Awesome moments in DLSU

“The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions – the little soon forgotten charities of a kiss or a smile, a kind look, or a heartfelt compliment.”  -Samuel Taylor Coleridge

In a world of soaring prices, crashing economies, war, poverty, famine, strife, and disappointing American Idol results, only the little joys remind us of the sweetness of life- and its brevity. Life is short: college is no exception. Many gawk at the idea of getting up painfully early on another gray morning, only to bury their noses in endless sheets of accounting after another grueling twenty minute queue at the elevator.

Yes, running through Calle Agno just to make it to class was, like, so not worth it.

But why sit down and wait for the professor to come (or not to come) to cheer us up, when we can cherish those countless sublime specks of DLSU wonderland that already keep our sanity intact at the bare end of a crammed thesis–right here, right now, every day – in the Andrew building, in SJ walk, in that particular restroom nobody ever dares enter at that particular time on that particular day?

All it takes is the wit to see things in a different light, to see the awesome in every moment.

1. That awesome moment when you happen to arrive in class seconds before your thunderous professor enters.

It is eight o’clock sharp and you still have a long way to go. You are huffing and puffing, your heart is drumming madly and every step you take feels like your last – or at least, hardly enough to get you to class on time. And just when your body is ready to drop dead from fatigue, you burst through your classroom door and plop right into your seat, just as your professor enters.

2. That awesome moment when you snag the very last serving of sinigang na baboy in the cafeteria.

Whether it is in La Casita, Zaide or Animo Food Haus, you are sure to be behind a very long queue of ravenous college students, come high noon or suppertime. It is steak day, and you pray with all your internal might that no one in front of you will take that last piece of rare cuisine for themselves. And lo and behold! Heaven has heard of your plea and has conceded to your vision of a satisfying lunchtime. All’s well that ends well, indeed.

3. That awesome moment when you are alone in SJ Walk with nowhere to go and a friend calls out to you.

It’s another ordinary day, and you walk aimlessly past SJ, ticking off an endless list of imaginary to-do’s in your head. Head home? Nah. I have class in an hour or two. The library? Nope. Too lethargic. Then an old block mate whistles out to you. Just like that, boredom dissolves in a snap.

4. That awesome moment when you finally get to have the professor you want.

Thank the merciful heavens! At long last, no shuffling of professors! A few weeks ago, you were only too familiar with the enrollment procedures and you dreaded jumping into the agitating mess that is the My.LaSalle system. After enlisting for classes, you cross your fingers and wish to get that much sought-after professor for a dull research subject. And finally, come class time, you whoop for joy when you find out that all the stress has been truly worth it.

5. That awesome moment when you seize the last terminal in the computer laboratory

On regular days, the labs are never empty, except on lunch breaks – closing time. For last minute homework, quick Google searches, or a Facebook addiction begging for release, managing to grab a spot is a miracle in itself.

6. That awesome moment when you get that last spot on the elevator ride.

No one likes waiting. In a world used to instant gratification, milliseconds pass like centuries. And nothing can be as dreadfully long as the elevator line of death in Andrew. For DLSU froshies, it’s almost a rite of passage: to stand in line and stare at the clock that seems to move light years ahead as the world freezes at your heels. So it comes as no surprise for us to feel mighty awesome when we wait a lifetime for a lift, manage to squeeze in for that extra space in the elevator, and stare back at those poor souls who’ll be watching the green screen for a little while longer.

7. That awesome moment when you pass a class that was a sure fail.

“You cannot expect victory and plan for defeat.”  This holds true in those moments when all that’s left is to throw in the towel and call it quits. After all, what else might you expect from a professor you feel has hated you ever since you were late that one time, when you manage to flunk every test, and when assigned groups for projects land you leeches instead of students?

Then you get a 2.0.  Awesome.

8. That awesome moment when you deliver a perfect report in class.

For some of us, public speaking tops the list of our worst fears, above death. Where sweaty palms and vocal chords yield no more than uhmmm and dehydrated throats, it feels almost impossible to deliver a speech with enough poise, grace, and humor to stand the crowd. But after a thousand late-night mirror rehearsals, those smiling faces, staring in rapt attention, now seem worth it. Awesome.

9. That awesome moment when you’re watching a DLSU-ATENEO basketball game.

It doesn’t matter if you’re up or down by ten, the fact that you are part of this historical rivalry unfolding at the coliseum is just plain awesome. “ANIMO!”, that sacred battle cry, sets this war apart from the rest. The sound of drums pounding, fellow Archers cheering for every unlikely point and clamoring after every foul, and a kinship fueled by generations of animosity, provides for a basketball game like no other.

10. That Awesome moment when you lie down at the Amphitheater at sunset.

On your back and with your arms behind your head, you look up to see the fading rays of dusk filter through clouds passing over a darkening sky.  It’s hippie, we know, but who cares. The hustle and bustle of college life demands a romantic pause, on this little patch of greenery (or what little of it remains) by the Centennial tree.

Now, if only we had that field back…