#acet essay

[r1summary]

ACET Application Essay

Note: 

I labored over this. It wasn’t an easy write. 

Writing prompt was: A significant event in your life that changed you and right from the start, I knew I wanted to write about my everyday commute. I knew that it was going to be difficult. I knew that I would spend hours staring at a blank document. I knew it was going to be a lengthy, torturous process. But I most of all, I knew it was gonna be beautiful.

Alas, it was one hell of a writing process. I spent over 5 days writing this 2-page long essay and with it came tears of frustration and disappointment, and lots of staring-at-the-ceiling-wishing-for-words-to-rain-down-upon-you moments. There came a point, about 2 days (a paragraph and a half) after I started when I wanted to drop the whole public transportation thing and just stick to a mediocre essay about getting honors or being top 1 for more than 10 years. But I just had to go on. 

So after 5 days of slowly killing myself, here is my application essay.

I hope this will all be worth it. 

Riza Maree Rapada

Ateneo SHS, G12-GA

Application Essay

“Tahan Na, Tahanan Na”

“Arriving at Araneta Center Cubao Station. Paparating na sa Araneta Center Cubao Station.” The all too familiar recorded voice of the female announcer awakened my spirit from its momentary slumber. I positioned myself near the sliding doors, stretching my back and shoulders that had been hunched over by the weight of my backpack. The train came to a full stop at the station, and as soon as the doors started to open, I shot out onto the platform, like a thoroughbred released from its starting stall at the sound of a pistol, and walked as fast as I could. Within seconds, I was enveloped by a sea of commuters all marching towards the same direction. For a second, I glanced up at the digital clock; 6:30, it said, and I doubled my speed. I headed down the stairs, to the exit gates, and into the Gateway Mall.

Once inside, the coldness of the air conditioning embraced me. It clung on to my back, which was wet with perspiration. I wiped sweat from my forehead, without stopping or even slowing down. My feet automatically carried me through the hall, passing by the same stores that I never actually entered. I closed my eyes for a couple of seconds, somehow comforted by the knowledge that, if there were no other people in the establishment, I could navigate this all too familiar path while sleeping. I rode the escalator that leads to the bridge connecting Gateway and Araneta Center. The ground is painted like an actual road, with a divider to separate the people walking towards either of the malls. I picked a random guy a few meters in front of me and willed myself to walk past him before either of us enters Araneta Center. I am no athlete, but I was able to surpass him with ease, the burning sensation on my legs a manifestation of my minuscule success.

I continued my journey through Araneta Center towards the bus station right outside. It had already been dark by the time I arrived. I headed towards the sidewalk filled with commuters, my eyes automatically searching for the unique bird-like design of the particular Malinta Exit bound bus line that would take me home. I was tired, yet I restlessly walked up and down the path, eager to spot my ride home. I did so for around 20 minutes until at last, I saw one approaching. I ran like an Olympic sprinter towards the designated loading spot and was among the first ones to arrive. The incoming bus was evidently full; there were already people standing near the windshield. I was sure of one thing: I wouldn't be getting any rest on the way home. Nevertheless, my heart was filled with gratitude and relief, knowing that I would be reaching the comforts of home soon.

The bus pulled up right in front of me, and I immediately hopped in as the door slid open. The bus was too crowded that the farthest I could go into was beside the driver. It was an even greater struggle because normally, I had the bag compartments to cling on, but this time I almost had nothing to hold on to, except the person beside me and the driver, who was absolutely out of the question. So I just stood as still as I possibly can, considering my heavy bag, the bumpy road of EDSA, and the slight turns of the bus. I could see the red lights on the back of the cars in front of us, and for a little while, I entertained the idea of the bus being hit by another vehicle or losing control of its brakes, and its momentum throwing me off through the windshield and into the dark road. The idea was terrifying, and I said a little prayer to lessen the probability of it happening. But at the same time, the thought of risking one's life and embracing its vulnerability, just for the sake of fulfilling one’s yearning to go home as soon as possible, made me wonder about the powers of desire and commitment. The woman beside me, the people cramped by the door, those right in front of the wind shield and I could have waited a little longer for an uncongested bus. We all knew the danger of being placed in those positions, and yet we still chose to get on, to go home. It was a rather beautiful realization, and I couldn't help but look around and smile at everyone within my field of vision.

I was in that position for the duration of my journey from Cubao to Malinta Exit. I arrived home exhausted, yet fulfilled. My feet and back hurt, my stomach growled in hunger, and my academic and extra-curricular responsibilities—2 long tests, a project due the next day, and class treasurer duties— nag the back of my mind but I was home safe, with my Mom, my Dad, and my little brother, and it was more than I could wish for.

That is every day of my life after school ever since I started my Ateneo SHS education. I ride the LRT, walk across Cubao, and ride a usually crowded bus. Mundane, it may seem, at a glance of the eyes, but if you look a little closer, the littlest details are the ones that make it extraordinary. I braved the unfamiliar place of Cubao alone, just one day after I first ventured it with my friend as a companion. Walking had become too tiring and lonely, so I thought of it as a game, only I am against myself, and there is no one else to compete with but me. I have learned to become vigilant, to be smart enough to protect myself from the dangers of the stranger-filled streets, to adapt to the closest thing that I have to the real world, and to depend on my abilities. In the most uncomfortable and harsh circumstances in my everyday journey, I remain calm, and I find the time to be still and reflect on what is in front of me. Driven by a strong desire to achieve something— to reach home and be with family— I can get through every struggle that passes me by. Going through them all day by day is what changed me, what continues to change me, to turn me into a better and more capable version of myself. As Helen Keller once said, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”

and now the acet huhuhuhu

[zdocampo]

On Who I Was, And Who I Now Want To Be: ACET Essay

Well, I passed the ACET. I'm pretty sure they didn't take so much as a glance at this, but I'm posting it anyway. 676 words, every single one dripping with arrogance and self-importance (and I don't mean that in a good way). 

Are there any significant experiences you have had, or accomplishments you have realized, that have helped to define you as a person?

Jack-of-all-Trades, Ace of None. To be described as that, we were told in our AP class last year, would have been the pinochle of success during the Age of Renaissance. Our teacher described a Jack-of-all-Trades as a man that is capable of doing everything, but incapable of excelling at anything he does. At that time, I thought highly of that kind of person. I refused to believe that quality overpowered quantity, simply because I was yet to discover what I was aiming for.

My elementary days were somehow insignificant. I had no idea who I was, or who I wanted to be. My solution: Be a Jack-Of-All-Trades. Be everyone and do everything until I find someone I’d be comfortable seeing every time I check a mirror. I tried creative writing, surfing, and even web designing. None of these really stuck to me until I entered High School.

In the start of my Sophomore year, a friend of mine convinced me to try out with her for the school’s publication as a layout artist. I didn’t expect at all to get in, since I had no experience with anything that had to do with digital design. Fortunately though, I made the cut. During Junior year, one of the editors recommended that I try out as a photographer, and I landed that spot as well. This year, I was appointed assistant head layout editor and assistant head photographer.

The labels certainly look shiny, but they come at a price. The tasks at hand are not easy. As a layout artist, I’m given twenty-four hour deadlines for tasks that normally take days to finish. Being a school photographer requires that I carry a professional camera to class daily, in case anything significant comes up and needs to be documented.

I’d like to be the dissatisfied teenager people expect me to be, but I can’t say I don’t find pleasure in the grueling duties I’m assigned to do. I enjoy making monotonous articles look inviting even with the challenge of limiting my color palette to hues of black and white. I revel in the satisfaction of being able to take one or two exceptional photos in every two hundred.

People constantly ask me why I put up with all the horrible conditions of being a publication staffer, when being a senior in our school alone is enough to send a perfectly sane sixteen-year-old teetering on the edge of a cliff. The answer? For the first time in my life, I finally know who I want to be. Graphic arts is what I want my life to revolve around. I want to help people feel the same electrified buzz I feel whenever I come across something visually stimulating. I desire to make people realize the beauty in everything their eyes come across. I understand that it is not an easy duty considering my lack of expertise, but passion beats talent. That’s all there is to it.

In the first sentence of this essay, I used the term “success”. That was what I wanted to have before all these events conspired. However, during a leadership seminar conducted just a week before I started writing this, our facilitator, Sir Shannon, told us a line contradictory to what I originally desired: “Choose not to be successful, but to be significant.”

He did prove a point. He said that there are already lots of successful people in the world, but only a handful of significant people. I now intend to live by this belief. In order to apply it, though, I know that I have to stop believing that I am capable of doing everything all at once and start believing that I have to focus on one thing first before I move on to the next. Being a Jack of All Trades is no longer necessary; it’s time to be an Ace. This is what all these experiences made me learn. Now that I know what to focus on, I’m moving towards new chapter of my life; and I aim to be significant.

[thatmadfilipinochica]

Edited ateneo essay

Kamille Andrea Manlusoc "Are there any significant experiences you have had, or accomplishments you have realized, that have helped to define you as a person?" Epiphanies In life, we have many uncertainties. In contrary to popular belief, it is not up to destiny or fate where we end up. It is up to us to walk and choose our own path. Life doesn't owe us a good life just because our peers seem to have a greater life compared to ours. I opened my eyes a little more to truly see what i had and what i currently have and see how each little thing is a blessing. Every challenge makes us stronger and becomes a part of who we are. I had started learning this -and other great epiphanies as well- when I had a gap in schooling after my second year in high school. At first, it seemed unfair how i, as well as my studies, had to pay for our financial crisis. From my perspective, i had to drop and leave everything behind which included my friends, top notch quality education, lifestyle, and everything i cared for in general which seemed like my life was over. All these superficial factors strayed me from keeping myself positive. I had gone so deep into disconsolation, i wept for numerous of times. Yes, it may seem like a petty reason to lose my faith and anchor to happiness, but it was all i knew and cared for at that time, so i simply didn't know any better. If you were in a close minded girl's shoes, try imagining losing everything you thought you cared about. Your daily routine, some of your friemds, internet, eating out, going out for the heck of it, watching movies, et al. replaced with moving out of your house, selling your family's car, running on a very tight budget, and living off a day to day paycheck from your only source of income, which was our mom's job. All gone. My thoughts were filled with fluctuations of "do i even matter?" to unrealistic "what if..."s. For a while, i became an atheist who also didn't believe in the good in the world anymore. I mean, of all the people, why did the economic downturn have to affect us? Everything seemed so unfair. The years before this part of my life seems like another lifetime ago. I was discontented with everything, where i constantly wanted more. Rarely pausing to say thank you for all the great happenstances i recieved. I think greedy, lugubrious and rapacious would be the most suitable adjectives to describe my past self. Problems are like colds though. They both don't last forever & they make the good days seem better. After all, there can't be a yin without a yang. With that being said, i realized that i can choose to think in a certain way that keeps me from being unproductive. So, i got out of the dumps and made something out of myself. It took me a while though -if you can consider circa five to six months a while-, but nonetheless i helped myself get better and cease to have disconsolated thoughts. Seizing my mind from melancholy was a challenge since i was isolated at home with no cellphone and internet to connect with past friends. Thoughts of "I've lost so much" always hovered in the back of my mind, but i made sure i pushed through. Things happen, and life still goes on. Almost everything is a choice. From the arduous decisions to the easy ones. They say that you have to accept the things you can't change and change the things that you cannot accept. Everything takes time, and time did i take to change my way of thinking. I turned my life around and I was no longer the weeping vapid girl any longer. Time is gold, and not everyone has the luxury to waste it. With that in mind, I made use of the free time that i had to nurture myself and the people around me with love and great care. Doing lots of reading and learning new skills helped in making me feel that i did have a purpose. Attaining this great realization opened the door for other serendipitous realizations. From my current standpoint in life, i had done things that exceeded my premature mind. After all, how can a plant grow without being covered in dirt first? Same goes for people. I never thought that i could ever start a small business and actually sell my products to other people who I've never met in my life. I am fortunate to have true friends who helped me sell my products, because the profit really did help my family and i in emergency situations. This venture had me unsure of my moves since my products were only commercialized via personal blog and word of mouth. In the end, i learnt that instead of wasting away to nothing, its best to try your best in whatever you're doing because you'll never know how far you'll get. I didn't let myself go bitter and down because of the inevitable circumstances in life that isn't in accordance to my visions. I just made the most of what i had left and carried on. I didn't let my efforts and achievements go to waste because of self depreciation. I pushed through with the help of an open mind and an open heart. When you absorb your surroundings, you unlock parts of yourself where you think of thoughts you wouldn't think of before. Personally, i think I've unlocked the secret to a happy life. Contentment. It's when you're satisfied with what you've achieved and with the things happening to you. As the year passed by, my soul grew more and so did mind to openness. It was mid-december when we moved to Bulacan from Metro Manila. It took some time to adjust again, but it came easier than our first adjustment. When i transferred to a new school, i went far and beyond my previous school year routine. I had gone to my new school with the mindset of "now that you know better, then you should do better" so I did my best in my academic performances, joined the C.O.C.C. training, became the class president, experienced the pageant life and joined an inter-school competition as well. It feels amazing to be rewarded with results after putting so much effort into something. By the following year of my junior high school life, i relished my fruits of labor. I became the top one student and attained a scholarship, the corps commander officer of our Citizenship Advancement Training, a class officer again, and ran as the president of the student government organization and won. I faced the music and accepted the reality of things so i made the most out of it. I want to provide for my family once i reach adulthood and gained my college degree. I want to give them the a comfortable life, so i am building the foundation of my future strong so that i can offer them the life that they deserve. It may be hard to believe for some that i am thankful for what happened to us, but i wouldn't have known any of the stuff I've learnt today. These battle scars are what makes me who i am today. I've been molded by experience and life lessons to be a better me. Don't be afraid to commit mistakes. Mistakes are what makes us human, and being human is absolutely lovely. Sometimes i ask myself, what is the purpose of our lives when almost all of our lives are closely identical. Just think about it. It's all the same. It's all just a routine. Different stereotypes or cliques, but same human problems. Some have boy problems, while some have financial stability problems, where a plethora of other people share the same predicaments. What makes it all worthwhile? Life answered by showing me that the answer is the beauty of human perseverance. Like myself, i persevered to be the best that i can be from being insecure and afraid of judgement. I had learnt to be assertive, courageous, adventurous, more curious, and the ropes of self improvement. I wouldn't have learnt any of those if i didn't commit countless errs. I've had lots of opportunities gone to waste. Yeah, sure i regret them but i wouldn't have done things in another way. Yes, I do sound super cliche when i say this, but anything is possible if you give it your all. Everything in life is possible if you put your mind into it. Just give your one hundred percent effort and keep your eyes on the goal. I don't plan on stopping the train of progress that is my life. My views have been shifted whereas my initial dreams have taken a revolutionary turn. I plan on doing for greater things where my existence won't only benefit myself, but other people as well. There's a saying that goes "a life lived for others is a life worth living". Simply existing doesn't automatically mean that you're living, right? So I wish to be a part of an apotheosis community where like minds can help shape society where kindness and empathy is encouraged. Resisting mediocrity and banality may be a challenge, but i think I'm driven enough to go pretty far in the future. My soul is an unequivocal soldier of dreams. Always thirsty for life's luster.

[anatomyofafemme]

Day 279 of 365

One story of a memory you have.

"When I was still young, I thought that life was just a big playground wherein we’d just run around, chasing each other and enjoying ourselves. My childhood, when I thought the hardest decision was choosing which crayon to use or which toy I must buy. Well, my thoughts were quite wrong. I was around 4 years old, when this event occurred in my life. The night that changed everything. It was past my bed time but I was still sitting on those giant floor puzzles which my dad and I built, playing with my Lego blocks. I was with my grandmother that time, when I heard some screaming from the other side of the room. The door, where the noise came from, opened and a guy came out. It was my father shouting my name, he was calling for me. Of course, I rushed to him and he let me inside. There was a complete silence. All I could hear was the noise from the air-conditioning unit. They were both staring at each other with confusion on their faces. I knew something was wrong and obviously, they had a hard time thinking on how they would say it to me. After a few seconds of having some dead air in the room, my dad finally said it. “Baby, you need to choose between the both of us.” I tried to make myself believe it wasn’t true. I told myself it could change. I kept telling myself it might just be a mistake. I just kept feeding myself with hope. Sometimes hoping isn’t the very best. It takes you away from reality. Because in the end, the bad news never really changes. I wished, I prayed but still, it didn’t change. Time was running and they were still, waiting for me to speak and announce my decision. It was on the spot and I didn’t have much time to think. I was a kid, my mind wasn’t mature enough to make tough decisions but I had to. I had to choose, and I decided to live with my mom. I had 2 reasons; First, we have the same gender so probably we get along with almost anything. Second, we’re much closer. Those playground moments, times when she had to chase after me and went running around the place. That one person whom I’d run to when I get scared and hugs me tight, the person who often holds my hand, knowing she’d never leave me. It was my mom and I know I made the right choice." © Queenie Boado; 2013

--A part taken from my ACET Essay

[sxsvnkatee]

A Flash Of My Roller Coaster Ride

             Every combat that I had and every triumph that I made define me as a person right now. Everything that has gone by made me a vital individual with a positive outlook in life as dependent on my own capabilities. With constant application of finest feelings to my matters, I am in reputable amplitude preserved from the blighting and automate effects of this society. Each living soul I have confronted aided me in becoming the person I am to be. All of those momentous events make up my exclusive psyche, my whole-package as a mortal.

                        On my flying start, I was just a little girl with endless stories to tell and was open-minded to every aspect of life. I savored every second of my never ending happiness which is entirely unlike any other joy I have felt. As I am equipped with the blissful matters in my life, it was very intimidating that I was aging each day and everything changed for it is inevitable. I joined pageants, dance contests, and I got used to presenting before a huge crowd. This enabled me to boost my self-confidence and value my self-worth. The overwhelming feeling of hearing applause left me with the thought that I should strive more of becoming a better performer.

              There are however cosmically significant events that have forever changed me as a person and molded me to the person I am today. Joining such made me active in school activities and helped me academically. There were times when I failed to exert much more effort on my studies and focused more on my extracurricular activities which turned out to be the often reason of my inconsistent place when it comes to the honor roll. Though I got used to performing, I have been aware that I should profit my academics first before other activities. Performing such a task may be likely hard for me but it led me to a better future. With this thought instilled in my mind, it enabled me to have a high rank on the honor roll.

              Upon these experiences come my accomplishments which serve as the fruits of my labor and a testament to my hard work. On my first year in high school, I was the first honor though I was not in the pilot section by that time. I was entrusted in holding big roles when it comes to leadership and I was appointed as the representative of our batch when I was a 2nd year student. I was often elected as an officer in different clubs as well as a classroom officer. As of now, I am of service to my school as a CAT officer. I also joined dance competitions and triumphed. Such experiments taught me lessons which I will carry out for the rest of my life.

              Personally, I also had my own set of goals which I finally accomplished, however partially. I was able to overcome my act of being too clingy to the people around me. I became independent and I can now manage to set things straight on my own. It may appear shallow to others but it molds me in bearing contentment to my existence.

              When I look back to these moments of grandeur, they give me strength which I ought need. They inspire me to do more. to do better, to push harder. They remind me of how strong I am and how strong I have become. I’m the author of my life, I write on every single page of it. However, it is not yet done for I will continue to shower myself with comforts until my last breath.

[joysfearschange-blog]

i have a blank sheet of A4 paper staring at me ugh i didn't know answering an essay would be this hard 

[jeon-junggoos]

Because once upon a time I took the ACET too

This is goddamn long. I am sorry for how my essay would look. Hayz. |||

“I could never think badly of you. Why do you even think like that? We all have flaws. You could have a million flaws but I wouldn’t love you any less.”

         The words above are taken from a personal letter written by a friend for me in our second year. That friend of mine is certainly close to me—so close, in fact, that I have often joked about adopting her and legally making her my sister. Very few people come into our lives and make us feel like better persons, let alone inspire us to move forward and never dwell on our shortcomings. As for me, that friend of mine is one of the very few people who inspire me to do better and to improve myself, and I am very grateful to have someone like her.

        Often, there are experiences that we have where we lose sight of the future and we think about our regrets all the time. I have had such experiences, and they are not easy to get out of—one would always feel like they are stuck in a treacherous marsh, and everyday feels like a battle because you know that you will never be satisfied with what you have unless you can rise above those who are better than you, even if those people happen to be your friends. To put it in layman’s terms, whenever I feel like I haven’t done enough, I do everything that I can to overshadow everybody else in the way. I am not proud of it, and I certainly do not wish anyone to follow my footsteps on these narcissistic actions.

          I come from a family of achievers, and that alone is enough to make anyone feel the pressure to further make the family proud. My cousins were in the Ateneo de Manila High School themselves, and I have had relatives who had gone to UP and UST, as well as in colleges abroad. As a child, I learned early about how achievements and excellence in school can help you get into your universities of choice. I was also taught at a young age to never settle for second best, and to always prove your worth to those around you so that you can earn their respect. I had a happy childhood as far as childhoods can go, but the underlying idea of youthful excellence always persevered—and I only realized that now, when I am asked to write an essay about my personal experiences and how it changed me. However, I was—and still am—an obedient daughter; my parents loved me, and my grades as far as they were concerned, were great. I was becoming the perfect version of a daughter to them. It should’ve made me happy and satisfied, should it not have?

        But I was not. I wanted more.

        Perfection is something we all struggle to achieve. We all want to be the most loved, the most admired, the one who has everything they ever wanted in perhaps the most figurative and literal sense of the word. But just a few days ago our POES IV teacher just told us that we cannot aim for perfection, we can only aim for excellence. As much as I have been told of such things a lot of times, I still cannot help but deviate towards my old, negative thinking which just leads me to pressure myself even more so. Doing things like that to myself is something I sincerely regret, and as far as having huge regrets go, that is mine.

          I cannot perhaps say so for other people, like the women we met during our trip to the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong last year. I went there twice, and for both times I had a lot of realizations. One understanding I had was that I am very lucky to be free. I am not forced to live far from my family and far from the comforts of a home, and I am lucky as well that I can correspond with my friends any old time I like. Their time with their family is limited by the visiting hours and the fact that their moves are watched by many armed personnel, ready to restrain them and separate them if the need calls for it.

         However, the most significant comprehension that I had was that we are all just human, and that mistakes are decisions we make and are experiences we must learn from. On both occasions that I have been there, I have had the opportunity to chat with many inmates, whose personalities are actually very far from the hooligan-like image that the idea of a prisoner paints on a person’s mind. Most of the women there are mothers with very young children, while the others were just a few years older than me. They were imprisoned for various crimes that they committed, or at least accused of, like drug trafficking, stealing, shooting a policeman by accident, and even murder. From those talks I have had with them I felt their regrets and their pains as they told us about their mistakes. Looking back, I realized as well that my regrets of pushing myself too hard and then putting myself down is certainly nothing compared to the regrets of these women. They have to live with the terrible guilt of breaking the law to feed their families, or kill someone to defend themselves from the abuse they were taking. They have to put up with being behind bars for the rest of their lives, or for a really long time until their cases are processed. They committed greater mistakes than I did, but then there I was, thinking that not getting the highest score was the worst kind of crime ever perpetrated.   

         Before my visit to the Correctional Institute for Women, I always compared myself to everybody and I always counted my shortcomings instead of my blessings. I gave myself headaches, I created my own problems, and I left a lot of people behind wondering why I was so distant and fixated on being the best in everything. Spending time with the inmates taught me that as a person, I need to make mistakes in order to grow and be a better individual. That experience of mine truly reiterated to me that I am indeed just human, and that mistakes are also life’s reminders for us to breathe and to stop thinking about everything so much all the time. I also realized that I was my own worst enemy, but I am also my own best friend. I can help myself move on or put myself down further, depending on my thinking, but then I should certainly lean on the former more than the latter, for nobody achieves excellence by decimating themselves when things go wrong.

         Also, by realizing that I am just human, I also learned that we all need somebody to rely on especially when things get rough. Along the way of this lesson is the reality that not everybody who you trust will lead you to the right path in life. That lesson was something I found in common with all of the stories I’ve heard from the inmates, and I feel the disappointment from them as they recalled how much they had trusted their friends, who just ultimately led them to their downfall. That should be enough as a cautionary tale; I’ve had my share of “friends” and friends, and I am lucky to know that I have a lot of real friends who didn’t give up on me during that struggle of mine to impossible perfection. My parents also helped to realize this. Apart from that friend of mine who gave me the letter which contained the quotation, through their actions and the way they cared about my emotional and mental well-being, my parents have repeatedly told me that they’ll always love me for who I am, including all those pitfalls I encounter as I try to achieve my goals.

        The desire to be the perfect woman is actually a silly desire. No one will ever be perfect. Even the most magnificent-looking woman in the world will have a flaw, and no one will ever be free of mistakes. Regret is unavoidable, but it’s useless to dwell on your regrets, because you must always keep moving forward. Life is not going to wait for you to grow up and accept your faults.

        After my visits to the Correctional Institute for Women, I plainly realized that I am a person who tends to dwell on her mistakes so much. However, I also realized that I am a person who, through the help of those around her, can rise above her tendency to dwell upon her mistakes and actually be happy with who she is and what she can do. I was not only momentously inspired by the efforts of my friends and family, but I was also greatly enthused by the women in the Institute, who live their lives there with determination—the determination to be better persons, to learn from their mistakes, and the determination to be happy despite being away from those they love. I have come to terms with the fact that much of my thinking was changed by the women of the Institute; they have inspired me to be happy even when so many challenges are in my way, and they have taught me that the best way to be happy and satisfied is to remember those who love you.

         But most importantly, they have taught me to remember that I am not perfect, and that those who love me will never even care.

[varima]

ACET Essay

I posted this for all you Ateneo aspirants. I thought I could give you guys some inspiration of some sort. Rest assured, I actually passed the ACET (yey! mind you, my first choice was BS Lf Sci, wee honors class) so hopefully this could help. But the best thing to do is be yourself! Don't copy the words or style; be your own natural writer. With that I leave you to enjoy reading my melodrama of an essay.

I walk briskly along my school’s corridors still hoping to arrive in my classroom before the teacher does. I look at my watch and realize how much time has elapsed and break into a run. I come to a halt and catch my breath only to find out that the teacher has already started with the lesson. I inconspicuously take my seat while the teacher continues to discuss important matters in our class. No, this is not a scenario of my late arrival in school. This is only one of my many experiences in being a leader.

  Ever since I was in grade school, I had this innate desire to become a class officer. I was enticed by the importance given to them by our teachers and the authority they had over all other students. Sure enough, my name was submitted in the nominees list each time. Unfortunately, I never held any major position back then. I remained to be one of those minor officers who kept a low profile. Nevertheless, I was still an officer and I did my duties with zeal even if it was only to check if people wore the prescribed uniform. I considered myself as someone who was in the middle, someone who lead people and someone who followed people. I was a leader to those average students but I was mostly a follower to those leaders with higher ranking. My humble, dutiful and obedient character made it easy for them to put their trust in me. My impressionable self couldn’t be more willing to do what they asked. In a way, I was contented with my situation. The leaders lead the way while I, being the good student that I was just followed. I always wondered how they managed to do that to me. They never had to force anything upon me; it seemed only natural that I was to be led by them and all things were in place. I had a high regard for those leaders. They had this effect on me that whenever they stood in front of the crowd I would listen and be inspired by their words. They had this powerful influence over me that made me want to be like them. At some point I asked myself what would happen if I did become one of them. That thought of me being in the ranks of president seemed highly ambitious and improbable. For one thing, I had my doubts about myself. Was I capable of leading people? Was I good enough? What do I do if they won’t follow me? What if they don’t like me? I also knew other people were far better than I was. Why would anyone want me to be their leader? I also had fears of not being an effective leader. What if I fail? This line of thinking caused me to think twice about aspiring to become a major class officer and more so about ever running for any position in the acclaimed student council.

  High school came and I still had the same questions nagging me. But a little flicker of hope lingered within me. Elections came and went and I watched as familiar faces were acknowledged as the newly elected leaders. I still wished to be one of those people who served a great purpose in our school. I kept my hopes alive even as I was bombarded by endless homework, quizzes, essays, research work and the like. I spent late nights studying until my eyes couldn’t take it anymore. I had to maintain my high grades if wanted to remain an honor student. I was fully aware that becoming an officer entailed more work and less time for myself. But my aspirations kept pushing me to keep going and to do better. People gradually took notice of me and my leadership potential. My classmates elected me as class secretary in our junior year. I was very happy until I discovered how heavy my responsibility was. I was responsible for checking the attendance of each student in my class and I also had to let all my teachers sign the attendance folder. I was the one tasked to tell students to get admission slips from the office and found that some students were very hard to deal with. I managed to survive my daily duties to keep attendance by constantly reminding myself that I was a person of discipline and accountability. I was glad that this had been my dream come true in a way but I didn’t expect it to be so challenging. By the end of the school year candidacy for the student council was up again. It was my last year of having a chance to run for a position. I was having second thoughts considering how difficult my experience had been in being the class secretary. My classmates and class adviser urged me to run because they believed in me. Their confidence in me made that little flicker of hope in me rise into a blaze of determination. I realized I was not doing this for myself anymore but for the people who believed that I could be their leader. I prayed to God to help me decide.

  The day of filing for candidacy came and I submitted my name remembering the times when I thought that I would never be doing this. I had some competition though. My opponent was far more popular than I was and that gave me reason to feel a bit insecure. I always thought that people saw me as the quiet, smart girl. I swallowed whatever inferiority I had and planned to prove that I was more than what people thought. It wasn’t easy for me to campaign since I wasn’t very used to speaking in front of audiences. But I believed in my capacity to let my words become actions and thought of the support my friends, classmates and teachers were giving me.

  Before the elections, I prayed once more to God to let me accept whatever His plan for me was. Election Day came and ballots were distributed. I saw my name printed on the paper and thought of how far I had come. My grade school self would never have imagined this. But there I was realizing that the number of votes did not matter to me anymore. Even before votes were counted I had already considered myself the winner for having tried and done the best that I could. I had finally stepped out of my comfort zone. February 7, 2011 was the day that the new set of student council officers was announced. I could hear my own heart beat while I waited for the results. I heard my name being announced from the public sound system. My classmates went wild and were pushing me to join the other newly elected officers. We stood in front of the whole student body that we were to lead. Right then I realized that it was not my position that made me a leader but my spirit.

  Now I am a senior trying to balance my studies with my responsibilities. It has been difficult; but I am learning to love what I am doing. Leadership has taught me to serve with purpose and dedication. Service to my school and constituents built my character. Everything I did was not done for myself but for others. I have become selfless and developed compassion for my fellow students. I pursue excellence in each work that is given to me hoping that I would make a difference. I also want my constituents to be their best selves. The tables have turned and I am already the one who believes in them. I encourage them to go beyond what is expected of them. My heart swells with gratitude whenever someone tells me that I have inspired them in one way or another. I have become someone’s inspiration much like those leaders I looked up to before. I have become a role model. I have become someone with integrity, discipline and accountability in my actions. But I have to make some sacrifices along the way. I have to sacrifice my time and energy. I walk to and fro classrooms to inform or follow-up the officers in their responsibilities. This task sometimes extends to class hours and I find myself in situations wherein I miss the first few minutes of the class discussion. This has always affected me since I am also trying to keep my honors. However, I have come to accept that these will be common occurrences to me and that I need to exert more effort if I want to make it in the honor roll.

  There are times when everything just seems to be too much for me already yet what is important is that I know that there is a God who is all too willing to carry my burdens. Leadership may have improved me in all aspects, but it is my faith that is the most developed. God has helped me become a leader all those years. He blessed me with the spirit to lead. He gave me all those experiences that have led me to become the person I am today, a leader.