by:
Analiza P. Astillero
T-III, Filipino Dept. – MNCHS

Riiiiiiiiiing.

The loud sound echoed through the entire campus.

It is a new day.

Students pass through the corridors and pathways chattering about their “would-be” day inside the school – activities, seat works, group projects and other related matters. They have to make this sacrifice of going to school today in order to reach their ambitions tomorrow.

This scenario was true several years ago, This scenario was the common start of the school year when everything was still normal – when Covid-19 was just part of the plot of a sci-fi movie, when pandemic was just a dreaded word in the dictionary.

For the last two years, the scene was different. The education system was converted to something far from conventional. Everything was not what they seemed to be. Even the most brilliant minds in the society were not able to find the immediate solutions to the challenge presented.

A lot has changed from that day. Yet, the end of the tunnel can now be seen with a glimmering light signaling change and transformation, once again. This time, from bad to good.  This will be the start of the transition from the New Normal to the Now Normal- an unexpected but being looked forward to event in the recent turn of history.

This year, it will be different. It has been more than two years since the Covid 19 pandemic had struck the world. Everyone was shocked. Everyone was caught off-guard and nobody got prepared for the menace that challenged all walks of life; yet, the new dawn can be felt with hopes and illumination. It is now a different story to tell.

Form face shield and face masks, smiles can be seen once again as people begin to shed the covers of their faces. From social distancing, to once more socializing with close families and friends. From digital conferences to face to face meetings, everyone has once again built the bond of friendship and camaraderie.

The same story goes with the education system. From the two-year hiatus from the academic world, students are more excited to go to school now. Their enthusiasm and excitement to go to school had been ignited more than ever. It can now be seen that most of them are more eager to learn new things in an actual classroom situation.

Riiiiiiiiiing.

The loud sound echoed through the entire campus.

It is a new day.