When the moon shines brightly at night and captures everyone's heart, it's time to shine, mend, and begin new writing.
-Anonymous
Hello there, Hivers! My name is Yanyan from Cebu Philippines. I am a 20-year-old Engineering College student at Cebu Technological University. I persevered and was hardworking. The primary battles that students are facing are pressure and stress, but I do have exits whenever I feel tired in school and those are painting, drawing, singing, and participating in youth activities. I’m hands-on with my chosen course which is Engineering. I also love gardening, fond of writing articles and as well as making stories. These aspects form a pattern that allows me to be myself every day.
In my family, I have 9 siblings and I'm the second to the last child. I lost my dearest father at the age of 10. Last 2013, the month of August, well the reason is pretty tough for me to accept that I lost him forever, because of what happened I've been trying to help myself to recover from wounds that caused me 10 yrs ago. After that incident, I've been seeing myself as a quiet version of myself. Depression got me so hard that sometimes knock me down. I think my depression win five times and I manage to cut my life fifth times.
Luckily, here I am still breathing lively and still kicking. It means that I've managed to fight my own silence battle on my own. I'm so proud of myself that until now I manage to control my own emotions without any psychiatrist's help. Having me who had a strong fighting spirit, and still manage to smile in front of everyone was the best. To keep me busy and to be more productive. I've learned to enhance my hidden talents.
By that, I waste my time to work my talents and to forget the bad things in life. And that's why I keep myself busy for me to survive every day of my life. I've learned that in life we don't have to fight darkness to find the light. We just have to be light so that we can get out of the darkness. That's why I keep shining on my own, bringing lively life, and smiling to everyone and my own life as well. Life might be that tough but just keep on smiling.
Youth engagement
We are young members of the community that provide goods and services to our neighborhood. As a young representative from our barangay, I was able to give my service and willingness to help. We, the youngsters represent the hope of our community, as Jose Rizal once said, “Youth is the nation's hope”. There's pressure especially when some elderly people ridicule young people for having a criminal record or getting pregnant too soon. However, not all young ones were like that, some were able to demonstrate better for our future.
As a young person, I'd like to be one of those who lead or assist our community to grow, learn, and support. It is our job as youngsters to participate in all barangay activities, whether it is a feeding program, cleaning program, or community beautification. One of my life goals is to serve and guide others.
Gardening
I enjoy seeing myself doing something that my heart and soul desire. Gardening is a great and entertaining pastime at home that can also help you find your life's passion. It is much more enjoyable when you can watch fresh crops take on their original form, develops their blossoms, and reach the eagerly anticipated harvesting season. I like watching and being around plants, vegetables, and trees that are growing strong and producing fruit. Years must pass before the entire process takes place, including the harvesting. In addition, gardening and harvesting also help to keep my health in check, both physically and mentally.
Singing
Singing helped me believe in myself and enhance my self-assurance. My heart flutters as I sing in front of everyone and hearing that positive feedback made my heart leaps for a while. The reality is that when I was a teenager, performing any type of talent in front of everyone wasn't my thing. But now, I suppose, is my chance to shine and present myself. I simply go with the flow whatever occurs, there is no need to worry about it, the show must go on.
Travel
Adventure is my way to rest and unwind. Traveling all over the world is my goal, and I'm looking forward to having a collection and writing about it on my blogs soon. But in the meantime, touring my own country and exploring the countryside was my first option. Going to another place allows me to relax, refuel and giving me time to be happy, away from worry and agony. The reason why I travel a lot is because I wanted to forget my problems and the heavy heart I felt.
In addition, one strange thing about me is that I enjoy collecting pebbles on beaches because it makes me happy, and they tagged me as an immature one for doing so, but the truth is it made me happier.
Life is full of surprises, but it's enjoyable to discover them. From my point of view, living life with the people that surround us gave me a lot of learning. Also, our lives as people were the most anticipated, thrilling, and full of what-ifs. Discovering my hobbies, likes, and dislikes, things shift and change until we understand the true meaning of life. From immature thinking to mature one means a practical way of life.
As for me, I'm aware that we all have some changes of decisions because as the saying goes “The only constant in this world is change”. As years pass by, we must continue what we started and be fearless in facing every change we encounter because whatever it is, whether good or bad, it provides us with lessons to learn and that forever reminded us.
Simply push yourself to always move forward and your steps will bring you to where you belong, therefore stepping backward is not permitted. If life is tougher than we thought, never give up and simply bend your knee and pray, because God will not allow us to give up instead send us solutions to the problems that we have.
I am sincerely grateful to be a member of this communal platform. Thanks to the assistance of 
This platform can help me a lot, and I will be grateful to utilize my voice as one of the students on this platform to bring you to our many areas that may highlight everyone's emotions. And I'd like to share some of my tales, travels, and journeys very soon.
That's it Hivers. See you for my next blog.