-Dakine Ajero 🍓🐧

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.

(Issokei to be alone ! :D)

• Denisse Gabrielle P. Tamang 💌

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.

-Mabini, Eunice S.💛💛

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.

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🫶

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

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)

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

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💗💗

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