A Step Closer

"It's not just a simple handshake. It's "the touch" which inspired me to be what I really wanted to be."

Maria Ressa. Wow, what a big name in the industry of Journalism. Who would have thought that an ordinary 15 year old girl from the province, with simple hopes and dreams to be what she wanted to be, would one day meet an "icon"?

Honestly, deciding to attend Write Tool is a hard process for me. It's a matter of choosing between one of the biggest events in our school, the Association of Benedictine Schools' (ABS) Sports Fest or to pursue what I think is right and best for me. I guess, I chose well.

Seeing her personally, I actually couldn't believe it. Not because I finally met one of my inspirations, but it's that awkward moment when our first encounter happened in the bathroom! Oh my, how I wish I brought my camera or I wore something better. Well, at least, I didn't drop my jaw when she passed behind me… or wait… I did!

Deciding to join Write Tool is great, after all, even if something embarrassing happened, right? All the speakers, especially Miss Ressa, made everything worth it. Her discussion about Social Media and in trying to tap people's wisdom to the crowd is very informative, in a way that it's also interactive. I wasn't bored a bit. And the mere fact that she spared some of her precious time just to have a talk to aspiring young journalists is already fulfilling.

As they say, it takes only five letters to define who you are, and these are your W.O.R.D.S. Indeed, this is true. Just watching and listening to her speak already shows how she was brought up and how much she grew working on this industry. It makes me want to be like her. Humble, but not gullible.

By the end of her discussion, the only thing that processed in to my mind is "Run, Nichole, Run!" Yeah, weird. But what's the sense of being weird when I finally got what I needed---her touch. It's not just a simple handshake, it is that thing which really inspired me to be what I really wanted to be, a journalist.

This is not an experience of a lifetime, it is an experience that has to be kept and remembered always.

I guess, it is right to say that I am now a step closer to my future, to what would become of me.

Girls are like Candies: How to deal with Identity Crisis

I am a girl. Now, that's a good start. I can say that I am normal but not typical. How confusing that might be, there's a difference in between. You see, while being typical is fitting in a group and being labeled as 'one of them', normal is like a river, where you simply go along with the flow but still end up at a different shore.

I am almost 15 by the time I posted this. And with the short time I have been in this world, I can already prove that I have experienced well, let's not say "a lot of things" but rather "much." I know, adults know better in this type of matter. But let's say, it's time to see the other angle of the story from the people you least expected to hear it from ---The Teens.

Well, personally speaking, I have a sweet tooth for treats and pastries. And one time, while I was indulging, a thought suddenly popped up in my mind--Girls are like Candies. And it's not because we are deliciously edible or something because Dude, what you're thinking is dramatically gross. *laughs* Kidding aside, indeed, us girls are like candies. There are tons of reasons to explain why. Probably because we are sweet in our own little way. But the best thing to describe it is because us females are often grouped and separated according to taste, style, and specially, looks. Here are some of them:

• The sugar-coated ones- Commonly, those who are usually regarded as caring and comforting.
• The Marshmallows- Respectively speaking, they are sensitive ones who are usually touched and overwhelmed by simple things.
• The sweet gummies- Two words, "flirticious plastics."
• The sour gummies- The ever loved and ever famous Bitches and Whores. (Sarcasm included)
• The gumballs- The often misunderstood ones. Those who give the impression of being hard but deep inside, they have the heart of an affectionate hero. I salute these people.
• The hard candies with surprise center- The epic ones. Seriously, these people are genius. Who would ever think about putting a luscious filling inside a already well-flavored candy?
• The popping candies- The unpredictable ones. Some are surprisingly good but others are irritatingly hurting in the tongue. Once they popped, they can never stop.
• The dragees- These women might be the "girl next door" type because of their "sweetheart-like" attitude but one can never guess. They seem really normal but in reality, an extraordinary quality lies beneath those awesome damn looks.

Obviously, I cannot mention every type of candy in the Wonka Factory. But these classifications are merely the result of a teenage girl's passion for sweets. I do not intend to change or misjudge other people's perspective about women...or candies. The only purpose for me to say what I said and supposed to say is the fact that I, myself, is a woman who also experiences difficulty in finding the real me, just like what other females do.

It isn't important where you belong or how you are classified. What matters the most is you stand out for yourself. Indeed, women are like candies. There are times when people prefer to eat this type rather than the other type. But in the end, one person or the other would come along and choose a different kind--and that might turn out to be You. Identity Crisis is merely the time when a woman tries to find who she really is. A day or two is not enough. It can take weeks, months, or even years, but what's essential is you get to know what you want-- what you really want.

You don't have to be typical. Be normal.

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P.S: To the readers who read this, just comment what type of candy are you, or you can also tell your friends what type of treat are they (but don't say what it means.)

P.P.S: If you think I missed one special type of candy, just add the definition by yourself and let me know.

TYPEWRITER

"Life is like a Typewriter; there's no Ctrl Z, nor a Backspace. That's why Liquid paper is invented to correct what was written but don't expect it would be the same again."
-Nichole Evangelista


As they say, 'You could fix a mirror when it's broken but you could still see a crack on that reflection'. As much as we want to turn back time, we just couldn't. For there are things that are unchangeable, things that no matter how hard you try to return them, something would surely hinder you from doing so. Even if you say 'it's okay' or 'I'm fine', whether you tell it or not, the problem is still there, it would always be there. And the only thing to prevent this from happening is by giving your hundred percent on that one-shot game called 'Life'.

Find Your Way Back

"Once you're lost in Life, you only have two choices: to use a MAP to go back where you've gone to or FAITH to lead you towards a new path." -Nichole Evangelista

Often times, we get deceived by things that dazzle in our eyes, and we tend to be ruled by them. What we don't know is that these things could lead us to a path wherein we have a big possibility of getting lost, and have a hard time in getting back from right where we are and how we used to be. And when the unexpected became expected, the only thing that you could do is to hold on to your faith. For your faith becomes your strong foundation, and your strong foundation becomes who you are.