Autobiography

My journey

The sun was high and there was a party going on; my sister's birthday party to be exact. It was April 06, 2002 and she just turned 2 years old. Everyone was having fun. Wide and bright smiles can be seen anywhere. Eyes were sparkling due to excitement. At that very moment, an unexpected and fortunate incident happened. My mother was rushed to the hospital, not for a bad cause, but rather for a good one. She was about to give birth, so they immediately went to Polyclinic Hospital, which is in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. She had her labor there and later delivered me as her second baby girl and named me, Kaye Antonette Cachola, on the same day her first baby girl was born.

Growing up with a loving and supportive family beside you feels like you are always in cloud nine. My family lives in Bantugo, Nagbukel, Ilocos Sur, a small community located in a simple town. To be honest, I have strict parents who make me proud every time. The first man in my life has to be my ever-hardworking father Raul Cachola, 53 years old, a farmer and at the same time a Barangay Captain. I adore him so much because for me, he is everything a good Father could be. If there is a first man in my life, there is also a woman behind everything. The woman who managed to carry me inside her womb in a span of 9 months. The woman behind everything is my ever-patient mother. She is Josephine Cachola, 50 years old, a beautiful and caring housewife. She always has that "Filipino Mom" aura. She can be as gentle as cat but most of the time, you would not want to see it because she can quickly turn into a Momzilla and the best thing to do, make up excuses and reasons to save your life. I have a sister. She is Kimberly Cachola, a first-year college student who is taking up bachelor’s in medical laboratory science (BMLS) and is very willing to burn her eyebrows and take her path to becoming a Doctor that specializes pregnant women someday. We have the same birthday, but not the same year. It was indeed a great timing. She is two years ahead of me that makes me the younger one. We argue a lot and it is either my fault or hers. We have a very spoiled dog. His name is Noah. He is my Mom's giant baby. My parents prefer to acknowledge him as their "bunso" because they always treat him like a literal human being. He is everyone's stress reliever and happy pill. He makes us feel loved every time he makes "lambing" and sweet little gestures. I also have a grandmother who recently passed away this February 18, 2019. She was a very loving and caring grandmother. I often call her "Inang". We were best buds even though we bicker most of the time. Although I was not able to bid my last goodbyes and redo the bad deeds, I have showed her, I know that she will always be one of the most wonderful gifts God has ever given me.

My childhood was typically a normal kid's childhood. It was carefree and full of unforgettable moments. Being a kid is a fun thing. I used to do a lot of things. I can recall myself as a wanderer who loves to explore. I always loved outdoor games. I would never let a day pass without playing outside with some friends. When I became an elementary pupil, I gained more friends. I learned how to socialize. I could still remember some memories we have made. We used to play; shatong, san pedro, paway, taksing and hide and seek whenever we can. Even though we only have 20 or 15 pesos as our money, we were still very happy because the foods were cheap and 'sulit' to our taste. I could still recall the projects of being a public pupil. That was the best part for me. We did not have to buy such expensive things, it was all improvised or not that expensive, if it is the right term. I used to bring; masetas, gallon, kumpay, manyor, story books as my projects. Talking about examinations, I thought that was the end of me because we were obliged to finish them all in just one day. I was not smart when I was an elementary pupil. I was not the best pupil  but when I took up Grade 5, I became first honor so I told myself, "I should study well to make my family proud of me", and gladly I managed to finish being a pupil in Bantugo-Mission Elementary School as the class valedictorian.

Life is like a roller coaster. There will always be ups and downs whenever and wherever you are. When I entered high school life at Narvacan Catholic School, everything has changed. All the things I used to like in elementary changed except for one thing; my love for dogs. I met new people and faced a new environment. At first, it was hard to adjust because it was like you are trying to break into a wall wherein you do not fit to. Truth be told, I was afraid because I was the only one who enrolled to a private school and the rest of my elementary buddies went to a public one. There are rules to be followed that are way different from where I used to be. Days passed by that went into months and years, again, everything turned upside down. I was a shy type back then. Now, I am a slight thick faced person. My attitudes before are way different from now. I have friends who are as crazy as me. They made me realize that family can be also found through those people who surround you. Junior high school life will never be easy. As a student who is eager to pass, you must burn your brows, work out your muscles, and unleash everything that you must. You may not know, but at the end it will all be worthy. The hardships you have done will not be put into waste. In the year 2017, I happily completed my junior high school journey with an honor.  When I took up another level in my journey which is becoming a Senior high school student, I knew from the very start that it will be hell of a ride. I have come to realize that Albert Einstein was right, "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving on". No matter how hard the situation can be, as much as possible prioritize everything that is beneficial for your own betterment. There were a lot of requirements to be done. Getting stressed cannot be avoided. Deadlines gave me eye bags, pimples, and sleepless nights. It feels surreal, but it was real. I was at the edge, nearly giving up but I realized, what would I get in return if I will not give my best. So, I did what I was supposed to do. Gratefully, I survived Grade 11 and luckily, I was able to make it on the top ten students. Fortunately, my heart was filled with so much joy because since junior high school, I maintained to be one of the students who receive an award of diligence in studies every school year.

Continuing my journey as a student, Now, I am facing reality. The reality that there is a 50/50 chance that I will graduate from senior high school. I am just kidding. I am now a Grade 12 student and hopefully, if I am going to pass all the requirements that are needed to be passed, I will be finally a college student next school year. To be very honest, I often avoid answering questions from my friends about what course will I be pursuing in the future. I have a lot of dream professions. It was not easy for me to choose. Well, I know all of us have undergone this stage. I was afraid that I might choose the wrong path. I was hesitant and anxious at first because I have doubts and what ifs in mind. My biggest fear is what if I follow a path that is not really meant for me. A path that will only make me happy for a short period of time and not for a long one. Setting aside these hesitations, I let myself went through a process wherein I can thoroughly think. I decided to follow what my heart truly and deeply desires. Finally, after the pressures and doubts, I made up my mind. This 17-year-old girl looking like a Grade 7 student with a 4'5 height will be a Civil Engineer someday. She may not be the best in Mathematics, but she believes that studying is all about learning after all. It is not how good you are in a subject that matters, it is how you believe in yourself and overcome things that are dragging you down. This is not the end. I believe that my journey is not done yet, I still have a long way to take and places to conquer.

2019 is going to end in few months. Though this year cannot be added to my "happiest years list" because I lost a loved one. My forever treasure, my Grandmother. I am still thankful because despite all the bad things that happened, I am aware that God still has a lot of plans for me in the future. There are many experiences that one encounters in his or her life, but these experiences are significant enough to leave an impact on our lives, whether positive or negative. These helped us become a better version of ourselves. With these experiences, the things that we are taught growing up, is what lead us to our development as an individual and how we see ourselves and the world. Someone said, "At the end of every tunnel, there is light somewhere, a light of hope and reason, and a light to guide us to the safety from the dark..." Do not just stand at one corner, keep going on. Treasure and seize every moment with an open heart because all of these are worth keeping for.