Engineer

Grabe I never thought na maabot ko yan, parang dati lang pinapangarap ko yan. But here I am three years after passing the boards as the top 1, being the head engineer in Olivarez GOC. Madaming nangyari within those three years, I became more independent, fierce, stronger and braver.

Nandito ako ngayon sa dati kong school sa Tarlac which is ang Tarlac State University. Inimbitahan ako para sa isang symposium, bilang isa sa mga speaker. Nandito nako sa harap ng gate and mag papark na lang, ginanap ito sa gymnasium which is nasa main kaya medyo hassle sa parking space dahil limited lang.

But thankfully may nakita akong naka lagay na reserved for Engineer Margaux Aurelie S. Olivarez. So nag park nako and lumabas.

Seeing my Alma Mater again brought back so many memories. Those days where I sometimes sleep on the hallways, libraries, the gymnasium and even the canteen. How I miss running and almost not tapping my ID dahil late na for the first subject. I miss college.

"Good Morning po Engr. Aurelie, welcome po." I snapped back to reality when a student went near me and greeted me. "Good morning also, nag start naba?" I asked, because I was actually a bit late. The symposium starts at 8 and it's almost 9. Blame the traffic.

"Ah hindi pa po they are all waiting for you po." Oh my gosh, stupid Au if only you woke up extra early. "I'm sorry let's go." I walked towards the gymnasium, and saw that there's a lot of people inside. Students, Faculty, Staffs, and maybe some outsiders.

"This way po Engr." The student guided me to my seat which is in front and when I say in front super harap. Hindi lang naman ako yung naimbintihan sa symposium, kaya siguro maraming tao. I saw some familiar faces as I pass by them and smiled, I can't talk to them muna late nako and dipa nag start so mamaya na lang.

"Good morning Engr. Aurelie, nice to see you again." The Univeristy president greeted me. "Good morning din po, Ma'am Stella. It's nice you see you also. I'm sorry po for being late I got stuck sa traffic, never knew na mas lumama ang traffic sa may bandang SM po." Nakakahiya dahil na late ako andami tuloy nag antay, mga students and professionals. "It's fine dear, besides isa ka sa mga importanteng tao dito kaya okay lang." I just nodded and smiled.

The program started already that's why Ma'am Stella and I made ourselves comfortable in our seats. This symposium will be about our experiences, kumbaga storytelling and encouragement ang focus. Ngayon lang ako pumayag na mag talk dahil sobrang busy ko. Pumayag lang ako dahil si Ma'am Stella na mismo ang nakiusap and syempre dahil Alma Mater ko rin naman to kaya pumayag nako.

"Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguish guest welcome." As the emcees started I got a bit nervous I don't know why but it's a different kind of nervousness. "Let's as all give a round of applause to our University President Ma'am Stella Q. Reyes for here welcome speech." Ma'am Stella went up the stage.

"Good Morning everyone, I will not make this speech to long. I just want to remind everyone to please listen to our guests as they speak. To our guest welcome back to your Alma Mater and thank you for accepting our invites to speak. Again, good morning." As usual Ma'am Stella doesn't talk much in these.

The program continued and two of the guest speakers gave their speeches. The first one is a Criminal Lawyer now and the other one is a Pediatric Doctor, they are familiar but I don't fully know them but I'm still proud because they reached their dreams.

It's now my turn...

"And now let us all welcome Engr. Margaux Aurelie S. Olivarez, a big round of applause for Engr. Aurelie" I smiled as I walk to the stage. This is my very first time speaking in front of a huge crowd so I'm a bit scared.

"Thank you, Hi everyone." As I've said that a lot of people cheered and clapped. I knew that I was a bit popular back in my college days so I know word travels fast around here. "It's good to be back, how I miss being in college. So let's start, students I want you to close your eyes, imagine yourself standing in a mirror, do you see yourself? Now I want you so imaging yourself maybe four years from now. Do you see yourself? Do you see a teacher, a reporter, a politician, a doctor, an accountant, an architect, or maybe an engineer or wala kayong nakikitang reflection?" As I've said that some people laughed.

"Now I want you to open your eyes. Hi good morning ulit." I said jokingly. "I want you to raise your hands, and be honest okay." I sounded a bit strict. "Raise your hands if you saw your future." A lot of people raised their hands but there are some who didn't.

"Now stand up those who didn't see their relfection." A few student were hesitant kung tatayo ba sila. "I just want to say, It's okay to not see or imagine what is ahead of you. I myself didn't imagined I would make it this far. Now please be seated."

"It's okay, those who saw their reflection. I hope you find every way to reach that dream. Those who didn't it's okay, you just need to explore more and experience more." As I've said this, I walk back and forth just to ease my nervousness.

I continued to talk about my experiences in colleges, while I was taking my OJT, and preparing for the boards, and some of the few experiences of my first year as an employee. I was about to close my speech with a statement when a familiar figure caught my attention.

I somehow froze, I didn't know he's invited.

"I just want to end this speech with this. It's okay to make a few sacrifices, a few mistakes, and a few subject retakes one thing that you shouldn't do is give up that dream. Again, good morning and thank you." I said those like I was in a hurry. Hindi dapat yun yung ending ng speech ko, nawala ang focus ko. Because of him.

I hurriedly went down the stage and back to my seat. The unfamiliar feeling was this. "I'm sorry, I didn't tell you that he's also speaking." Ma'am Stella said as she looked me with an apologetic look. I couldn't talk, I was just staring at my watch hoping time would hurry up so that I can leave.

"And now ladies and gentlemen, let us welcome the presence of the most loved student body president of our university, Doc. Chancellor Pierce Y. De Silva. Let's give him a round of applause." Everyone cheered and stood up.

He still got it, the crowd, the charm, the innocence, everything.

I can't feel anything. I don't know what to say. I don't know what to act. I don't know anything. One thing I know the man I used to love is standing in front of me.

Chancellor Pierce Y. De Silva...