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I am Chona Mae N. Crisostomo, I was born on the 31st of May 2001 in Don Pedro Bogo City, Cebu. I am the fourth child in the family and currently living with my parents. I finished my elementary at Don Pedro Rodriguez Elementary School year 2014 and was awarded as 2nd honorable mention, athlete of the year and best in science. For my junior high I studied at San Remigio National High School where I was part of the SSC or the Special Science Class curriculum. I continued my senior high school on the same school under the academic track of Humanities and Social Sciences strand. And is able to finished my studies school year 2019-2020, and awarded as With Honors. Now I am a freshmen student at Cebu Normal University taking up Bachelor of Elementary Education.

Looking back at my childhood I must say that during those times I was so naïve and ignorant. I even remembered how stupid I was putting some “betsin” or AJINOMOTO in my mouth without knowing that it was poisonous, but I learned my lesson to not put everything on my mouth. However, during my 2nd to 4th grade in elementary I was able to experience bullying because of the shape of my face hence, that led my insecurities and to have a little trauma attending school. Those memories are still carved in the back of my head, although my family does not know about it. I’ve overcome bullying all by myself, I learn to fight for myself and not let the bullies bully me again. That is one of the life’s struggles I had encounter in my childhood, it made me realize that sometimes in life we must know how to protect ourselves because no one will do it for us.

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Growing up, compared to other children my experiences in life is so limited. I am a home body; I was raised in a family whose people are very career oriented where spending quality time is already a big deal. I was never given a chance to enjoy or experience things (going out, enter organization and etc.), and maybe that’s the reason why I don’t usually engage to any kinds of social activities. And there are also some rules my parents had set that we all need to follow. On the other hand, I am still grateful for the kind of life that I have with because I am still able to create good memories. It taught me to be responsible and learn to value small things, moreover, it has influence me to become better and be vigilant in life.

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The hobby or skill that I am trying to improve right now is my writing skill. I’ve been very hesitant about this, but I dream of becoming a writer someday. In my high school I used to write short stories and poetries, some of my classmates were somewhat impressed. I also once become a scriptwriter in making our INFORMANCE known as information dance. It was a school activity where all grades level 9 to 10 will compete, our section is able to place 2nd. It was a memorable moment at the same time it was my first time trying to write for a contest. I am also a former volleyball player. Nevertheless, these are the hobbies that help me cope up if I am having a hard time expressing myself. Sometimes in my writing I am able to create my own world were only I can find peace and comfort.
Personally, I am the type of person who is quite and serious, I have an aura that sometimes it tends to scare people. But I guess my personality depends who I am with, when it comes to my close friends, I am talkative, playful and cheerful. But when I am with my family, I am carefree, subtle, and silly. I bet that there are kinds of relationship wherein it will help us shape our life and will guide us to make a change. And I believe that my relationship towards my peers and family have defined who I am. My personalities my varies but that doesn’t mean it was not me- I am who I am.

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In life I have already experience countless of downfalls but I never let those downfalls shake me. I remain firm and strong, though I cried but I believe it is still part of the process especially now that I am an adult. During the year 2020, I guess it was my worst year ever were I experienced a lot of pain, rejections, I even doubted myself for not passing the entrance exam. I felt like I was a loser that time, I stayed in my room crying nonstop. And being not able to go to school that year was even worst – I literally stop one year. Move forward, I also have many realizations on that experience, that not everything I want in life will always be mine. It surely takes months before I could finally pull myself up. And I consider this as turning point of my life because of this experience I have analyze that life is not just about the beautiful happenings but rather seeing the beauty behind those darkest days. This I believe as my greatest achievement that I have mastered in life.

My way of thinking and handling things set me apart from others. Being an adult means having big responsibilities may it be in the family or in society. And the life experiences shape me to become a reliable, open-minded, and non-biased person. My way of handling things like family problems, issues, and ect., made me mature and become independent. All in all, my transparency and resiliency as an individual is somewhat, I am good at.

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Life is short as what others would say, and for me a person like me who choose school over health. I guess that is one of the craziest things I did, way back March 2019 I was diagnosed to dengue. Dengue during that time is so rampant in our school and in our community wherein most of the victims are children. And it was also that time where we are in the brink of presenting our research, and I was very hesitant to agree with the admission in hospital because I was the one creating the presentation. But what the doctor has said, give some knock off to my head “unsa man piloon nimong eskwelahan nga naa raman na permente or ang imong kinabuhi nga kausa ra”.  In that moment of course I agreed to save life, because if I hadn’t my life would be in a great danger. That tick a bomb, that I should also sometimes learn to take good care of myself, because we only live once.

For a homebody like me, I never tried travelling to far places, because first I am not fond of travelling. But may be being able to have a trip in my own hometown, here in Bogo. So far, the only place that want me to keep visiting is the Our Lady of Miraculous Medal, in Lapaz Bogo City. Every time I and my sister had spare time, we sometimes spent it by going there. That place gives me solace and hope, it gives me the sense of security that everything will be fine. It keeps my faith in our Almighty Saviour closer and firm.

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Now I have latch onto, that life is a never-ending experience of ups and downs. But I have wrap into my mind that in order to for me to grow as person I must know how to handle and balance life. By that I will be able to find the true essence in life. And I guess my journey is still on-going and I am happy to unlock new experiences as time goes by.