Sometimes, They Ask Me If I'm Still A Human And I Only Shrugged🤷

As I look into the mirror, I strangely find myself wondering the thing that sets me apart. I have various qualities that distinguish me from my companions, yet I hesitate to label myself "different." It was a bit tricky, but I hope you got the point. If you look at me, you might assume that I'm normal. My body parts are complete, and I don't have special needs mentally. I guess most of us, right? If it's true that I don't describe myself differently, why do I feel different inside?

Like what others might think, I also consider myself an ordinary soul in this vast world. However, there's something I feel inside that I'm way different. Most of my batchmates were good-looking, but I always felt insecure whenever I looked in the mirror. In terms of personality, I classified myself as an introvert. I can't explain this feeling where most of them always wait for their pals during our class, but I only wait for the dismissal. Yeah, introverted things.

Captured using my camera

During the last semester, our NSTP professor organized an intriguing activity in which we had to describe each other using a small strip of paper. It was an opportunity to discover how others perceived us, and I must say, I was taken aback by the compliments I received. Remember that we had only known each other briefly for two weeks. Yet, according to their descriptions, I was considered quiet and intelligent. Some of them were just random, and a few resentments 😂. To debunk their first impressions about me, let's dive deep into my story.

Captured using my camera

Every academic term, whether it's the preliminary, midterm, or finals, we must face the dreaded exams. It's a time filled with stress and financial strain (tuition fees, ugh!), but there's no escaping it since these exams hold significant weight in our overall grades. If you don't have a permit, you won't be able to get a chance to take the exam. While some may opt for last-minute cramming or procrastination, I took a different approach. Listening to class discussions and only reading the modules were not enough to pass the exam. I understand that my grades don't reflect my worth as an individual, but it defines my commitment and hard work.

Captured using my camera

On those restless nights when I was willing to stay until dawn, fortune smiled upon me as the results fulfilled my expectations. Sometimes, I get perfect scores or more than that, and I'm not bragging since I took blood, sweat, and tears just to achieve it. In the first photo, I only made three mistakes and got a chance to get additional five points since I passed my portfolio on time. And in the second picture (the most challenging exam I took), I made only four mistakes. But since I saw the facilitator posting the name of the Dean, I put it in my paper and got additional five points.

Captured using my camera

On a different note, there's a memory that will forever stick with me: the day we received our Mathematics in the Modern World exam and quiz scores. I still remember how much practice I committed to memorizing how to solve problems appropriately and practice where I always commit mistakes despite having no connection with my course. I heard rumors that someone had missed out on Latin Honors from social media since she didn't meet the minimum grade. When the scores were finally handed out, all of us were surprised. Although I had achieved higher marks than the others, I still can't help but regret my mistakes.

When they asked about my scores and received my responses, they humorously added if I was still a human, and I only shrugged. Imagine most of them received scores in the range of 23, while I had scored double or even triple. They even commented with humor if I should already move to the other section. When I checked my grade on the student portal, I almost gained when I discovered I had achieved 99. I have one classmate who got 91, but I'm the only got who got 99, and I was super proud that I made it.

From my characteristics and the memories I collected as a first-year student, I learned that we should learn how to love our differences. It's common to feel insecure about what sets us apart, but I've realized that our worth as humans remains unchanged, regardless of our backgrounds, characteristics, or abilities. We often question if we should seek improvement, but we often forget to assess our worth as a living thing. That's my two cents, how about you?

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