Dreaming with Eyes Open

I cried. I didn’t expect it would happen. That it will turn everything into a different kind
of situation. That it will start a new journey and a new chapter of my life.

It was like the time was taking so slow. Like everything went into a slow motion.
Different divisions were called but still I never heard the name of the division that we’d
represented. I started to lose hope, but then I should believe the unbelievable and achieve the
unachievable.

While I was silently praying, I thought I misheard that our division was announced as the
winner and that we will represent our region in the National Schools Press Conference. But when
my other group mates jumped and shouted out of joy, it gave me confirmation that I was not
assuming at all.

The moment I stepped on the stage I still couldn’t believe that we make it to the top.
Tears started to flow freely down my cheeks but that doesn’t show sadness but it shows how
elated I am that time. Even the time that I received the medal, it still feels surreal. The thought of
representing your own region is such an honor to the point that I myself wouldn’t want to wake
up if that was just a dream.

That day, in just an ink of a pen I was able to change my future. That it was just a blink of
an eye, I became the writer of my story. And that proves that I was dreaming with eyes open.

-Mary Stephanie T. Ma-aya

[Grade 9 Pearl]