Butterflies in My Stomach

Loads of papers to submit, articles to be passed, exams, clearance, projects and a whole lot more of requirements that I have to meet, that's my life. As a Senior student, who was recognized for her wits, I have to meet these expectations perfectly as much as I can. Not to be very boastful but just so you guys would be able to understand, ever since elementary I always end up with the title of being the Class Top 1. I find it very overwhelming and very stressful as well.

You see, in our country, people expect you to do the same thing for the rest of your life. I mean when they ask you to do something like a piece of article or so, they put their 100% trust on you that you'll be able to produce an excellent product but of course there are times wherein mistakes are inevitable and what happens is that they would scold you for you haven't met their expectations from you.

That's my life in my entire high school years. I always meet the expectations of my teachers and classmates which I found very tiring at some point, yet my only reason for doing so is for my parents. I want to show them that I love them in that manner.

Now the graduation day is about to come and honor students shall be announced sooner or later. I should admit that there was a time I felt so scared, thinking I wouldn't be entitled as the Class Valedictorian since my competitor seems to have very good grades as well. Come to think of it, it is indeed painful for my part when I just ended up the Salutatorian after all the years that I was the Class Top 1.

Then I was called to the High School Coordinator's Office. I felt butterflies in my stomach and my mind kept on asking "Valedictorian or Salutatorian?" for more than a dozen of times as silence filled the room. My heart beated faster every second until "Tiffanie, I should say congratulations for you are the Class Valedictorian, please don't spill out the information yet for there will be a formal announcement of Honor Students. What I want you to do now is to prepare your speech and thank God for all the blessings, once again congratulations" said Mr. Gabiola (High School Coordinator of Philadelphia High School) with a smile.

Still shocked of what he just said, I had my jaw dropped for a moment and when the information had already been transferred from my neurons to my brain, I can't help it but I went closer to him and hugged him and said "Thank You sir" for several times. Then, he escorted me out of the room in which I found myself unable to hide my smile from the teachers along the corridor. I want to hug them one by one and say thank you but I have to keep the information since there are a number of students outside as well.

A few minutes after my conversation with Sir Gabiola, I was fetched by my dad. Thinking he's still unaware of what surprise I have for him and my mom, I decided to keep my mouth shut until my dad told me "I knew it already (then he grinned)".

"What?! How come?" I replied, surprised.

"Sir Gabiola texted your mom." Then he sgrinned again.

The moment we reached home I immediately went to my parents' room and hugged my mom.

It was indeed a day of fulfillment. To all these things I offer my utmost thanks to non-other than the Lord, whom I believe is the One behind all of my life's greatest memories.