The first day of school usually isn’t the best. Pulling in to a jam-packed parking lot, struggling to find a spot. Watching the CPD survey the lot, checking every car, in a desperate attempt to ticket people and rob ‘em of money they don’t have. Seeing segregation between different diversities in a heavily diverse school. All of it is inevitable, ‘cause like in most Filipino families, school is a must or else you’ll be looked down upon and, in certain ways, neglected. I’d like to believe that, coming from a family where my own parents are 1st generation. At the end of it all, while walking into to that first class, art history, on Monday morning, 9:30 am, I ask myself “what am I doing here?”
I cautiously make a decision to sit somewhat in the middle of the classroom. I do this, firstly, to avoid being judged as the kid who knows everything and sits up front, and, secondly, to avoid being judged as the kid who chills in the back texting on the telly most of the class period. Although it was early, and despite the fact I came to class essentially unprepared, I gave the professor, Rory Leonard, a chance. In my head I was thinking, “hey, might as weeeelll… I’m here for a reason right?” That reason at that time and place was nowhere near clear to me. That is, up until Leonard speaks on how we are all connected in some way—whether it be music, wall art, dance, or what have you. The fact was we are all connected because we embrace contemporary art in some shape or form. That sparked me to get into the class discussion and actually think about the things she was saying.
To put it in perspective, I didn’t know what I was doing at school. I could have been at home chillin, writing lyrics, writing in general, or whatever it may be. Then, it clicked. Sitting in that classroom, listening to the professor speak, learning new things about myself that even I didn’t know—I knew why I was there. I am here to educate myself.
Thanks for reading!
Peace.
