Last month’s fourth Sunday (May 25) was a big day for me: I turned 21 years old! Like what people around me said, it was my debut of being an adult. Well literally, since I was in tertiary school and been facing computers everyday I observed slowly that gray hairs start spawning on my head. My classmates have teased me that I am already an adult — in thinking, yes — but I have strongly denied it. This year’s birthday event made it official, however. My online friend Mihaela Lica, told me on chat that my new age will bring “more milk” for me. Whatever she meant, just use your imagination. I just hope because I have milk and I want more.

Looking back, here are the highlights of my life until this age:

• When my mother got pregnant for me, she took medicine and attempted to abort me due to family disputes.  It failed, I’m alive. I’m wondering if the medicine has side effects on me. I learned this when I was second year high school.
• At age 1, my mother said I was fond of listening instrumental piano music she played on cassette tapes. We used to live in a wooden and creaky house beside a river. It was taken away by a flashflood.
• At age 3, I first played a computer game Super Mario from our neighbor’s Nintendo family computer game console. My addiction with this game lasted until my high school days before it was completely replaced by Squaresoft’s (now Square-Enix) Brave Fence Musashi and Final Fantasy series.

Kindergarten

• During my kindergarten one, I reigned as first honors in our class. My father got promoted as manager, so I got a chance to study in a private school for one year. When my father’s company closed, I went back to public school and moved on.
• I spent my vacation in my grandmother’s place. There, I experienced selling bananas on the street and in the villages every afternoon.

Elementary

• During my first grade, I punched and broke the tooth of my classmate named Eleazar when we were on the line towards our classroom. I also broke my leg after swinging much in a “hamac” or swing.
• I was a consistent honor throughout my elementary years. I was not into sports really, but I joined some athletes during their baseball and volleyball practices. I was a cartoonist in our school organ and an active Boy Scout attending several jamborees in the city. I also had my first crush named April Love, our valedictorian, while I was one of graduating pupils with honors.

High School

• During high school my life significantly changed. I became curious about life and started to learn philosophies through experience. I studied in Maryknoll High School of Panabo City. During my first year, I got 78/100 grade in my report card — my all-time lowest scholastic grade — and the subject was T.H.E. (or Technology and Home Economics)!
• I met Lynden, the first girl that I fell in loved with passion. She flew to Australia during third year and drifted own our ways. We still chat sometimes but she told me I have no future for her.
• During high school I participated actively in many school organizations. I became involved in campus journalism (became a Chief Editor), an active Outdoorsman scout, and wrote my own fantasy epic stories. I graduated with no academic but special awards.

College, University and Beyond

• I entered tertiary education as a working student in AMA Computer University Davao Campus, more than 33 kilometers from my place. Life was tougher during those days financially. Me, my mother and brother experienced quite numerous tearful nights. Attending school the next day is always uncertain because of the financial obstacles. I rode a bus to school (and always standing) back and forth. These experiences urged me to take schooling seriously — and I learned a lot from both misery and limitations.
• At age 18, first time I got a foreign American friend, Eric Pangburn, who helped me buy on-the-job training uniform and brought me to restaurants in the city that I could not afford during that time. He was my only friend with height of 6 feet and 8 inches.
• At age 19, I graduated from my tertiary school, AMA Computer University, acquiring a title of Bachelor of Science Magna Cum Laude in Information Technology. I had my first time graduation speech that brought tears to audience.
• At age 20, I got my first official graduate job as Software Tester at BHI Pro. The management wanted me to work on graveyard shift. So, I slept in their office every night for one month and I decided to resign on the third month. They brought me to my current employer, which honestly, weighs and plays more significant role than I could imagine in my life. I am committed, and will do anything for him and he knows that. I got good online friends as well, John MacDonald from New Brunswick, Canada, and Gregory White from Perth (who passed away two weeks after my birthday).

Looking back when my 21st birthday dawned, I realized that I have learned many things in life — more than the people of my age — no wonder why some people told me that I have an old mind. I had a simple celebration on my debut with few friends and family members, yet with tremendous thoughts for me. I thank God for everything for all of this. I still can’t believe I am already 21 though. Time was fast.