As a student who is shy around

many people. I never thought that one day I

would become a part of an organization in
school. But this thing changed back when I
was in grade 11.

My classmate asked me if I could

run for the position of peace officer in the
Supreme Student Government for the next
School Year. At first I was very hesitant
because I am not into leadership and
serving people. But I challenge myself
because it's already my last year as a
highschool student so why not try joining an
organization to experience something I
never tried before. After a few days of
thinking, I filed for my candidacy. Thank you
for the support I get from my teachers and
classmates.
 I never imagine speaking up to every
classroom in my school campaigning our
vision and plans if we win. Adding to that, we
do miting de avance so the students could
deeper know the three political parties
running that time. My political party is named
"Kilos Kabataan Kasilag" in the acronym of
"KKK". It was a fun and very challenging
event since many students were asking each
one of us many questions. Thankfully, I was
able to answer the question asked to me.

The election day comes, which is also

the same day to release the result. I won and
the majority of the members of my political
party also won that day. It is such a great
moment of my highschool life.
 Eventually, as the covid-19 pandemic
occurs and changes the normal things we do in
life. Everything we plan for the school year goes to
draft and we have to be flexible virtually in
implementing new ideas of plans we will make. I
took a big part in our organization as I am a little
bit skilled enough when it comes to technicality. I
am signed on to create posters and edit videos for
every school event.

The pandemic didn't stop us for our

purpose and goals we want to achieve for our
school. Even though it is not what we expect, we
still do as much as we can. But behind all this
planning I feel drained, unmotivated and lost my
purpose. I felt this because I think I am all alone
when we implement these plans. Since I am
assigned in technicality and obviously all our
events are done virtually. I shoulder all the things
to do.
 However, all these events always
come to an end. When it ended I saw how
amazed my co-students and our teachers
were that despite all this negativity
happening around we can still put out
awesome events. Through these things, I
regain my purpose and to keep doing what I
have already started.

All in all, when we graduate I feel so

relieved and happy that I succeeded in this
part of my life as a high school student.
What I have learned is to never be scared of
challenging ourselves because in this way
we grow more as a person. As they say that,
experience is the best teacher. Because of
this experience I discover more about what I
can offer to the world.
 Pageant isis very
Pageant very close
close to to my
my heart.
heart.
Whenever I Iwatch
Whenever watchaapageant
pageant I Ialways
always feel
feel so
so
confident inin myself.
confident myself. As As aa pageant
pageant loving
loving
country,ititisisvery
country, veryevident
evidentthatthatwewealways
alwayshave
have
aapageant
pageantin inevery
every corner
cornerof ofour
ourcountry.
country.InInmy
my
case,I joined
case, I joinedmymyvery
veryfirst
first pageant
pageant back
back when
when I
I was
was ininGrade
Grade1111in in theUnited
the UnitedNation
Nationevent
eventinin
myschool.
my school.At Atthat
thattime,
time,I Ikept
keptititaasecret
secrettotomy
my
family because
family because we we were
were having
having aa financial
financial
problemat
problem atthat
thattime.
time.
 As As aa result,
result, I struggle a lot preparing in
my pageant. From the national costume costume II will
will
wear to my my formal
formal attire.
attire. Thankfully,
Thankfully, as I
represented my
represented my section
section together
together withwith mymy
partner. My My classmates
classmates are are full of support for
me. II was
was very touched
touched that
that they
they were
were able to
help me in providing
providingthe thethings
thingsIIneed.
need.Because
Because
of that itit gave
gave me a lot of motivation
motivation to do my
best on
best on thethe coronation
coronation day. day. We
We are able to
create my national
create national costume
costume which
which consists
consists of
two yards
yards of of cloth that were created
created one
one day
day
before the event. My My classmate
classmate lent me his
formal attire. Me and and my my partner
partner practice
practice all
day for
day for the
the talent
talent portion.
portion. I practice my Q
practice my Q and A
through watching videos online. online. All in all, I am
ready for
for the
the competition.
competition.
 The competition started. I was excited
The competition started. I was excited
and nervous at the same time on that day. All
and nervous at the same time on that day. All
things go smoothly until it's the Q and A portion
things go smoothly until it's the Q and A portion
which is something I am very scared of
which is something I am very scared of because
because of speaking up to many people.
of speaking up to many people. Thankfully, the
Thankfully, the question I pick is connected to
question I pick is connected to my core which is
my core which is being part of LGBTQIA+
being part of LGBTQIA+ community I was able
community I was able to answer the question.
to answer the question.
 After all, I finished
finished 1st1st runner
runnerup
up at
at my
my
first ever
first everpageant.
pageant. I amI very happyhappy
am very even though
even
I didn'tI didn't
though win the win crown
the crown butbutbecause
becauseofof the
overwhelming support I got at that time. It was
a very
very emotional
emotional moment
moment to to me
me because
because as a
person who often does not believe in his
person
capabilities there
capabilities there are
are still
still people
people whowho see
see mymy
potential and that I can do something that I
never thought of. Also, Also, this
this experience
experience taught
me that life is not not always
always about
about winning.
winning. The
The
journey itself thatthat II have been through into this this
already feels like
pageant already like I am a winner. It was
a very
very success storyof
success story of mine
mine that
that proved
proved when
we believe
believe inin ourselves
ourselves plus to be surrounded
by people that that believe
believe in in us
us we we can
can achieve
things.
greater things.
• What does this say about who you are and what’s important to you?

These two stories prove that I always lose hope and don't trust my capabilities. It may be negative
but that is true to me. It is something I always wanted to change with my personality. I need to believe
more in myself because through that I can grow a lot more. What was important to me back then is what
people's opinions are gonna throw at me which result in closing myself in a cage. But today, I am not
entertaining these things anymore. What's important to me is that I enjoy life. This is something I learned
from these two success stories.

• Share with your group “why” these success stories are important to you.

These stories are important to me because they help me to grow my personality and perspective
in life. It makes me feel that I should really trust myself no matter what could be the outcome of the
decision I made. I hope my story inspires others to never give up and put down our capabilities. It was a
mistake of mine that I set my mind like that before. Now, after all this success, I rebuilt myself and I
bounce back on getting better. These stories are a reminder to me that I am capable of doing things.