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It started with small things — whispers I wasn’t meant to hear and glances that lingered just a second too long. It wasn’t obvious or aggressive, but I could feel it. When I spoke up in class, I’d notice smirks or exchanged looks between a few classmates. If I shared an idea, it was met with half-hearted nods or, worse, silence. No one said anything cruel outright, but the feeling of being quietly dismissed hung in the air.

I tried to ignore it, convincing myself I was imagining things. But the more it happened, the harder that became. Group projects were the worst. Somehow, there was never room for me, or plans were already made before I even got the chance to ask. It wasn’t that anyone said I wasn’t welcome — they just made sure I felt that way without having to say it. I started staying quiet more, trying not to stand out, hoping it would stop.

Eventually, though, I realized the more I shrank myself, the worse I felt. I wasn’t doing anything wrong by being involved or speaking up. Slowly, I stopped caring about the looks and whispers. I focused on the people who actually appreciated me — the ones who laughed with me, not at me. The rest didn’t matter as much anymore.

-M.P.R

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One faithful day in Paranaque Science High School, in the first quarter of our Journalism class, we were introduced to this new type of presentation, the News of the Day. This is finding news, editing it, and presenting it in front of the class. This wasn't a total nightmare at the first quarter because we were still allowed to have cue cards. But just when I thought everything would go great, the second quarter came, not allowing cue cards and instead relying on memorization. This is when everything changed. I still remember it, me stuttering and struggling to remember the lines that I thought I memorized. I walked out with a grade of 85, lower than my expectations. I wanted to do better, and I said to myself, "I'll do better the next presentation, just like I always do." The real challenge begun when the third quarter started. It wasn't what I was used to. Instead of it being individual, it became a by-group presentation with each group presenting their respective news broadcasts once a week, twice a week if time does not permit. This unlocked a few difficulties like the challenge of people not participating, the possible struggle of team communication, and that's exactly what happened. It all crumbled down for us, we were not exactly prepared, and we were panicking inside out due to the pressure from the last group in which our teacher quoted "I expect a better presentation tomorrow than this group." Then the presentation begun, and it was unfortunate to see that everyone except for the technical had something to improve on, even me. Every single one of the presenters had their own to-be-improved list ranging from lessening the actions, stuttering, and more. We ended up with a grade of 89, which was better than the last group, as well as my last presentation. And then the fourth quarter started, and as a chance to redeem ourselves, we had another chance in presenting our News of the Week broadcast. And this is also where the real experience starts. On a set day, the order of presentation was discussed and what do you know? Of course, we were the first to present and that put EVEN MORE pressure on us to set the bar and be an example for the other groups to follow. We didn't even once practice as a group and as the leader, I felt really irresponsible. And so, the usual grind began. We memorized our lines, talked about the presentation, and participated on the PPT presentation itself. Once again, we were panicking right before our presentation. And what do you know (2)? LITERALLY RIGHT BEFORE OUR PRESENTATION, TEN MINUTES BEFORE IT, WE REALIZED THAT OUR PRINT OF THE SCRIPT WAS WRONG ALL ALONG. This introduced a last-minute printing of our script and of course I, along with my good friend, ran, and ran, and ran until we eventually got the script, every sinister second making me more anxious due to the unreliable assumption whether our teacher was there or not. And so, we got back, overcome with joy as our teacher still hasn't arrived. And then she did, and we felt once again unready. But there's nothing we could do about it now. We began presenting it, with me being the face of the program because I'm an anchor, and after all that stress, you'd expect me to not deliver it well. Oh, that's far from who I am, and I really did present it better than the average person would after all that and maybe it's because I was determined and had an inspiration out there. And soon, the next members presented their news, each still having something to still improve on. After all of our teacher's comments, we expected a low grade. But that's the opposite of what happened. We got a 97. THAT IS HIGHER THAN WHAT WE ALL EXPECTED UNANYMOUSLY. The moral of the story is, don't be afraid to face your fears and always remember to check your script if its right before you present.

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Sometimes I feel like no matter what I do, it’s never good enough. I overthink everything, and then I start doubting myself so much that I just don’t do anything at all. Then later, I regret it because I realize I missed out on something or messed something up just because I was too scared I’d fail. It’s like my own brain is stopping me from being happy, and I hate it. I wish I could just believe in myself more, but every time I try, there’s this little voice in my head telling me I’m not good enough. And I listen to it, even when I know I shouldn’t.

It happens all the time, like when I want to answer a question in class but I don’t because I’m scared I’ll get it wrong and people will think I’m stupid. Or when I want to text someone first but I convince myself they don’t actually want to talk to me. Even when I try something new, I get so nervous that I’ll mess up that I just quit before I even really start. And the worst part is, I know I do this to myself, but I don’t know how to stop.

I see other people just going for things, not overthinking, not second-guessing every little thing, and I wish I could be like that. But I always imagine the worst possible outcome, and then I get stuck. And because of that, I miss out on things, and then I feel even worse. It’s like a never-ending cycle, and I don’t know how to break it.

But I don’t want to live like this forever. I know I won’t just wake up one day and magically be confident, but maybe I can start small. Maybe I can push myself to speak up once in class, even if it makes me nervous. Maybe I can stop assuming the worst and just send that text. Maybe I can remind myself that even if I fail, it’s not the end of the world. I know it’s going to be hard, and I know I’ll still doubt myself sometimes, but I have to at least try. Because if I don’t, I’ll keep missing out on life, and I don’t want that. I want to believe in myself, even if it’s just a little at a time :>

- Espenida, Gabrielle Freya💗💗

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I used to be really extroverted where I had a lot of friends. I used to be very popular back then. It gave me some sort of motivation to go to school, even tho school was hard atleast I had someone to rant too

Then came Orion, it was there where my mental health started to get worseIt was until I noticed that most of my friends started leaving me to hang out with someone else. I also noticed on when I speak most people don't listen to me or just go away to talk to someone else. Then I started getting bullied behind my back. On how I speak, on how I listen to kpop. They always thought I couldn't hear them, but no I heard each word they bad mouthed me about. Then I saw everyone in my room having a friend group except for me. Some people even found a new friend group there. Meanwhile me I just stood by and watched, I was envious of all of them because I had no one to run to in Orion. I may have friends outside of Orion but it hurts seeing everyone have someone to talk to always.

This caused me to develop a heavy social anxiety. My body would often shake, my hands would turn cold, my heart felt like exploding. I grew quieter each day afraid to be ridiculed by everyone. Then I found an unhealthy coping mechanism, headphones. It consumed to so much to the point I almost couldn't last without them. Then again I started getting bad mouthed by everyone even the faculty. It caused me to do bad at school, I often don't review for school. I felt like nobody truly cared about me

Until a teacher approached me, he noticed my sudden change of behavior. He told me that it was okay to cry at these struggles. But remember that it was not the end of everything. He believed that I had potential, and just needed help right now. It gave me some sort of starting point. I put away my headphones, started going to therapy. I tried my best in studying, making kpop my motivation.

I was still lonely, but it helped me realize that even when your alone you can enjoy life. Yes I still wished to have friends but it doesn't mean I can't be happy by myself. I know one day I can find the right circle of friends that will support me and love me no matter what

To anyone reading this, don't let your problems consume you. Every problem you manage to overcome is what makes you stronger as a person. Becoming lonely teaches you about new things about yourself.I believe you can do it, we will all succeed in life and I know it

Futures gonna be okay:)

Love, Lacus (no longer headphones girl)

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When I was in Grade 7, I experienced a moment that made me feel strong. It was my first time joining a school competition, and I was both nervous and scared. The competition was a math contest, and for the first time in my life, I was representing my school. I felt overwhelmed because I wasn’t used to being in such a high-pressure situation. However, I reminded myself to believe in my abilities, and that gave me the courage to push through my fears. As the competition progressed, I managed to answer the questions well, and my team successfully advanced to the next round. Overcoming my fear and performing well in the competition was a moment of strength that I will always remember.

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When I was in 7th grade, I met a cute girl through a common connection. She was from section Vega and she was my first crush here in ParSci. I never got to tell her my feelings back then because I was scared of rejection and it was the adjusting period, so I instead focused on my studies. One day, my friend and I were walking in the hallways and we saw her standing in front of their classroom. Me and my friend approached her to say hi then suddenly, my friend asked her a question. He asked her "why are you so slim?" She took it as an insult and said "why do you care?" After that incident, we never talked to each other again because she thought that I was also insulting her. I was sad because she was avoiding me and sees me as a bad person now. I started avoiding that friend who asked her that question and tried to focus on myself. After some time, I started talking to other girls to try and forget her, but it never worked because I still liked her. When the 3rd quarter came, I tried talking to her to clear up some misunderstandings and we became friends again. I was so happy because I got to explain to her that I had no intention of hurting her feelings. I was about to confess to her, but I was struck with shocking news that she was already in a relationship with her classmate. I respected them and distanced myself from her because I know that I still had feelings for her that time. After the S.Y ended, I slowly started seeing her as a friend and accepted that we will never be more than that. During summer, we always talked to each other as friends but I realized that the more I talked to her, the more my feelings for her grew. One day, I found out that their relationship had ended. I still had feelings for her that time but I did not take that chance to confess because I knew that she's still getting over a breakup and she was still not ready. After summer, I found out that she was going to be my classmate for the next S.Y. During that time, we were not that close and barely talked to each other. The 3rd quarter came and I finally confessed to her. She told me that she also likes me but she doesn't want to get attached because she doesn't want to repeat the same mistakes she did with her last relationship. Also neither of us was allowed to have a serious relationship yet. I didn't know what to do, I couldn't focus in class and it greatly affected my studies so I prayed every night and asked God for guidance and help. He helped me realize that we were both still young and I need to focus on myself first. Currently, I'm starting to avoid interactions with her so that I wouldn't get too attached.

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When a person enters your life, nobody ever really thinks about the overall impact that person may have on your life. Your life will always be subject to change, and your future is never set in stone. However, people argue that fate is inevitable. This is something I’ve grown to realize this school year.

When I first stepped into 8th grade, I knew I wanted to go back to my Antares section. I didn’t want to sit in a classroom where I felt like I didn’t belong, surrounded by people I had never spoken to but had to spend an entire year with. I dreaded the thought of starting over again, trying to find my place in what feels like an endless ocean of uncertainty.

But man, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Somewhere along the way, the unfamiliar became familiar. The class I once disliked, felt like home. The people I once hesitated to talk to, became the people I couldn’t go a day without.

What began as an uncomfortable change turned into something I would have never expected, a place where I truly belonged. I guess fate has its own way of finding and bringing the right people together.

No words could ever fully encapsulate how grateful I am to have my friends. I only met them this school year but it feels like I've known them for years. They mean the whole world to me and I don't think they'll ever know it, the way they glued pieces of a shattered heart back to its original state. I thank God every day for letting me meet such wonderful people who helped me realized that maybe life isn't so bad when you're with the right people.

Hearts from Lav

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When I was in elementary school, it was around kinder-grade 1. I experienced bullying or atleast I saw it as bullying such as: talking down to me, being rude for no reason and sometimes my childish classmate would hit me for telling them what they are doing is wrong, I would try to explain to them in a nice way but usually the teacher then gets involved. But I didn’t let these things hold me back. Instead of letting it affect me negatively, this mindset helped me stay confident and focused, making me feel matured or even stronger in the face of challenges.

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There was this time of my life where I felt everything is just bad, everything is just not going in the right place, I had personal problems, academics, and even family problems. This moment was really tough for me, I had to choose, which one should I deal with first? It was hard for me to choose because I had to face reality and deal with all of them. During this time, I had no one to talk to considering that I don't have any best friend, close friend or even a circle of friends where I felt I belonged to be considered in ParSci, and even if I did talk about it, I knew that they were just going to talk about theirs so I chose not to. I chose not to because I know I'm just going to feel bad even more and maybe they're dealing with someone/something too. All the friends that I could talk with about my problems is in my previous school, of course I wouldn't bother them because I know they're dealing with one too. And even if I did talk about it, I knew they'd pity me, I dislike the idea of being pitied, it makes me feel weak. So I realized that at this point in my life, I realized that the person I could talk about my problems was me, myself, and I, and that's okay. It's fine to do things by yourself, to comfort yourself and find ways on how to deal things without the comforting words and kind gestures by others. But sometimes, I wonder, will there be someone who could I rely on? Someone who could I open up my heart wholeheartedly without the feeling of being judged and invalidated? It must sound nice. But at the end of the day, even if you're friends with all the people inside or outside the school, it's just you. This moment made me realize that no one could fix your problems so at a very young age, I figured out how to deal things myself and I think that's nice for me because as per miss AM "I am the problem and I am the solution" and that's what I kept inside my mind every single time to make myself strong and how to deal things without relying on the presence of others. 💞💞

(Issokei to be alone ! :D)

Denisse Gabrielle P. Tamang 💌

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There was a time when I reflected too deeply and realized how life only gets harder as you grow older. It hit me even more when I understood that sometimes, all you can do is watch as things become more complicated, knowing there’s nothing you can do to stop it. I also came to terms with the fact that not everything will go my way, that nothing lasts forever, and that change is the only constant.

From a young age, I had to learn to stand on my own two feet, creating a world where I supported myself mentally because no one else did. This shaped the way I think and approach life. Over time, I found comfort in studying more than anything else since it has been the only constant in my life, anchoring me through every challenge.

But the hardest part was losing the person I trusted and treasured the most. She was like a sister to me, always by my side, guiding me through everything. But now, she has her own life, and though she still holds a place in my heart, she’s no longer here to help me find my way. When she left, I felt so lost.

I also came to understand that life will always be a cycle of navigating struggles while balancing school, family, friendships, and personal problems. Despite this, I remind myself that I’m still young and shouldn’t carry these burdens too heavily. So, I take time for myself, breathe, and accept that some things are inevitable—but that doesn’t mean I’ll ever give up.

-Gonzales, Chantel🫶

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Year 2022, I was very close and attached to this friend I had. She always treated me nicely and showed me what a real friendship looked like. After a while, I started having new friends, and spent less time hanging out with her. One day, a misunderstanding with this other classmate occurred and it made it look like I was betraying her. Later, I saw a long, harsh message from her and her mom, scolding me and saying mean things. Mind you, I was like 11 years old, and my parents knew nothing about what was happening. At the time, I didn’t think much of it because I never thought that it was such a big deal especially since she said that she already forgave me after explaining my side of the story.

But one day, as I was leaving school with a friend, she, her mom, my other classmate and their mom surrounded me. They yelled at my face, insulting me and accusing me of things I didn’t even do. I was terrified and didn’t even understand what they were saying. Thankfully, my friend pulled me away and we talked to her mom and my parents. That experience left me with so much sadness and trust issues for months.

Praise God that my parents stepped in and spoke to theirs, saying that it wasn’t right for grown adults to treat a child like me this way.

This situation made me stronger. It taught me to stand up for myself, fight for my side when I know I’m not in the wrong, and never face things alone. I forgave them, not because what they did to me was okay, but because I learned an important lesson: to be careful with my actions and how others might see them.

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Before I entered parsci I grew really fond of many people. I considered them as my dearest friends. They we're really the best, since they would always be there for me, when I was sad they'd cheer me up, when I was scared they'd give me courage. They we're really the best. We shared many great moments together. But, I guess all good things must come to an end someday. I neither hate nor dislike them since how could I hate them when they meant so much to me. I don't mean to be rude or anything but my friend group wasn't the smartest so as a result of this not one of them tried for the entrance exam. I ended up all alone. The combination of loneliness and the loss of my friends was something I couldn't bare. However, despite being all alone I found strength from within. Since I knew that I was never alone because I have God by my side. I found strength through him and it made me feel strong.

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Ever since grade 7, a problem of mine was letting go of the past. It had been my problem for a long time. Despite having the right people to comfort me, and ensure my stay in ParSci is worth, I could not help but hold onto the past. There were nights where I could not help but miss the past. I was haunted by the feeling that I had easily let go of them by switching schools, by leaving them.

Moving on was the hardest part, it was hard to let go of it. I found it rather selfish of me to easily move on the past, especially since it was them who understood me better.

As I continue to reminisce on the past, my memories with her stand out the most. I had enjoyed looking back at my memories with her. You were ethereal; she was my everything. All hope with her was my everything; I never bothered to listen to whispers about how we could never end up together. I dreamt of us more. Your words could easily make up my day; you could naturally make me smile.

I decided to chat her as a way to see how she's doing. She looked like she's enjoying where she's at. I was happy for her. Every week, we'd chat for more than an hour, I had lived in the moment I dreamt of for so long. This gave me motivation. She had become my inspiration. Because of her, and my strong determination to excel so she could see how I've grown, I managed to achieve honors. She helped me build another version of myself who performed better at academics. She was my inspiration.

Last month, during the month of love, I had confessed to her these unsaid feelings I had towards her. Her reply never showed reciprocation nor rejection, which left me confused. After all this hope I had built up, is this truly what we are worth now? Nothing? It felt like the chances I had with her are shattered. Now, I decided to let go of her, and accept that we'll never be together. I had failed the promise that I would never move on from her. Despite what had happened between me and her, she remains as the most memorable fragment of my past.

An acquaintance who I knew how they could care for someone deeply. May our paths cross again. I swear that in another world, you are mine. I will find you in that other world.

I remember this from a letter I had given you, the time we were inseparable: "Cold in my professions, warm in my friendships. I wish, my dear [], let it be by words rather than actions, to say that I love you."

Mahal kita, dalawang taon na.

j.r

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I was very close with a person one time, or atleast I think I was. They were very kind and always smiled at me and everyone around them, I always thought them to be a cheerful person and admired them for that. I'd known them since grade 7 and we only became closer now that we were classmates. By the end of third quarter I found out they were using me, and I wouldn't have known if it wasnt for the teacher which meant they had no intention of telling me. My world seemed to crash, I probably took it harder than a regular person since I have major trust issues, it made me feel foolish and betrayed at the same time from a person I never thought I would experience it from. But even before they apologized, I already forgave them because that is the person I am. I am strong because I forgive those who hurt me in order for myself to grow as a person. Its not a matter of saying what they did is okay, but a matter of saying that they won't affect me anymore. I thank the Lord for showing me the truth, no matter how much it may hurt me

-Mabini, Eunice S.💛💛

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In 2019, my aunt got into a car accident. She had to go through three surgeries to fix her colon because it was damaged from the impact. The accident was very traumatic for me, especially because the airbag exploded. I remember when she had her first surgery my siblings and I prayed for it to be successful. I was so scared of losing her because we were very close.

While she was recovering, she had many complications and had to go back to the hospital multiple times. Around the same time, we faced another heartbreaking situation my uncle, her brother, passed away from a heart attack. It was devastating for our family. He was in the hospital for three days before he passed, and we didn’t even get a chance to visit him. That time in my life was very hard, but it made me stronger and taught me how to deal with pain and loss.

Because of everything that happened, I get scared when someone is driving fast. The accident left a lasting impact on me, and I still feel anxious in cars sometimes.

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One time I faced a personal challenge that made me feel strong was during the second quarter this school year. I went through a rollercoaster of emotions as I continue (until now) to learn more about myself and try to find solutions for problems that have been happening around me. During that time, I was afraid of everything- ot being able to pass Parsci and disappoint my parents- and a lot of anxious thoughts filled my mind at the time that I went out to cool off my anger. Reflecting, I realized that that day changed most of my thoughts about myself and made me who I am today. I can talk to my parents about anything I feel, my opinions on something, without being judged or frowned upon. I learned to study harder (kinda HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAA) and feel better about myself. I feel better knowing I had parents who supported me despite the late nights of school work.

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So back when I was just grade 7. In the 3rd to 4th Quarter. I met this girl that I didn't even think I would like haha. I never thought of having the future with her but there was something like she's so very special to me that I would even want to hurt myself rather than losing her.(I don't want to go too far so yk what happened I'll just filter it. So that time almost everyday I'm crying to the point that all I think every second is her. To the point that I didn't even focused on my study just because of that. And I realized "it was time to let go". So I think I was brave enough and strong enough to let go of that someone even though I love her so much, even she's everything because in the end of the day it is you only that you can rely on.(We're a good friends now btw)

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There was a time in my life when I was really struggling. I know I’m still young, still exploring and figuring things out, but that doesn’t make things any easier. I was dealing with serious personal and family problems, and on top of that, I was sick. Everything felt overwhelming, and it was hard to find a way forward.

There were also challenges in my relationship with my girlfriend. It wasn’t easy to navigate, but I’m truly grateful to her for understanding me and giving me the time I needed to recover before we even talked about our own issues. At the same time, I saw that she was also dealing with struggles within her own family. I did my best to be there for her, to comfort and support her in any way I could. Even now, we’re still working through our problems together, and I really hope we can overcome them.

Despite my flaws, my stubbornness, and everything I’ve been going through, she has stayed by my side. For that, I am deeply thankful. Managing my studies was also tough, especially with the constant pressure from my family. It became difficult to balance everything—their expectations, my responsibilities, and my own well-being.

But through it all, I’m incredibly grateful to my friends and my girlfriend. They’ve been my support system, comforting me, reminding me that I’m not alone, and helping me find my way back. I know I still have a lot to work on, but having them by my side gives me hope that I can fix things—both within myself and in my life.

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The time that I did the entrance exam in parsci. I actually passed out and if I woke up later than when I did, I would've been in the hospital. Everyone, even my parents told me to go to the hospital. But I didn't. I took the exam. With a headache and passion to pass, I answered everything. And now I'm a Parsci student. So I guess it was the most powerful moment for me. When everyone was telling me to not do so, I went with my decision. And I did it. Sooo yeaah.

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"An experience that made me a better version of myself"

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"An experience that made me a better version of myself"

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There was a remarkable experience I'd like to share. I took the entrance exam of PARSCI, one of the best schools in the whole Philippines. I never thought of going to this school, but it was worth a try. After the initial exam, I got worried if I'd pass or not. But, it can only be determined on the result of the test. When I got my score, I never expected that I passed. It was something to be proud of. This made me feel a brief moment of strength . I felt like I did it, I achieve what I wanted. So, if I were you, never fret and do your best. Because it will Al work out in the end. 🐧🍓

-Dakine Ajero 🍓🐧

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One time, I felt I was standing before my thoughts filled with negativities. It felt like walking into a void. I felt pathetic. The gaze and judgements of others keep on lingering on my mind. However, this made me strong because it has come to me that someone will always be there to hate. This day taught me to look to the other side and cherish the gifted characteristics I have. Caring about them won't move a needle in my path. This is my own life, not theirs. I felt stronger both in my mind and my heart.