Out-of-school schoolin’

I remember that moment clearly. I felt so cool, as a five-year-old staying late after school with all the high schoolers. We were in the auditorium rehearsing a dance routine to an A-Teens song for the 100th time. While I was caught up in my dancing, I didn’t really notice volleyball players practicing near us. Just when I was about to do my final pose, I was smacked on the head by a volleyball.

To make it clear, I never dance. I would if I could, but trust me, I can’t. I have as much flexibility as a plank of wood. Maybe that bonk on the head was a sign that I was never really meant to pursue this life of dancing.

Funny, though, if you would ask me what my earliest memory is, it would be the days when I was in a dancing group. We were pretty dedicated for a bunch of five-year-olds. I remember we would wear these over-the-top multicolored feathery costumes and join our school’s annual talent competition. We won most of the time, but I’m not sure if it was because we were actually good or because a group of five-year-olds dancing was just too adorable to resist.

The next time I danced again was when I auditioned for an organization in my freshman year of high school. In practically every tryout or audition, the last thing they would always ask is “Do something that will make us remember you.” Well, this was my first audition and the only thing that came to mind was to do the otso-otso. (Yes, I actually did it in front of a panel of seniors).  In the next few auditions I had, I did everything from rapping to acting like I was walking down a runway posing with a bunch of monoblock chairs. When would I strut down the hallway, I could see that the panelists were covering their faces trying their best not to laugh at how ridiculous I looked.

The risk factor

I can’t really recall any situation outside of school when I had to use the Pythagorean theorem or when I had to remember the atomic number of Helium. I, however, have repeatedly used the things I’ve learned from all these auditions. You’re not going to go anywhere if you back out every time you’re afraid of doing something that’s out of the ordinary. When you want something so badly, you’ve got to risk a lot even if it makes you look like a complete utter idiot. Plus, humiliating moments are not as bad as you think they are.

One example I’m going to give you is the time a whole class saw my underwear. I was young, foolish and far from coordinated. I was playing rock-paper-scissors with one of my friends in the stairs, and then I somehow tripped and rolled all the way down the stairs and fell flat on my face. Consistent with my incredible luck, a class was going down the stairs while I was there on the floor with my skirt pulled up exposing my pink underwear with polka dots to my batchmates.

But that wasn’t the end of the world (even though it did feel like it at that time). I got up and sort of walked away awkwardly. But I got over it and apparently none of the people in that class even remember the incident. My point is that everyone looked absolutely ridiculous at some point in his or her life, so you shouldn’t be afraid of it. Sure, I humiliated myself a few minutes during my auditions. But the rewards I got lasted for a lifetime. I didn’t get in every club or organization I tried out for, but I had the time of my life in the ones I was a part of.

I was always one of the last to get picked up in school. Every single period, I would look forward to dismissal not because I was going home but because I would get to go to meetings or practices. I remember that the school fair was one of the most hectic times in high school. I would stay there until seven or eight and would be working on props or the booths. Three years later, I still have red paint on my jeans from those days. It was there that I knew that I wanted to be behind the scenes. I loved the idea that I contributed to creating this huge production. Even though it doesn’t sound like such a big deal, these fairs and variety shows meant so much to us students because it was ours. It was the result of our ideas, our hard work and it was our show. That is one experience that you can’t get from inside the classroom.

The biggest part of my extracurricular life would have to be tennis. There was even a point when people would address me as “Tennis” when they couldn’t remember my name. I was in the school team from the sixth grade all the way to my senior year of high school. I originally planned to stop playing after high school, but I guess I just love it too much.

In one quarter of my junior year, I didn’t take a single chemistry quiz in class. Coincidently all my games were scheduled at exactly the same time as my chemistry class. While everyone was learning about atoms and memorizing the periodic table, I was out on the courts. I remember being so stressed out the next couple of weeks because of all the work I had to catch up on, but it was worth it.

Class on court

Since I joined the tournament, I got to spend time with the people who are some of my closest friends today. It was also during this time that I discovered my great love for KFC and fried chicken. I have no recollection of any chemistry make-up exam I took during that time, but I do remember the precise details of my finals match. I could still tell you the score and describe the adrenaline and nerves that I felt.

During college I also devoted the majority of my time to tennis. Even though some of the time could’ve been devoted more to my studies, I think that battling a three-set match gives you the edge when you’re in the middle of finals week pulling an all-nighter. In one of my matches I had to play through an injured wrist, a sprained ankle, and a pulled hamstring. No matter what, I got stronger and tougher from the years I’ve played. 

What most people don’t tell you is that you also learn a lot of things outside the court. During my first college match, I was on the sidelines watching my teammate play occasionally clapping while my other teammates were screaming and cheering their hearts out. Giving in to peer pressure, I decided to cheer a bit too. I was so proud and thinking that I was helping and motivating my teammate so much. The coach was beside me laughing, “Mae, even I have a hard time hearing you. You have to be louder!”

Well, I have a very small voice, but after a few games some of my teammates actually said that they could hear me! I know that it may seem a bit clichéd to be so involved and have that school spirit. But having played so much individually, it’s a completely different experience to play as a team and represent all the students attending your school. Even though it’s not tennis and I’m watching a soccer game, I still get that sense of pride when someone from our school makes a goal. Despite the fact that I’m just there to cheer, I still feel like I contributed to the win. When you look around at everyone cheering with you, it feels good to think that you’re a part of this group, this family. I’m not saying that everyone should get his or her pom-pons out or get the name of your school tattooed on your forehead, but I think having that school pride is still a big part of the school experience.

Don’t get me wrong, studies are very important. But you shouldn’t let just academics dictate your whole time in school. There are experiences that you’ll get to have only through things that you don’t get graded in. The memories I have of my school life are not filled with the tests or papers I submitted, but of the organizations I joined or the events that I attended. This extracurricular or “miseducation” is as important as your education. Plus, it makes your life seem so much more interesting. Getting knocked out by a volleyball while wearing a sombrero makes a greater story to tell than an A in a quiz.