I was skeptic at first about the schedule of our retreat last February since we all know that it’s Hell Month for graduating students! During the first day, my attention is still focused on our thesis and other academic requirements. But since, the retreat facilitator, Father (sorry I forgot the name hehe) told us that we should rest our mind first and let go of all the worries of academics, I did let go of all school stuff and diverted my attention to God and to getting to know more of myself and others. Truly, I was able to be rejuvenated from all the stress of school and it built stronger bonds among my blockmates and batchmates!

Photo(above) by: Ana Morales

Caleruega is really a good place to reflect. You get to appreciate nature. They have this tagline: “Close to Nature, closer to God” and it was actually true!

Caleruega is even more magical at night!

Photo(above) by: Katrina Sison

We had different activities during the 3-day retreat. We attended sessions, had bonfire night and talent show, and during our free time we get to roam around the place and hiked our way to the other chapel.

The funny story here that I will never forget was that I get to stay in a room instead of a dormitory! When we got there first day in the afternoon, all the girls went haywire with getting bed once the dorm has been opened and despite acting very fast to get to have one, I still ended up with nothing lol. Another cool thing was that, my labor groupmates for CBA Kat, Aya, and China were left with nothing too! Only 4 of us did not have a place to sleep. What a coincidence. Hahaha. To make the long story short, we got a private room with our own toilet & bath! Yaay! :)

Sayang I didn’t get to take a picture of our room! But here’s our key as a remembrance.

In the end, I get to enjoy the retreat more than I expected. Bonding at its finest with my college loves 4BES’13! Caleruega is truly breathtaking and I promise to go back there to have some “Me Time” soon! :)

Senior Life had been so hectic that I forgot to update my blog! Anyway, I’ll be sharing everything that happened during the first quarter of the year until the latest. Everything is surely worth blogging I tell you! heehee :>

See ya! :)

onlinecounsellingcollege:

1. Create a daily ‘to do’ list.

2. List goals and set priorities.

3. Do ‘A’s’ first (Most important things).

4. Do them now.

5. Ask yourself “What is the best use of my time right now?”

6. Be realistic: New habits take time to develop.

7. Reward yourself for small steps of progress towards your goals each week.

Source: http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/gotoschool/highschool/priorities.php

psych-facts:

onlinecounsellingcollege:

1. Dress Sharply: Although there’s more to us than the way we look dress and look, it can greatly affect the way we feel. When we think we don’t look good we often feel less confident. That changes how we act and interact with other people.

2. Increase your pace of walking: People who walk quickly usually look more confident. They have places to go; they have people to see; and their life is interesting and fast paced.
3. Good Posture: Slumped shoulders are a signal of lack of self confidence. But if you always stand up straight, and you look straight ahead up, then you look more powerful and confident.

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(via tinyfactss)

It’s the time of the year that I need you guys to “like” these pictures! :) Click on the following links, and like it! Appreciate your help! :D Thank youuu! :)

Ms. 4BES1: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=269385496513051&set=a.269385246513076.60268.268290283289239&type=3&theater

Mr. 4BES1: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=269382363180031&set=a.269382119846722.60264.268290283289239&type=3&theater

Couple Shot: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=269387403179527&set=a.269387203179547.60271.268290283289239&type=3&theater

dragonflyby:

I wrote this blog entry when I was an angsty 19-year-old, too eager to belong in a serious relationship. I had so much to learn back then about boys and dating, just like any other teenage girl who felt “not too young and not too old.”

There are times when I want to be single—unattached, tied to nobody, not having to update to someone where I am and who I’m with and what my plans for the day are.  But there are times when I want to be in an official relationship—bringing my guy to lunch-outs with the family, having a “couple album” in my hard drive, proudly being “In a Relationship” (or must things get mushier, “Married”) in all of my online accounts, setting our favorite “couple photo” as primary. Sometimes I’d like to be the girl who makes her closest guy friends torpe over her. The one who actually has a selection of boys but opts not to choose anyone at all. The girl whose life revolves around friends and family and work and school. The power girl who doesn’t have any time at all for a boyfriend, or even just a crush. The girl whose value appreciates directly proportional to the number of guys she’s turned down and ignored. The free spirit whom nobody just can’t have. But sometimes I’d like to be the girl who helps her boyfriend’s mom cook his favorite meal on his birthday. The one who’d always have someone who’d pick her up after work or school. The one who’d join her guy’s family on out of town trips and the one who’d bring her guy along on her own family outings. The one the boys would best want for him because she’s always game and her corny jokes actually sell. I could be either of the two, actually. My Friendster account would proudly say either “Single” or “In a Relationship”. I would be happy and content either way. But here’s the painful truth: I am definitely unhappy and discontent right now being in between. Just in between.

Dear 19-year-old Ches and all other 19-year-old hopefuls,

I want you to know that you will get what you wish for — Single Blessedness and that relationship you’ve been “dreaming” about. Single Blessedness will be fun: you will have all the time in the world for yourself and you will pursue things you’ve always wanted to without anything to hold you back. You will meet a few boys and figure them out and realize you are too much to handle; no one can tie you down that free spirit of yours. But you will find yourself someday in the most awkward situation with the guy you’ve misjudged for the longest time. He will hand you a bouquet of roses on the car ride to a party and he will tell you about his intentions of courting you even if he does not believe in courtship. You will spend the night slowdancing to party music in deep conversation and you will realize he does not deserve the hating you’ve been giving him for the past two years. And yes, he will be that first legit boyfriend who will will actually embrace commitment when the time is right.

Your parents were right when they said, “You will get there. Not just now.” We don’t have it easy all the time. The only way to be wise is to figure things out on your own. Sometimes you have to take a few wrong turns, miss a few streets, and waste a considerable amount of time and effort. This is so you learn to be sharper and more careful with decision-making. So you learn which paths never to take (anymore). So you gain the maturity to kill or tame down that instant gratification recklessness can give.

The wait may be long, but it’s freaking worth it. Wait it out, hot shot. You’ll be glad you did.

Love,

You, 5 years later