us or fear that they might reject us if we don’ t obey them; that is why we force ourselves to like something than obeying what our hearts do really want, but later we realize what we desire is the only thing that will make us truly happy and satisfied changing our way of living totally different than before. Sometimes we are deceived by our false beliefs causing us to do things for ourselves that are not right for us to do, and even though we realize our mistakes we don’t acknowledge them because we thought it’s still the best thing that we should do, but then regrets always comes in the later part. My boy. What ever decision you may have in life only one thing you should always remember be strong and firm on it, it’s a reality that some people won’t love what we want to be and it’s sometimes a reality that we are able to commit mistakes in doing our decisions, but you know the best thing in life? It’s when we learn to face the risk of every action that we make, because of it we become strong, we learn more, we earn more wisdom and knowledge for the next journey to come in our life.”
I responded “Now I understand grandma.”
And then we continue talking with each other.
i admit BS Pharmacy is not my choice but im happy to say that i learn to love it and whatever the outcome im responsible of it.
thank you.
nice blog…
Comment by solei — October 25, 2009 @ 11:41 am
what a nice story…!! more story chris!!
Comment by Jan Benedict Lipalip — October 25, 2009 @ 11:58 am
very nice..=(
Comment by Gama — October 28, 2009 @ 2:50 pm