Arjay had been turning in his bed for almost 2 hours now. He can’t sleep. He checked the time: it’s already 2 in the morning and he needs to get up at 6 am!
He wiped his face with his palm and stood up. He went out to his room’s balcony. He pulled the chair out from under the table and took a seat. He rested his feet on top of the table.
The air was cold and soothing. He slouched on the chair and rested his clasped hands on top of his tummy. He was sitting comfortably when he remembered Diana’s brother.
The kid seems intelligent. And by the looks of it, he’s a competitive one. He doesn’t look like her sister at all, but he has the same aura like Diana. He looked up in the sky.
‘God… I know I don’t deserve anything from you, but thank you for leading me to the key to my happiness. I know you have something better in store for me that’s why you let me quit. I know there is something…’
He was awoken by the rays of light showering his face. He opened his eyes but instantly closed it again. He regretted opening it on the first place because his eyes was hurt by the sunlight. He just remembered he was on the balcony.
‘Good morning to me.’ He greeted himself. He heard his mom calling for him outside his room door.
“Arjay, son? It’s already 6:30 in the morning. Are you up?”
‘6… 6:30?!? He checked his wristwatch. ‘Oh Shoot!’ he said and rushed to the bathroom.
When he’s done changing, he went out of his room and went straight to the car. His father was already waiting for him.
‘Seriously, Arjay? It’s literally your second day and you’re already late.’ he castigated himself.
“Where have you been son? Your mom said you weren’t in your room.” His father asked him while pulling out of the garage.
“I fell asleep on the balcony, dad.” He said.
“What were you doing in the balcony?”
“I can’t sleep last night so I decided to stay a bit on the balcony and the next thing I know, the sunlight was already showering my face.”
His father did not comment. He remained silent until they reached the school. His father dropped him off in front of the faculty room and went to the parking lot. He went inside the faculty room.
“Good morning teachers.” He greeted them.
“Good morning brother.” They greeted back.
He wanted to tell them to drop the honorary ‘brother’, but he just kept his mouth shut. They all went out of the faculty room for the flag ceremony.
He went to his advisory class’s line. They really are the well-behaved class. Their original adviser must be really strict. After the flag ceremony, the students went back to their room and the teachers went back to the faculty room.
“You seemed to enjoy your first day yesterday brother. “ The eldest among them said.
He smiled.
“I actually did, ma’am. The students are all accommodating and they are fun to teach.” He said.
“That’s great to hear, brother. I hope you don’t lose your enthusiasm.” She smiled.
“I really do hope so, ma’am.”
They both went out of the room. He went straight to his advisory class. When he entered the room, the students were all smiles. He looked at them intently and smiled.
“You’re all in a good mood, I supposed. Kindly stand and let us pray.” He began.
The students stood up and they said their opening prayer in class. He instructed them to take their seats while he operate on the LED TV.
When he’s done, he told them to open the book where they left off and continued discussing where they had stopped.
Just like yesterday, the students enjoyed the discussion because of the interactive activities he had prepared. When they finally finished the discussion…
“Did you understand the different types of Argumentation now, class?” he asked.
“Yes, sir.” The students said in chorused.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Are there no more questions regarding argumentation?”
“None sir.”
“Very well. Bring out a ½ sheet of paper then and let’s put your knowledge to the test.” He said.
The students silently brought out their papers, and he was amazed because nobody asked for a piece of paper. ‘Wow. I don’t remember being this disciplined when I was in high school.’ He silently adored the students.
“Ready now?”
“Yes sir.”
“Okay, you need to take this down.” He said and gave 5 scenarios. “What you’re going to do is to choose which among the formal argumentation falls the scenarios given and gave a short description why did you choose that particular argumentation.”
The students bowed down in sync to write down. He was amazed again for the second time around. If he ever meets their real adviser, he’s going to give her a salute for her great classroom management. Her class is a perfect example of imagination turned reality classroom setting.
When the bell rang, the students all seated properly, they put down their pens and passed their papers forward in sync still. He can’t believe his eyes. The papers were passed on from right to center and left to center. The person in front of him handed their papers to him.
“Can I just say something before you stand?” he asked.
“Yes sir.”
“You’re unbelievable. Just wow. You worked in sync and just… really wow. I’m really impressed. You’re like robots.” He said, still amazed.
Diana’s brother raised his hand.
“Yes, Mr. Pangan? What’s your first name… ah, okay, Janwill. So you’re the class president. I see. Is there something you wanted to say?” he asked.
“Yes, sir. We’re actually trained by Ma’am Shella, sir. She doesn’t want her class to be in chaos. She always wanted her class to be prim and proper.”
He nodded in approval.
“Well, I must give her the credit she deserves. But you’re all trained properly. Good for you. Okay! Kindly stand now so we could end the class.”
The students stood up and they said their closing prayer. He went to his next class.
Compared to his advisory class, his next class was a total opposite. The students were loud, jolly, and the class is in total chaos, but when they saw him, they fixed themselves. He smiled at them.
When they were all settled down, he entered the class and greeted the students. They stood up and greeted him back. They said their opening prayer and he told them to take their seats.
He picked up where they left off in the discussion and he continued discussing. He gave them the same activity and he can’t help but to compare the two classes which he very much know is forbidden in the classroom setting.
He shrugged the thought and gave them the scenarios. He heard some of the students complain with their seatmates.
“Is there any problem regarding the quiz?” he asked.
“Sir this is difficult.” One of the boys at the back row complained.
“That’s actually easy. You’re just going to choose among the argumentations that we discussed and give a short description why you chose that particular argument. 2 sentences will do. Come on guys, I gave the same set of quiz with the other class.”
“Sir, didn’t you know that they are the first section and we are the last.” One of the girls said bitterly.
“Come on guys, nobody labeled you that. That’s why this is a hetero-sectioning.”
“Well, the teachers said so, sir.” Another from the group said.
“And you just let them prove that they are right by saying that?” he asked. The students fell silent. “That’s what I thought. If you let other people label you without justifying yourself, wouldn’t that show that you let them step on you? You could do great things, people. You’re young and have bold ideas. Don’t let them crush the colorful ideas you have.” He told them.
Some of the students smiled, but the group of boys at the back just shrugged their shoulders.
“Let’s make a deal. I’ll give you two weeks to fix your insights about your class. In that two weeks, give your best shots, in every subject, in every activity given. If the teachers were not impressed by the sudden change in you, I will let you do whatever you want. I will leave you alone. But, if 3 of them would be impressed, excluding me because I believe in you, then, you continue bringing out the best in you. Deal?”
The students looked at each other. And as if they are talking with their eyes, they all turned to look at him and smiled.
“Deal, sir.” They said in chorus.
“Great! Deal struck.” He said and the bell rang.
They all turned to each other and laughed.