Vultures

"..how do I stop myself from being just a number.
How will I hold my head to keep from going under.."

The more eager I am to graduate on time, the more problems arise. At least even on the most basic process of applying for graduation. I did apply last December.
But weeks after, when the "official list of graduating students for second semester, AY 2007-2008" was released, my name wasn't there. IT'S NOT ON THE freakin' LIST!
Worried mode. Hmm.. *think* Okay, check on it at the OCS.

Ian: Ate, yun na ba talaga yung final list of graduating students? 'Coz I don't see my name on it, eh, nag-apply naman po ako. Heto nga po yung isang copy nung approved form.
OCS: Ah, hindi pa, i-uupdate pa yun.
Ian: Okay. Thank you po.

After a few more weeks. Three weeks to be exact.

THE list wasn't updated.

Another two weeks. Something happened. Not THE list. But a NEW list was posted.
In front of the Dept. of Biology office. What it says:
"We would like to inform you that the following students have not submitted their Enlistment Survey Forms (ESF) for the first semester of AY 2008-2009."
And what a surprise: I SAW MY NAME ON IT.

Okay. Breathe Ian, breathe.
WTF?!? I am a graduating student! No need for a new ESF. WTF?!
Panic mode. Okay, okay.. uh.. Reality check.
I went through my curriculum vitae:
All Bio subjects - clear.
PE - clear.
NSTP - clear.
SSPs - clear.
AHs - just 1 left, Hum. II, currently enrolled this semester.
MST - I passed NS5 and NS8 in one sem.
Electives - just 1 left, Rad. Biology, currently enrolled this semester.
Thesis - currently working on.

Waaaaaa. Nothing's left out. I'm right on schedule. But why oh why?
Theories began circling inside my head. I know I submitted my App. for Graduation form beyond the deadline. So maybe, OCS hasn't really updated their list yet.
But hey, why am I included on the new batch of enrollees (for next year)? That's too much..

So there. OCS had to do the talking. And guess what I have found out:

CAS' Office of the College Secretary (OCS) lost their copy of my Application for Graduation form!
Wow. So all this time, not even once did the OCS think that a graduating student named **** Ian ****** ever existed within the walls of CAS.

Well hopefully, after clearing this out with OCS, I will now be an official graduating student.

CASE CLOSED.


"Down to the wire, I wanted water but I'll walk through the fire.
If this is what it takes to take me even higher,
then I'll come through, like I do,
when the world keeps testing me, testing me, testing me."

"Vultures"
Artist: John Mayer
Album: Continuum (2006)

One Fine Wire

"..and I'm juggling all the thoughts in my head,
I'm juggling and my fears on fire but I'm listening as it evolved in my head..
I'm balancing on one fine wire.."

I was so bored at home that I didn't let even the simplest task that will make me leave the house just pass by. Well, I succeeded. What was just a simple day for me to go to school and return Ann's Rad. Biology notes became a major one. As a matter of fact, this day became a 'hit three birds with one stone' event.

1. Ann's Rad. Biology notes
I borrowed this almost two weeks ago. What a surprise that I haven't copied anything yet when she reminded me that she's about to get it back. So there, I returned it. Fresh and untouched. Too bad that class discussions resume on Monday and I haven't had any notes of the previous lectures. Way to go Ian. My attitude is just so... non-med. school. Better change for the better!

2. Thesis Draft courtesy of Dr. Co
She returned it -- at last! What was planned to be a quick drop-by at the Dept. of Biology office this morning became a total freak show. Five hours, ma'am. Five.
But everything turned out okay, so far. It seems that the corrections that our two readers made are almost similar, making our next editing quite easier. Yay.

3. Molecular Beauty by Roald Hoffman
How can a chemist say that a particular molecule is 'beautiful'? Weird, huh. This essay that I am required to read and react on is about a chemist's notions on molecular aesthetics -- the beauty that lies between every molecule. I was quite at ease at first when I knew about this essay since I thought that I might be able to understand his ideas easily because I have been bombarded with chemistry (including biochemistry) subjects before. Hmm. But no. The way the author wrote the essay is just too difficult to comprehend. Very tricky. I guess I have to read it over and over again. Deadline's on the seventh.

Another thing that's been on my mind today was the unending assumptions and discussions about 'life after biology'. Biology IS the study of life. But after four years of it, I am more lost than ever about life.
Ever since the idea of me not being accepted to ANY medical schools here in the Philippines came to my consciousness, my thoughts about it have begun juggling over my head. At first I was like, "nah..for sure, no matter what, there will always be a med school where I will eventually end up." Of course this statement is true. But then, at this point, a lot of realizations are beginning to surface. And digging deep into these realizations is the fact that it's not just "going to medical school" anymore. It's now about CHOOSING the medical school. And not just a med school, but the RIGHT one.
*sigh*
Right now, the best thing that we could all do is make sure we're all prepared for whatever that might happen. Trying to think of Plans B, C, D, and so on is not a bad idea, just don't let your mind revolve around those too much. That's why they're the alternatives. When Plan A doesn't work, then that's the time to consider Plan B. So, unless Plan A hasn't been trashed yet (hopefully not), Plans B, C, D, and so on are still nothing but a piece of crap.


"..Life plays such silly games inside of me and I felt some distant cries, following.
And they're entwined between the night and sun beams..
I wish I were free from this pain in me.."

"One Fine Wire"
Artist: Colbie Caillat
Album: Coco (2007)

Ian's Alphabet presents: Me Against The Music

This February,

Ian's Alphabet highlights music as a part of everyday life.

There is always that one particular song for every thing that we do, no matter how big or small, how important or senseless it might be.





Thus, for the whole month of February, every post will feature one particular song that depicts the content/s of the blog entry.

I hope you like the idea.

Happy reading and keep those comments coming!

Ian
xoxo