Flying Others Kite

I was greatly touched by the starting words of the preface of story. It goes: “When I was fifteen…I’ve discovered my vocation. I want to be a writer.”

I was also like that before (even on my elementary days). I really want to be a broadcaster… a writer… a JOURNALIST. That is my vocation. However, my parents have been telling me not to take it because they are afraid of the journalist slaying issues that have been happening since before.

My eagerness to pursue my dreams became more and even more stronger than before. Especially that my adviser in Grade 6 introduced me to the schools press conference in our province. There I was molded into a more dedicated person. I am really seeing myself in the field of journalism.

I carried this dedication till my high school. I was the editor-in-chief of our school’s official publication, ‘The Flame’, for two consecutive years. I made this not just for leisure, but I made this as my life. I can’t take away myself from writing.

But considering my parents’ explanations, that taking that course is not a practical way. I also thought of that. Being a journalist won’t earn a lot compared to being an accountant. Yes, ACCOUNTANT. That is what they want me to be. And that is what I don’t think of being one someday.

Starting my third year in high school, we had an everyday (not really everyday!) talk with my parents about my college education. That time, my decision of taking Journalism or Broadcast Communication is indeed invincible before I learned that I passed UPCAT. After the release of the result of UPCAT 2007, I am still with my decisions. But unfortunately, I was accepted in the BS in Accountancy program of UP Visayas. That time, I also passed the WMSU-CET (Western Mindanao State University College Entrance Test) and MSU-SASE (Mindanao State University Student Admission and Scholarship Examination). All of these schools have very great opportunity for me.

WMSU has very low tuition fee and, the good thing is, it is only five hours away from home. Moreover, the College of Chemistry offered me subsidy for all fees with semestral subsidy. And so the MSU offers the same.
However, I cannot shun thinking I passed UPCAT. I always take note to that. I PASSED UPCAT. I PASSED UPCAT. I PASSED UPCAT. And that is indeed a blessing from heaven.

We had somewhat an agreement with my parents. Because they really wanted me to study not from afar, they said that I will be studying at WMSU. However, this is of full contrary to my decisions. I will not just snub the opportunity given by UP not just to me, but for me but for my whole family as well.

“But Iloilo is too far James! And the transportation in going there costs too much. Think of that! Where will we get money for your fair there of almost Php 2000 compared in going to Zamboanga (WMSU) which is only Php 300? Think about it!” These are the words I always hear from my mother every time we talk about my plans of gong to Iloilo.

So we have decided. We had to options: 1] WMSU but Mass Communication 2] UP Visayas but Accountancy. I will study at WMSU but pursuing my vocation; or I will take my parents’ choice of course for me but at my chosen university. (What a demanding son I am!)

My parents, again, said that they will not allow me to take journalism or other related courses but they also thought about my fare in going to Iloilo. I simply said “Borrow money from other people. I will be the one to pay for it. When I will arrive there, I will look for ways to earn money. Because this is my decision, I will be the one to suffer the consequences in going there.”

They were surprised when I they heard those words. They hugged me and said that “You are our son. We shall never forsake you. Don’t worry. We are here to support you.”

Even though they said that, my decision is firm. My parents will not suffer of what will me the consequences I may encounter in going to Iloilo. I looked forward of being totally independent from family in terms of financial support. That is a PROMISE.

When I arrived here, I was so sad. I was not able to sleep on my first night, but I have to start now adjusting in my new environment.

I have been facing struggles which I know the consequences of choosing to be here. I saw upperclassmen reading accounting books, and I, too, will be doing it in the next years. “This is it. This is Accountancy. This is not Journalism. I will be expecting terms like ‘inventory’, ‘debit’, ‘accountability’ and ‘liability’. There will be no ‘lead’, ‘editorials’, ‘features’, ‘copy reading’, etc. I will really miss that all.

At first, I was really looking for ways I can sway my fingers into writing. I became a writer of Panay News, a prestigious daily publication in Western Visayas, but I quitted after four months because I found conflicts of my time in writing and in studies. And at the mid of the first semester, there is something that played in my mind of shifting to Broadcast Communication or Journalism in Diliman.

I should be focusing on just one thing. And that is my studies.

I laid down my plans already. I will be finishing Accountancy and shall become CPA. After that, I will be migrating either in Canada or in Europe. I will save first enough money for me to support my siblings’ education and for my parents. And when everything is in its place, I will study Journalism. But for now, I have to fulfill the first part of my plan. And that is to finish Accountancy.

I am here for them- for my parents… for my family. I am so sad that I will not be pursuing my vocation. I am here for a goal. And that is to follow what my parents want me to be, though it’s hard but I have to. I now understand there part. I choose to follow them for I know, that they too, before had ambitions and vocations, but they failed to fulfill. And, now, it will be my great honour pursuing those ambitions for them. That is how obedient I am to my parents. I can give up my own vocations for them. I am now flying a kite not on my own. I am flying my parents’ kite- the kite they specially made for me.