I stood in front of the hourglass, watching the grains of sand pass through its tiny center. I watched solemnly, knowing that my time as a MaScian is almost up.

            First year- the start of everything. It was the start of a new chapter in my life, a new journey waiting to be fulfilled. It was, I’ll have to say, the hardest of the four. Everyone falls on his first step, my Physics teacher once told me. Yes, first year was the stage in which I kept falling. But what’s great about falling is that it forces you to get up. I was lucky because most of the time, someone was there to help me get up: teachers, strangers, but mostly friends. These teachers soon became mentors, strangers soon became friends, and friends became best friends. But there’s a lot more to late nights and heavy bags during this school year. First year, I believe, will always be the most memorable. Why? Because first year taught me how important friends are in surviving high school. Yes, these friends have stayed with me throughout my three years in MaSci. This year helped me gain the survival instincts I needed. Without 1^st year, how would I ever reach 4^th year?

            If there was such a thing as an easy year in MaSci, that’d be second year. 2^nd year granted all the sleep I wanted to have. Not because of the subjects, but because of the schedule. Oh, will I ever have the pleasure of going home at as early as 4pm again? I guess not. But don’t get me wrong, 2^nd year has been a crazy ride, the craziest. Who would ever think that Intermediate Algebra, together with Geometry is easy? Sad to say, 2^nd year left me with not much memories.  It passed by so quickly that it hardly even touched me. Nevertheless, it gave me events to remember and lessons to learn. They might have been few, but they sure are priceless. The best thing about 2^nd year? It proved to me that I could not only survive one year, but two.

            I stroked the thin glass. It was so thin, so fragile that it might break if I held it any tighter. As the sand cascaded downwards, my thoughts drifted to one of my favorite years, third year.

            People used to tell me that 3^rd year is the most exciting year in high school. I thought that MaSci, being a science high school, would not be able to give me the same experiences students in private schools had. I wasn’t wrong. Why? Because MaSci provided more than that. Never had I had more assignments than the number of assignments I had during this year. This year was the most tiring and challenging of the three. Can you imagine 12 hours in school? I don’t need to because I actually went through it. My section was very lucky because we only had to go home by 7 once a week. I don’t think it made 3^rd year any less exhausting, though. Still, 3^rd year was great. Old friendships have grown stronger, new friendships have been established. 3^rd year was probably the most critical point in high school. It has brought the most difficulties and the sweetest moments. Third year was a blast, a blast you work for, which makes it even more fulfilling. 3^rd year is that one big leap you make, that step that says “almost there.” It might have been hard, but it was very much worth it. Besides, who can forget their 1^st JS Prom?

            Pouring, the sand is pouring. Like the tears falling from my eyes. Three years have passed. Who knew I would even be able to come this far? Three years ago, I hated this school. Three years ago, I wanted to leave. Because three years ago, I wasn’t the person this school taught me to be. MaSci has taught me to be brave. It taught me not to fear the challenges ahead. It made me stronger through the obstacles and tasks it made me go through. It has gifted me with knowledge; lessons that only MaSci can teach. Best of all, it has brought me friends; friends that have stayed and will stay – forever.

I originally made this for my literary section in Manila Science High School's newspaper, The Nucleus. I just decided to write it one night. This is where I poured out how I felt about being a senior with only a few months before graduation.