They call me young, naive, selfish and dull.

I don’t care what they say. I really never wanted to be like them. I am me

and I do what I want to do.

At age 7, Ryonna started joining all contests in school and she always win.

She is also the top one in our class and I also belong to the top ten list. See

even if I don’t participate in school activities I can still manage to be on the

list of academic excellence.

Ryonna is my classmate and my friend since grade 2. She has joined all-as

in from classroom performances to national level competitions-and she

always win. I don’t envy her-I love her and I am happy for her. But why is

she so serious and very active in all the activities? What does it do to her?

I grew up with a broken family. I live with my mother and my step father

and two step siblings, 8 and 5 years old. I have never seen my biological

father. I wanted to ask my mother about him, but she is always annoyed

and shutting me up-that makes me feel sad. I never wanted him back, I am

just curious about him.

Making my family proud makes me happy too. Many told me that I am smart

but I don’t believe them because I have not even shown the best of me. I

am hesitant to show what I can do-very opposite to my friend Ryonna.

Just last year, one of my teachers affected me so much when she told me

“Sayang lang ang iyong katalinuhan kapag hindi mo inilabas and iyong

talent-you are so selfish”. It hit me so hard and I cried. That moment I

realized she is right and her words inspired me.

Now, I am one of the ambitious writers who continuously bring honor to our

school and our family. I do not excel only in writings but also in other

academic and extra-curricular activities in school and in our community. My

friends and I, together, we bring our school’s flag and we hold respect and

responsibility to ourselves. I’ve conquered myself. I am a change holder-I

am a journalist.