"It's time to say goodbye to a meaningful chapter in my life."
It's officially my last day as a student observer. I started observing in a regular class setting, and that ended with a joyful celebration.
The Christmas Party Experience
I wasn't keen on participating in the event due to finances. However, our last meeting with my assigned section 7D fell short since they made their adviser angry. It was a dull, quiet farewell, full of unspoken thoughts and feelings. I left with many hidden verses in my heart, so I kept my mentor's repeated invitations to their Christmas party in mind.
I really wanted to make up for that day. I wanted to leave with a pleasant goodbye, so I finally made up my mind and decided to attend the party, bringing four boxes of brownies with me.
The last time I went to Maslog National High School, my mentor wasn't speaking to her advisory unless it had already been necessary for several days, so when I walked towards the classroom, I felt genuinely nervous. Still, I hoped they'd reconciled because it was Christmas - a memorable holiday of love, generosity, and forgiveness.
And when I stepped inside, I was right. My mentor and her students have reconciled. Unlike our last meeting, where frowns were etched into their faces, this time around, they wore bright smiles on their faces.
They all welcomed with warm greetings and genuine surprise. They thought I couldn't make it since I only gave ambiguous answers when they invited me in the past. My mentor embraced me in genuine happiness while my students familiarly called me "Miss Cute."
Parlor Games
When I arrived, they had already started their parlor games. The game was called Balloon Pop - where a group had to pop a balloon by jumping on the lap of a groupmate. The group that finishes first is the winner. Watching them play was fun, especially with how fidgety and playful they were! There may inevitably be some mishaps like bumping into each other, falling, and slipping!
The second game is Balloon Float, where groups need to form a circle, hold hands together, and use their bodies to keep the balloon from falling to the ground. They can use any part of their bodies except their hands and elbows. Teamwork makes the dream work genuinely suitable for this game!
The next game was the famous Bring Me - the host announces specific things (or even persons) for the players to find and bring as quickly as possible. Of course, the winner is the quickest one to get the desired item. And yes, the famous line, "Bring me your crush from the other section," was mentioned! However, I was guffawing when the host announced that the players should bring the most plastic (someone deemed insincere or fake) person from the other sections. Yes, several players brought along the host's request.
Finally, they had another famous game, a trip to Jerusalem. It's a game where players must dance or walk around a circle of chairs while the music is playing. Usually, the number of chairs is one less than the number of players. Players rush in to sit when the music stops, and those who don't find their seats are eliminated. The game was indeed a source of laughter from the audience as players racked their minds not to get eliminated. Some of them walked slowly, others touched the chairs, and a few prevented others from moving while the music was playing.
The Farewell
After the games, we had our lunch. Several foods were served, such as roasted pork, play (stir-fried pork innards), lumpia, and more.
While eating, I conversed with the students about my plans, their feelings about my departure, and to let me return more often. We finally managed to properly talk with each other and take a picture with my mentor this time! It was heartwarming to hear them say that they appreciated my help and would miss me while I was observing their class. I, too, felt so happy being given the chance to be assigned to their section. This time, we were finally able to bid farewell to each other.
After lunch, my friend went to fetch me, so I finally said goodbye to my mentor and her advisory.