I was born one cold night in October
19, 1996 in Manila, Philippines. I got the best of both worlds when I was
rewarded with a beautiful family: my diligent dad, Ariel; my ever so strict yet
caring mom, Wilma, and my two annoying brothers, Ariel and Ian. The former is
the oldest of us three, and the latter, however, is the youngest, making me the
middle and only girl child.
My name is Hanna Pauline Biona
Nicolas. My parents told me that my name was derived from a character in the
Bible by the name of Hannah who had her son named Samuel, only they did not
prefer my name to be spelled the same. The Pauline, however, was what they thought
as the best name ever by that time, except I always think of Pauline as such a girly
and admit it, a cliché name for girls and I really cannot help feeling a little
peeved by the idea.
Just like every other child, my very
first education was under the guidance of my mother. She thought me how to read
and write. Consequently, I started my formal education when I was
four-years-old at the Valenzuela Christian School as a kindergarten student.
The school is minute in size and student population, but in the same community
and under its premises, I have met my first ever friends. Their name was
Janselle and Coleen. It was at the same year when I earned the Achiever of The
Year Award, my very first honorary award, during the recognition ceremony. I
used to remember that my dream to graduate with flying colors started when I had
my own taste of success due to hard work. However, this life marathon is still
far from the end. There were still a total of freaking eight years to tedious
school works before I engage myself to my preferred career in life.
My high school had a lot of fun
although I can’t get to hang out with friends, for example, at the mall or
anywhere they want because my parents won’t allow me yet. Sometimes, I think
their own discipline measures were a far cry from others. However, I enjoyed my
high school life and live it to the fullest by being active on social
organizations, participating in different oral delivery speeches, joining
contests and even undergoing rigorous training through being an officer in our
school’s Citizenship Advancement Training or known as CAT. I also engage myself
in our school’s different organizations like Filipino, English, Math and
Science Clubs, Anti-Drug Abuse Council, Performing Artists for Christ in which
we train lower-yeared students for leadership and other skill enhancement
workshops. I also joined our basketball and table tennis varsity teams as we
compete with other schools along Valenzuela for pride and glory.
Time really flies so swiftly. But
if, for one second, you think I was already loaded with confidence or it being
secured, you’re thinking wrong. I was still me who feels like I am never going
to get out of my comfort zone. It was at that time when I was near to being a
college student. Where should I study? Where should I take an entrance exam?
What could be the perfect degree for me? Would I acquire some friends in
college? Would I be able to adjust? Would I be able to do this? I must admit, I
find it hard adjusting to a new world, to a new community where you know no
one. I was used to small places where I know and I’m friends with only just a
few people. Imagine, I stayed in the same school for twelve years, which gained
me the loyalty award, and all of a sudden, I got to face a whole lot different
world. It was hard though but thanks to my newly-found friends.
A very famous saying of David Frost
says, “Don’t aim for success if you want it, just do what you love and believe
in and it will come naturally.” Before I graduated from high school, when I
still haven’t made up my mind, what to pursue in college was something that led
me to so much confusion and indecisiveness. My life decisions, during those
times, were tested as I entered another chapter of my life when I really needed
to break the shells that hid me from the outside world. When people ask me what
I opted to be, I always consciously reply, “Anything, as long as I will get to
be the boss.” And then, I will ask myself silently, “What do I really want?”
Thanks to David Frost, I already have the idea in my mind.
Flashback to the days when I was
still a child, the first profession I thought I would pursue was definitely not
something that would cost us an arm and a leg. A few years later, I told myself
that I will be taking up nursing since that was what I think my heart desires.
My mom countered that I can’t even look at blood. And I realized that maybe,
just maybe it really wasn’t for me. My dad’s opinion matters a lot, he only
needed to be a saint and I will worship him. With my confusion and curiosity
that keeps on killing me, I asked my dad, “How about a dentist, Dad? So we can
be of the same profession?” He did answer me with the most touching words only
he can provide. It was not just a yes or no. It was an advice to follow not what
I need to be, but rather, what I want to be.
I still remember that it was few
weeks before graduation and I was asked to produce a speech for the
commencement exercise. I was looking for quotations to put up in my speech,
when suddenly the quotation aforementioned caught my eyes. And from that
moment, I knew, I wanted to write. I wanted to express. I wanted to inspire. I
was never a professional when it comes to writing, but that ‘what you love’ phrase,
I know deep within, pertains to writing, and I can say that that was why I took
up Mass Communication. I can’t stand living with regrets once or if I barked up
the wrong tree. The reason why I’m saying this is that, sometimes, you just
need someone to look up to or someone to serve as your inspiration to not just push
you to move forward, but to move forward with a goal at hand. It was at that
moment when I realized that sometimes, it pays not to worry so much about where
I rank, but rather, I should think about the joy I get with what I do. Settling
with my passion, injecting enthusiasm to whatever I do, soon, it will never be
impossible to achieve success.
As of the moment, I am still
striving forward and aiming towards a bright future for me and my family. All I
am thinking is the importance of knowing my limitations, my capabilities, and
my passion so I will have my directions to follow. I do hope you could do the
same. Don’t forget those who have fought with you on your battles because
whether you like it or not, a significant character can’t simply be gone on the
next chapters of your book.
