Grade 1: This is the scariest part of my elementary life. I just graduated from kindergarten where everything was a joke, like we had endless games during the whole sessions. And now, things were more serious. I was so scared of my teacher(Mrs. Malaluan, I remember).
There was a time when I was all screwed up coz she caught me talking to my seatmate. I was sent to one side of the room and told me to squat there until the end of the class. My Gaaaaad! That was really embarrassing. I was the youngest among the class but I already knew the feeling of humiliation especially when somebody tells the whole world that I just did a big mistake. Did I cry?.. I couldn't remember. But for sure, I realized that I was wrong and promised not to do that ever! Well guess what? Aside from being the top 2 of our class at the end of that schoolyear, I had this really weird award: Most Behaved Student. haha! Isn't that ironic?
Grade 2 & 3: I wasn't so serious with my studies during my 2nd and 3rd grade. It was more exciting to play football and touching ball under the sun together with my classmates. My favorite snack?..frosty and scramble!!..There were actually times when I had to skip lunch just to play with my friends. When I got home from school, I didn't even dare to open my notes. The hell with them! My parents were working so they didn't have any idea bout what I was doing.
I also remember when my teacher scolded me coz I slapped my classmate when we were about to pray! I was really bad that time! Honestly, I couldn't remember why I did that..maybe I just felt like slapping her(a girl, take note!).
As expected, my grades were too low..I got 79 in Mathematics..shit! My parents were really mad at me and I felt like I was the black sheep of the family..so I really promised to do good for the next schoolyear.
Grade 4: I was more serious this time. I had to redeem myself. But there was this big problem though..really big.. My adviser was a freaking monster! She was that witch who scolded me for throwing an icedrop stick in the school garden during my 3rd grade. She really scared me that time..but well oh well, I had to be brave..or else my elementary life would be completely ruined.
I became a bit concerned with my studies so my grades went up..a bit. I always asked my mom(she's the math wizard in our family!) whenever I didn't grasp some topics, especially in math. I still had time, though, to play with my friends..but only for some limited time. You know, I had to have some discipline to prove everybody that I'm not dumb or something. Well also, I didn't have problems with my teacher anymore..yeah, she's strict and I got used to it, so no biggy..
At the end of the schoolyear, everyone in the family was so shocked..including me! I ranked fifth in our class! Well that's really something big coz two years before that I was totally delinquent...so there, I just redeemed myself!wooohooo!
Grade 5: I was more at ease this time. There was nothing to be afraid of or nothing to worry about coz I was all equipped with discipline, which is basically the only thing one needs to survive his elementary life.
Since I was already good in my studies, I decided to focus on something else..something like sports? Yes, it all started when I watched the 1996 Olympics. And, it was the sport gymnastics that really caught my attention. Well, probably because I liked the fact that gymnasts execute their routines on different apparatus like bars, pommel horse, vault, rings and the event: floor exercise(my favorite). I liked their flexibility, something I thought that I could have. And another thing is that they earn scores based on their performance, which is similar to what we have inside the class.
So there, I decided to exercise and do some stretching for like a month to prepare my muscles. And just a coincidence, I had this girl classmate(Lea) who happened to be the school's representative for a gymnastics competition in Palarong Pambansa. We became close friends and she taught me some routines and exhibitions(kinda girly though but so what? flexibility was the only thing I needed!). In just a month, I learned to do some splits, bending, tumbling, head-stand and other cool stunts!
Lea told me I should join the school's gymnastics club..maybe she saw some potential in me! I told that to my mom and as expected, she didn't let me. Mom said a sport like that is only for those who have large-built bodies(too bad I was too scrawny). huhuhu..I cried, really. But hmmm, I just thought I wasn't meant to become a gymnast(just to make myself feel better!).
The year ended and I emerged as the top 4 of our class.
***Pics show the very famous Russian gymnast, Alexei Nemov..my favorite!
Grade 6: I spent my last year in elementary in a different school. Together with my two brothers, we transferred to Sto. Nino Academy. I had to undergo a lot of adjustments since I came from a public school. That was the first time that I had to wear pants and had to cut my hair really short..crew cut style. My mom also had to wake me up at 5am because the school's three kilometers away. I shouldn't be late..had to make a good impression.
Every step that I made was planned. I had to impress everyone so I really studied hard. There was only one goal: to be transferred to the top section(I was in section 3 since I was a transferee). I became the teachers' favorite so a lot of classmates raised their eyebrows(insecure?!). Well anyway, as if I care? haha Months passed and before I knew it, it was graduation day already! My average was too high that I could be included in the honorable mentions. But because i wasn't in the top class, they just gave me the Academic Achiever Award. Well, not bad!
