"The Words That Made a Great Impact on My Life"

Okay so, before I mention the part where I write about the phrase that made a great impact on my life, I would like to give several presuppositions related to my past, particularly about the time when I was a kid--an elementary student. Back then, I have actually been a very active, or should we say, an overly naughty kid. To define my naughtiness, it just meant that all of our helpers back then quit their jobs, usually before reaching their third month (I think), not because of how difficult the house chores were, but was rather plainly because of me, not primarily because of what I do or how I act towards them, but because of who I am. Aside from getting choosey about the ‘healthy’ food they cook, I remember that everytime, before they even finish fixing all my mess (like my toys, food wrappers and the bed sheets I used to play bahay-bahayan with,) I usually find other stuff to play and get entertained with before they even finish cleaning. Yes, that meant that the house never seemed to get tidy—well, not when I’m around. And as I said, I have been a really active kid. That’s my facticity. There was even a time when I tried riding our neighbor’s bike down a steep, rocky hill. I stupidly knew and ignored the fact that that bike never had breaks on it, so it eventually resulted to a horrible accident, by which I mean having a broken foot bone with a cut that needed four stitches to shut (I don’t know what the bone was called) and an angry mother who even dared to spank me at home before rushing me to the hospital. I could also remember that at school, during the weekdays, I used to play volleyball every afternoon with my classmates, for at least an hour or so after our dismissal. I would get really sweaty and energy-drained. But when I got home, I would take a bath and play with my neighbors again. I would either go for taekwondo on the weekends or play and watch TV, and actively participate on our local church activities on Sundays. If you would notice, there was barely neither time nor initiative for me to hit the books and study, and that’s because I used to dislike studying. I do not totally hate it, but it’s just that, studying was like an allergy or a disease, which made me sick every time I look or think of them. As I continue to type this essay, disturbing thoughts enter my mind like, I have been either suffering from ADHD back then, or I am just being too paranoid, self-pitiful and judgmental about myself. (I think.) My point is that I have been a really naughty, naughty kid, who would even dare to put house chores over schoolwork.


Now during one fateful day at school (It was at fourth grade), my teacher back then got really pissed off after having been overfed by my naughtiness. I have been so passive and unproductive that day, well, all I did was to wander about with my mind, and played with my pencil and pen on my desk (I imagined them to be either small rocket ships or a submarine that had powers to write figures on paper). I didn’t even finish my goals for that day (it wasn’t even close), plus, my homework from the previous day haven’t even been crossed out from the ‘my goals’ list on my desk. All of those made my teacher upset and mad at me that day. She came to my desk during class, grabbed my arms with both of her hands, shook it a little and scolded,


“Ano ba yan, Daryll. You are such a failure! Wala ka nang ginawang maganda! Hindi ka magiging successful someday! You’re a failure, Daryll!”


Silence ruled over me after hearing those words. It was as if I have been mind-controlled or brainwashed or something. I can still remember how embarrassed and blank I was at that time; embarrassed, because I was sure my classmates heard every single word that was said. My teacher left my desk and went on with her work. I still heard her mumbling as she walked away, but that didn’t matter anymore. Honestly, I have been hurt by what she said, a lot. That’s why I have remained quiet for the rest of the day.


Those words became the ones that made a great impact in my life because it served as my life’s turning point when it came to studying and, shall I include, being behaved. It affected me wholly along with my study habits. Since then, I wanted to prove her wrong. I wanted to let her know that I am not a failure despite my inattention and carelessness in studying. I decided to change. I started studying real hard, passing all my tests and attaining to get higher ranks in the Honor Roll, particularly in the Honor B, where I stayed consistent in. (That’s next to A, the highest honor, of course.) At the age of twelve I graduated from elementary as the First Honorable Mention. I got through high school, ran as Auditor and Council Adviser for the student government in my junior and senior year and finished also as the First Honorable Mention.


Laziness never left my life, of course; I still get lazy a lot. But before this particular laziness succeeds in the temptation it draws me to, I get reminded of the words my teacher told me that day. If it weren’t for those powerful, piercing and hurtful words, I would probably have been living the life I never wanted right now, just probably.