Monday, June 19, 2006

The Fresh UP Freshman

The fresh UP freshman is bright-eyed and obviously, outrageously, optimistic. He is of a proud race, his victory against the monster, UPCAT, still smelling of incense. She moves awkwardly and self-importantly at the same time. He has a guileless look about him, as yet unpolished by the sophistication of the metro and the knowledge imparted by the academe.

The fresh UP freshman is self-confident; indeed, it is rare to find one not known to assert himself in every single way inside the classroom. He wants to be leader, named or not. Her ideas are always right and more interesting than yours. He is ruthless, sometimes, and selfish when it comes to academic matters. How? That is for you to find out, when you become a fresh UP freshman.

The fresh UP freshman, for the first four months or so, stays fresh. He hopes. He believes. After the given period, he becomes jaded and feels like a used rag still whole only because of a few remaining stitches.

Do you know, UP can do things to people. Not all the time, but there it is. In exchange for the metropolitan and intellectual polish it is most certain to force on you, a weariness settles in your soul that cannot be completely shaken off even after you leave. It’s not just slowly brought about by a diminishing self-esteem, but a depressing awareness of the world you move in. You’ll see. They say ignorance is bliss.


P.S. Have you ever read of The Bet by Anton Chekhov? No? Please do. It’s a about a man who agreed to stay in solitary confinement for 15 years in exchange for two million. He spent the decade and a half reading all the greatest literary works of man, and became very wise. Find out what he did after the fifteen years and why he did it. Did he come out? Did he get the millions? Don’t worry, it’s only a short story.

P.P.S Why do I write like this? I’m reading A Pair of Blue Eyes by Thomas Hardy. I try to imitate the way Elfride converses. For some reason or other, I’m into the contemporary classics. I find that I have so much time on my hands, enough to be able to digest the complexities of an old novel.

4 Comments:

Blogger Jigs said...

I love this post! Cool! I was once a UP student myself! So proud na nakapasa me ng UPCAT.

What are the two colleges in the Philippines?

U.P. and others! lol!

5:22 PM  
Blogger Ferretti shoes said...

siyempre naman! sabi nila mayabang tayo, pero ang di alam ng others, mas mahirap manatili sa unibersidad kesa sa pagpasok. =)

8:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

at talaga namang may karapatang magyabang dahil may maipagmamayabang. :D
patayan na nga talaga ang mabuhay sa up. hehe.

12:37 AM  
Blogger Ferretti shoes said...

sinabi mo pa Anonymous! sino ka nga ba? anyway, thanks for filling up my poor comment box. nanlilimos na eh. :D

3:20 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home