Run the Race

As I heard the alarm from my phone that keeps on ringing at 3 a.m. in the morning, I opened my eyes and it was the first day of July. Looking from the terrace, I saw a dark sky full of stars that twinkled so bright. I prayed and thanked God to have another life and another air to breathe. Not knowing that yesterday was quite stressful due to the election of class and having an issue wherein I was involved. But what's done has been done.

I fixed myself, wearing my uniform with a black and red shoes with a long white sock. At first, I was in a bit of confusion whether to tie my shoelace or not. It took me 5 minutes before I decided not to tie it. I looked at the clock and realized that I was late for leaving the house. I should have left earlier than 3:30 in the morning since I have to wait for a jeepney. I'm frustrated not to arrive on the said call time, since we should be there at 4 a.m. I arrived 4 minutes late to the meeting place.

Red and blue are the colors that blinks on the different vehicles. A lot of people are wearing their running attire. There are a lot of faces that smile at you at dawn. Some are still sleepy and some are so excited. Some took pictures, some of them are talking, and some of them are dancing zumba. As the emcee started to give instructions, some were shouting showing how excited they were. Everyone started to have their position on the starting line. "In 3, 2, and 1 the race starts now," said the emcee. Everyone started to have their first step. Others run as fast as they can as it begins. Others just walk and talk.

While running, some of my team are with those who are in front, some are in the last group, and I am in the middle. At first, I am very confident that I can run for the whole time as soon as it begins up to the finish line. But I was wrong. I started to feel exhausted when I reached the 2nd km. I walked and took a deep breath, hesitant if I should continue to run or just walk all the way. Knowing that I do not have the endurance for I have rested for a year from playing football. I was encouraged by my colleague to run slowly for me to balance my stamina and my breathing. To make this long story short, in the last 500 meters I started to run until I reached the finish line together with my colleague. Not knowing that there is something awaits me at the finish line. A medal and a certificate for those who belong to the first 300 finishers.

The twist is that, it gives me realization as I am holding the medal together with the certificate. If we try to put it in my experiences, I started my race to become a future educator as I entered my institution. I still have 2 years left before I graduate. Today, I am about to give up in the middle of the race, as I decided to give up my education this semester. I never take it seriously. Somehow at some point, life is just like running. You will not know what awaits you in the near future if you will give up right now. You will not know that there is something that you deserve for the hard work and struggles that you've gone through before reaching the finish line.

Perhaps, life is about looking up at what awaits you and not giving up because of some circumstances. Everything happens for a reason. You may get hurt, but that doesn't mean that you will hold on to that. Continue and you will see what awaits you.