Today marked my last first day of school. In a few months, I’ll be graduating and my days as a member of institutionalized education will be over. I’m at the last leg of this journey of my life and I still can’t believe it. I feel like I’ve been running towards this moment ever since grade school. From now on, I think I’ll just walk. Slowly.

I never try to sync my schedule with my blockmates just because the mere act of coordinating on the day of enlistment is such a hassle. Also, it makes things a little more pleasant when I walk into the classroom on the first day and see them there as well. A surprise of sorts.

Today I found out that I will be spending the majority of my last semester with Charls (yes, without the E), my blockmate. (He’s the guy on the left side of the photo) We were never really close but we’ve always gotten along just fine. Trivia: he went as Russell (from Up) for his creative shot for our yearbook. Kind of looks like him too, yes? Anyway, we spent an hour or two during break time just talking about God, the future and the roads life seems to be taking us towards. It amazes me that one day, maybe one not far from now, this guy might actually be a pastor here in Metro Manila.

He’s amiable and funny and he’s got his head and his heart in the right place. I’m sure he’ll do well.

The other half of my breaks this semester will be spent with none other than my pseudo-boyfriend, Louis (pronounced Louie; he’s the guy on the right). More about him later. What I can say for now is that this is a very nice way to spend my last few months of university life.

I like what Jessica Darling says in her graduation speech in Second Helpings: The real world, whether we like it or not, is right here, right now. It does not begin after graduation, once you get that diploma. It began when you were born and was always there, has always existed and will always be.

While I will soon cease to be a college student, I know that my journey as a student of the real world is something that is on-going and will keep on going until my brain and body die. The nice thing about life is that no matter how much you know, there is always so much more to learn. That you can never know it all and even if you could, why would you want to? Part of the fun is the discovery of things, even the bad things.

So while today may be my last first day of school, I can say with much absolution that it is definitely not my last first day. There are more to come that I should be excited about. My first day as a professional writer. My first day as a salary-earner. My first day as someone successful. My first day as a girlfriend and maybe someday, as a wife and maybe someday far from that, a mother. The end of an era is just the beginning of another.

Oh by the way, it was a good last first day. :)