My name is Daphnie Trisha Grail C. So. I just turned 17 years old last May 21. I am a 2008 baby and I am the eldest daughter in my family. My 2 younger siblings are boys which makes me the only daughter. I am currently studying at one of the most prestigious schools here in Davao, Ateneo De Davao University. I am already a Grade 12 student who is aspiring to finish senior high school with several academic achievements.

I am also interested in crochet. Not good at it yet but will slowly reach there. It does get tiring since it requires a lot of time and effort to finish your desired outcome especially if you decide to create a type of clothing. All I need is patience in order to finish and achieve what I want.

I listen to music a lot. My favorite singer is Taylor Swift since I was 4 years old. I love listening to her songs. I sometimes play a few R&B songs. The music that I listen usually depends on my mood or feelings at that moment.

I love food. I love to eat ice-cream. I enjoy eating what my lola cooks for me. Most importantly I love to eat whenever I'm with people I love. It makes the food more yummy and enjoyable.

I actually hate smoke. Smokes from cigarettes are the things that I don't like my nose to smell.

I don't like lizards. I never want to touch or even see a lizard because I just hate how they look and move.

The greatest gifts I have considered are my family and friends. Aside from making me happy, they also make me appreciate life more. Moments with them instantly heals something within me. Every experience I have with them leaves a footprint in my heart as I go on with my journey in life.

IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT.

Compared from who I am right now, I was more confident and talkative before. I talk and respond to almost everyone. I could say that I was a social butterfly. However, I only had 2 friends and they only visit sometimes so I often play with my stuff toys. This picture was taken by my mom when I was playing "dinner time" with my stuff toys. Despite not having real friends here, I always make the most out of what I do. I always make a way to make everything fun and exciting.

But even though I started to explore activities inside house, it was also the time for me to meet new people and enter school. I didn't want to be separated from my mom. School for me felt like a cage that separated me from what I felt comfortable with.

After adjusting with school, I was competent enough to successfully accomplish any simple task. It helped me discover a lot especially with kids my age. During these years, I was able to grow and develop into responsible kid. I was also a star kid in the class. This made my family happy and rewarded me with my favorite ice-cream.

This picture presents my first day in 2nd grade. I was already super excited to start the year with my new Barbie bag. These years were my optimistic years, I view everything positively without having to worry about everything too much.

In this picture, I was in a museum with my friends as we celebrated my 17th birthday. While looking at it, I get to reflect on how much I have grown throughout the years. The realization of turning into an adult hits me. I don't have much interest yet but as I continue to experience life these years, I will identify what I really desire. I know that I must be ready to undergo various difficulties in life, but I know I will surpass as long I keep a strong and positive mind and body.

As you start to read this letter, I hope you are well and in the right mind. Do know that your 17 year old self continues to wonder of what her future will turn out. Today, I know that we have this desire to be rich and buy anything we want without worrying about money but I want you to know that as long as we have a peaceful life, stable enough to fulfill our needs and wants, healthy mind and body, and of course a happy heart, we should already appreciate what we have. I hope you won't burnout yourself too much and learn how to rest. In this last year of SHS in AdDU, I hope the choice I'm deciding for college led you to a good path. I wish you're experiencing the life I am currently imagining today. Do I still have the people I treasure today? I do wish they are still there. Please learn how to be contented in life. I know giving up is not us but if we've already tried too many times, I think its better to not force it. Continue to view life as something beautiful because you did not work hard for nothing.

Personal Development was really helpful for me because it made me stop and reflect on who I am, my strengths, and the areas I need to improve. Through the lessons and activities, I realized how my choices and habits affect my personal growth and relationships. It also helped me understand my emotions better and how to handle challenges more effectively. Overall, this subject guided me to become more self-aware and responsible, both in school and in my personal life.

One of the biggest lessons I learned is the importance of knowing myself, understanding my emotions, my goals, and my reactions. I also realized that communication and maintaining good relationships are just as important as academic success. Another key takeaway is that personal development is a continuous process; growth doesn’t happen overnight, and challenges are part of learning. This subject taught me to value self-reflection and to always strive to be a better version of myself.

3. What two topics were your favorites and why?

My favorite topics were Personal and Social Relationships and Developmental Stages of Middle and Late Adolescents. I enjoyed Personal and Social Relationships because it taught me how to communicate better, understand others, and maintain healthy connections with people around me. I liked Developmental Stages of Middle and Late Adolescents because it helped me understand the changes I am going through as a senior high school student and how they affect my emotions and decisions. Both topics were very relatable and gave me practical ways to improve myself and my interactions with others.