Contributor: Master Drunker Dreamer
Like any other human being in this side of the universe, I also have dreams and goals in life that I want to achieve. And my greatest dream is simple – to finish college.
Years ago, I was not the same person that I am now. Though I was already a dreamer that time, I used to think that the dream of finishing college would only remain a dream forever. Or perhaps, my dreams at that stage of my life were covered with nicotine residues and alcohol hangovers – which I have to scrape first in order for my dreams to come true. I was a bad boy then and I didn’t take my dreams seriously. It was because of a very practical reason that I used to think before – nobody could send me to college, hence, my dream would never become a reality.
During those times, finishing college was very impossible and what I could only do was to keep on dreaming, dreaming again, and dreaming once more.
Every time those dreams cross my mind, I would always ask myself why God gave me a difficult life. During drinking sessions with my barkadas, I would sometimes ask them why God is so unfair that he took away my mother and father. And my barkadas would just reply, “I-shot rana brod!”
That was my life then. I was able to escape from the realities of life through hard liquors and smoke. I was able to condition my mind that my dreams would always be dreams.
Until that morning came…
That morning, I found my self sleeping beside the despicable waste I vomitted outside my grandmother’s bungalow. I remembered that I was too drunk that morning. When I stood up to drink some water, I noticed my Lola looking at me intently. I did not mind it at first. Then, after drinking water, I sat on the bamboo bench under the mango tree.
Moments passed and my hangover was gone. After a while, my Lola sat beside me and talked to me seriously.
“Do you really want to live that way for the rest of your life?” my Lola asked. Those words from her seemed to awaken my dreams again. It took almost a minute before I was able to answer and the only word that came out from my mouth was “NO”.
Lola held my hand and started telling her plans for me. According to her, she wanted me to go to college but since she and my Lolo could not afford the financial obligations, they asked help from my aunts (the sisters of my father). She revealed that they talked about it already and that I was very lucky because they are willing to help despite the fact that they too have small incomes.
Hearing those words from the mouth of my beloved Lola, I saw the world smiling at me for the first time. I realized that I am still lucky. It was only then that I realized that I am loved – the feeling that I’ve been longing for a long time.
Here I am now – changed. I am now on my way of achieving my dreams. Enrolling in this university is my first step to achieve my greatest dream – finishing college. Enrolling here is already an achievement for me.
Since my grandparents cannot send me to school, I am currently staying at my aunt’s house here in Dumaguete City so that I can go to school everyday. And staying with them has changed me a lot – I am proud to say that I am a better person now. I learned to do simple things – things that I never used to do before.
Every sunrise keeps inspiring me to never give up. Here I am now in this university holding on to my dreams, hoping that I can reach the top of this journey and will say cheers to success. Or if ever I will not, I would still be forever thankful to my aunts and grandparents because without them, I would never grow; I would never reach this stage of my dream, and I would never work for it.
If not for them, I would have remained a mere dreamer forever.
* Master Drunker Dreamer is a second year BS Agriculture student who loves singing. He is currently a staff assistant in one of the offices in this university.
Like any other human being in this side of the universe, I also have dreams and goals in life that I want to achieve. And my greatest dream is simple – to finish college.
Years ago, I was not the same person that I am now. Though I was already a dreamer that time, I used to think that the dream of finishing college would only remain a dream forever. Or perhaps, my dreams at that stage of my life were covered with nicotine residues and alcohol hangovers – which I have to scrape first in order for my dreams to come true. I was a bad boy then and I didn’t take my dreams seriously. It was because of a very practical reason that I used to think before – nobody could send me to college, hence, my dream would never become a reality.
During those times, finishing college was very impossible and what I could only do was to keep on dreaming, dreaming again, and dreaming once more.
Every time those dreams cross my mind, I would always ask myself why God gave me a difficult life. During drinking sessions with my barkadas, I would sometimes ask them why God is so unfair that he took away my mother and father. And my barkadas would just reply, “I-shot rana brod!”
That was my life then. I was able to escape from the realities of life through hard liquors and smoke. I was able to condition my mind that my dreams would always be dreams.
Until that morning came…
That morning, I found my self sleeping beside the despicable waste I vomitted outside my grandmother’s bungalow. I remembered that I was too drunk that morning. When I stood up to drink some water, I noticed my Lola looking at me intently. I did not mind it at first. Then, after drinking water, I sat on the bamboo bench under the mango tree.
Moments passed and my hangover was gone. After a while, my Lola sat beside me and talked to me seriously.
“Do you really want to live that way for the rest of your life?” my Lola asked. Those words from her seemed to awaken my dreams again. It took almost a minute before I was able to answer and the only word that came out from my mouth was “NO”.
Lola held my hand and started telling her plans for me. According to her, she wanted me to go to college but since she and my Lolo could not afford the financial obligations, they asked help from my aunts (the sisters of my father). She revealed that they talked about it already and that I was very lucky because they are willing to help despite the fact that they too have small incomes.
Hearing those words from the mouth of my beloved Lola, I saw the world smiling at me for the first time. I realized that I am still lucky. It was only then that I realized that I am loved – the feeling that I’ve been longing for a long time.
Here I am now – changed. I am now on my way of achieving my dreams. Enrolling in this university is my first step to achieve my greatest dream – finishing college. Enrolling here is already an achievement for me.
Since my grandparents cannot send me to school, I am currently staying at my aunt’s house here in Dumaguete City so that I can go to school everyday. And staying with them has changed me a lot – I am proud to say that I am a better person now. I learned to do simple things – things that I never used to do before.
Every sunrise keeps inspiring me to never give up. Here I am now in this university holding on to my dreams, hoping that I can reach the top of this journey and will say cheers to success. Or if ever I will not, I would still be forever thankful to my aunts and grandparents because without them, I would never grow; I would never reach this stage of my dream, and I would never work for it.
If not for them, I would have remained a mere dreamer forever.
* Master Drunker Dreamer is a second year BS Agriculture student who loves singing. He is currently a staff assistant in one of the offices in this university.
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