By Joseph Esmeralda
When I found out I was dropped from the honor roll in Senior High, I decided to zoom out and expand my scope since in my mind, there was no point to shoot for something I knew I couldn’t reach.
Fast forward to two years of extra-curriculars in Senior High, going into my freshman year of college I told myself that I’m going to dedicate myself to academics this time, and that I was going to really try and enjoy my first year of college.
Somehow, there was a force that pulled me right back in. But this time, it was different.
I joined an organization that really stretched me to my limit, deadline after deadline, on top of my already busy and hectic academic schedule. Add all that while also trying to adjust to college life, it nearly broke me, and I nearly gave up. I ranted and complained nearly every day to my friends and every time they gave me the same blanket response:
“Kaya mo yan”
No real advice, no kind of help offering. Just reaffirming that I *could* do it. It just never felt assuring hearing those words knowing that my situation and stresses are different to theirs. It felt like giving instructions on how to drive a car, while I’m sitting on a motorbike; and honestly, I’m really jealous, driving a car is way easier and way safer than a motor.
While my friends talk about plans during the weekends: food, gym, or going out of town, my response is almost always the same. “I’m busy”, or “Conflict of schedule”. Meetings, shoots, co-curricular classes, and rehearsals. It feels like I’m getting in my own way of completing plans and getting things done with my group.
Sometimes I imagine a year where I only think about my grade; where I can just tunnel-vision on one thing at a time without juggling ticking time bombs that could explode at any moment. But I know that deep down, that urge to do *something* is gonna be there, screaming at me to join.
I’m not trying to downplay those who choose not to join extracurriculars. But when the people I surround myself with decide to hop in a car while I’m trying to navigate the dangerous streets on a bike, yeah we get to the same destination, and I might get there before they do, but it feels like I’m fighting a battle alone.
I also don’t wanna say that those who choose to do extracurricular work have it worse. Because at the end of the day, it was our choice to join and to do the work that to others, doesn’t matter because it doesn’t translate into a higher number in the report card, and I get that. Extra-curricular work isn’t easy — long school days, exams, and projects nearing deadlines, only to be hit with meetings, deliverables, and even more deadlines. It feels like doing the same thing over and over again, but with seemingly no return or upside.
But that “no upside” is only what’s on the tip of the iceberg; because that’s what I thought too when I first got into organization work
Despite the busy schedules, hectic work weeks, and stress on top of stress, it really is good training for the real world ahead of you; time management, work ethic, and upskilling in general are skills that can be learned early on and translated into the workforce. Or even just seeing an event, pubmat, merch, or photos you took being put out and seen, it can feel rewarding. And connecting with people with similar interests and goals as you, being put through the same work and stresses as you; it’s like we’re all on different bikes with the same goal in mind: get to our destination safely.
Am I trying to convince more people to join orgs? Maybe. But the truth is that more and more people are steering away from volunteer work because they think it doesn’t benefit them, when that couldn’t be further from the truth. Connections, work ethic, and life skills are the benefits, you just can’t see it at first. It’s like going to the gym; you don’t *have* to do it, and when you do, it feels like you’re making no progress, but beyond the strain and toll on your body, it makes life easier.
