Reveries of the Mother of A High School Student

11 June 2009

So it's official. I'm finally the mother of a high school student when classes opened at the Sacred Heart School of the Society of Jesus (a.k.a. Jesuit) yesterday, June 10. We were all excited about it because it was Karwin's first day in high school and this was also his first official day in a new and much bigger school after having spent the past 9 years of his life in the small and very close-knit environment of St. Benedict's Childhood Education Centre (a.k.a. St. Ben).

The transition from St. Ben to Jesuit was made easier for him by having, more or less half of, his classmates from his former school enrol in the current one. Also, these same classmates were in the Chinese Summer Camp that Jesuit offered for 5 weeks over the summer break for those students who have not had any background in Chinese language. While Karwin was, at first, really upset about having his precious summer break marred by classes, he later began to enjoy being with his friends and making new ones. In fact, he was invited to the birthday party of one of his new schoolmates over the summer break.

We were all up early yesterday--Yaya, Karwin and I. When I went to check on Karwin at 5:30 a.m., he was already up, NOT eating breakfast in bed as was usual in years past, with his eyes still glued together while he grumpily sucked on a Chuckie, but sitting upright at his study desk with--get this--coffee and rosquillos for breakfast. Coffee is something he acquired a taste for over the summer in a big way.

He had the look of someone eagerly looking forward to something but was, at the same time, deep in thought while he munched on a rosquillo cookie. I entered the room and his reverie was broken. I asked him if he didn't want a heavier breakfast (but knew that he usually didn't have any appetite first thing in the morning) and he told me, "I'm fine, mom." Without asking, I took one cookie from his plate and proceeded to munch on it, to which he protested, "Hey, that's my cookie." I left his room with a parting shot, "Greedy boy!" Mother and son had just said their customary good mornings...LOL

By 6:15 a.m. we were on our way to Jesuit. I forgot to tell Yaya and Leo that Karwin's classes actually commenced at 7:30 a.m. and not 7:00, that's why they were both in such a hurry to be out of the house. We had been told that traffic along the route to Jesuit was horrendous because of several schools along the way (i.e. Banilad Elementary School, BRIGHT Academy, Woodridge, Marie Ernestine, University of San Carlos, San Isidro, etc. etc.). Luckily, some schools had not started classes yet, so we were pleasantly zipping along nicely early on in our trip so that by 6:24 a.m., we were already halfway to school. I commented then that Karwin was going to be much too early to be in school, thinking that Jesuit was just going to be another 10 minutes away. Leo told us not to be too confident.

And he was right. When we got to the Talamban fork, that was when traffic started to build up and our van began to slow to a crawl. It was when we got to the bridge that would take us to H. Abellana where Jesuit was located that traffic just stopped and moved an inch at a time. Per usual, our beloved Department of Public Works and Highways had chosen to start doing roadworks close to the opening of classes (i.e. 2 weeks before opening) which meant that excavations along the side of the already-narrow road was going to make the road impassable to two-way traffic in some areas. Consequently, each side had to take turns navigating through the pot-holed street. I am sure that if the curses of everyone passing through that road could be converted to cash, we would be able to raise enough money to build a twelve-lane highway straight to Jesuit, but of course, I exaggerate.

What amused us along the way was the sight of two big Cataliya coaster vans filled with students on their way to school. Karwin espied his friend Vincy in one of them and got very excited. He tried to text Vincy on his mobile, only to find out that he had no more load. Another van passed us on the right and a pretty girl with braces smiled at Karwin. Leo was the one who got thrilled by this and teased Karwin. The boy was embarrased.

We finally managed to enter the gates of the school at around 7:03 a.m. Karwin espied Vincy and another classmate, Ralph, walking on the sidewalk leading to the Grand Lobby and practically jumped out of our van so he could catch up with his friends. We said our goodbyes to him but he was already out the door, his attention on Vincy, Ralph and other classmates who were now massing together. As Leo, Yaya and I watched, we saw Karwin smile a wide smile at his friends as he joined them. We watched as the posse went up the steps of the Grand Lobby of the school and into life as high school students. We couldn't have been prouder.