Hello! My name is Ma. Consuelo Pilar Zapata (now Hernandez), SSC 96. I would then, as I still do now, prefer to be called Chelo. To those who’ve known me since grade school, am sure you’re aware of this! Yep, I was that student who fit that description of how everyone, is already answering the first item on a test while I, would still be writing my name. I vowed not to repeat this “mistake” with my children but oddly enough, one is named Corazon Aurelia and the other, Celestina Sofia. 😊
For my bit on what high school life was like, I wanted to walk you guys through the various places in the campus and share my memories of the things that took place in each of them. I wanted the process I follow in writing this to be fun and somewhat of a mental break from all the serious things the grown up me is now concerned with. Let’s s go?!
Gate 1
This was where my day always started. I’d get dropped off, enter the gate, get checked by Ate Rose (the lady guard), and check the big clock behind me.
If I got in early, I’d make a quick side trip to the College Chapel. If I was late, or had a little over 5 minutes left, then I’d make for an athletic dash towards the HS building. We all know what happens next if the bell goes off and we’re still not in our rooms!
First Year High School Classroom
From all my different classrooms, my freshman classroom on the 2nd floor (the one nearest to the HS Admin office) is what I remember most. As this was my first ever room as an HS student, entering it daily reinforced the thought of how life is now at a whole new level for me. I used to just hear my sister talk about the grown-up sounding stuff like “Algeb” and “Lit”. Now, in this room, I was going through all of them!
SOOO MANY other things happened here!
I met and made friends with the wonderful ladies of SEYB LAYBS or my HS barkada here. Although I don’t know what these acronyms stand for anymore…sorry na guys!
This was where my classmates and I held our breaths as we waited for Gng. De Vera to call the day’s prayer leader, and yet again, when she’d sort through our papers for distribution. I can still hear her voice in my head – “ibilot ang papel!” as part of her quiz reminders.
In this room, also in Wika, our newly completed script for a class play was confiscated because we were still wrapping up a discussion on it even when the class had already started.
I can still see Ginang reaching for the script, and without a word, tuck it under a pile of other docs on the table.
I recall running after her in the hallway apologizing and begging her to just allow us to have the script photocopied. I explained how that was 2-days worth of work and how it was the whole class’ grades on the line. During this conversation, I saw that very motherly side of her look back into my teary eyes. I knew she understood me and I felt she also wanted to console me but, as there was a lesson to be taught, she opted to just quietly listen and issue a stern warning. Two days later, she returned the script.
That was but one of my HS experiences where I felt my education happened outside of class. Here I learned about ownership and how there wasn’t any point to making excuses. I said sorry on behalf of the class and got the script back.
Typing, Cooking, Music Rooms, and Speech Labs
This is where most of the FUN and FUNNY memories I have of High School happened.
I can still hear the suppressed giggles while typing to the tune of “I’m Too Sexy.” I remember the half-lifted decorated paper bags when starting a new letter set. Who would forget the sound of the triangle going off every so often to remind us that time was up? Back then I couldn’t touch-type to save my life but now, when the kids ask me how I could type fast without looking at the keyboard, I proudly say – “I took typing classes under Mrs. Ponce” As cliché as it sounds, I am able, through that experience reiterate this lesson to my girls – “If you want to hone your skills, then you need to practice!
I will never forget that time in one of our cooking classes with Mrs. Se where all the meat from one group’s pressure cooker flew up in the air! How it ignited both panic and wild laughter when it did! Of course, for the more successful sessions, what followed was a sumptuous lunch that our class would enjoy as one big happy family.
I always looked forward to our music classes because I just love the music room! It’s huge and has lots of instruments that we were free to tinker with. Of course, who could forget Mr. Reyes and his antics and the ever-supportive Mrs. Fernandez?
A lot I’m sure would agree that the Music Room was where most of our batch song entries were inspired, put-together, and practiced to perfection.
Do you remember that screaming activity in Mr. Vanzwoll’s class which we ran in that isolated speech lab? What about that speech activity on avoiding fillers with Mr. Dela Pena that made use of a water gun?
And how about all our debate sessions with Mr. Rono? Hear! Shame! Points of information! My goodness, what energy did those classes generate!
All these activities really helped me build my self-confidence. I always felt we were really in a safe and supportive environment with mentors who objectively gave us feedback on our strengths and areas for development. At work, when I’m told by my direct reports that I am supportive mentor, I can only point to my experiences as a mentee in high school and how those have shaped me into the kind of “teacher” I am. I always emphasize how it’s not just always about results. The process of getting them is equally important.
Bio, Chem, and Physics Labs
These were where all the serious stuff happened – performing these various experiments with my lab partners, and collaborating on the lab reports even after class. Sometimes I feel group activities in schools don’t support this kind of merging of minds anymore because information now is readily available and its just easier to divide tasks for individual work rather than engage in group processing. Looking back I feel that the output our groups were able to come up with then are perfect examples of teamwork at its finest!
The Stone Tables, Field, Swings, and the Gym
Did we just love hanging out in these places or what? Sitting on the pavement was never an issue. Short snacks, sports activities, “chika-time”, the annual fair and high school dances – they all happened here!
For me, this was where most of my relationships were strengthened and lasting friendships formed. I remember taking long strolls with my friends at the end of each day visiting these places, exchanging stories with other acquaintances at every stop, and sometimes even throwing all cares to the wind – singing, jamming, dancing, even being comfortable with acting silly.
Gate 1
Now we’re back where we started. I’d usually take the longer route to Gate 1 during dismissal (the one through the gym/gate4/then gate 1 parking). My day ends but always with much anticipation of what’s to happen next.
Going into our 25thyear out of high school, I look back at these memories with fondness and gratitude. A big part of who I am now I owe to my high school journey! I know it’s my experiences talking behind the lessons I try to impart and values I uphold at work. It’s that overall supportive environment supplied by the Scholastican community that I continuously try to expose my kids to. Lastly, I know it’s my high school self that still pulls me through the craziest times of my adult life reminding me of the truly important things as with focusing on relationships and savoring moments.
We all made it this far, Batch 96! Cheers to the years we shared and the fine ladies we’ve become!
