Life in School

When I was in Manila last Saturday, Prichy invited me to attend the first departmental meeting of the Mass Comm faculty in St. Scholastica's. She reminded me that it was going to be chaired by our blockmate - and as Prichy always reminds everyone, my erstwhile college "love team mate" - Wowie. Since I haven't been to SSC in more than a year, I decided to go. (Didn't tell her, though. It was a surprise.)

So by 11am, I casually walked in the TV studio and surprised everyone as planned. It was so good to see my partners in scholastic crime again. Aside from Prichy and Wowie, the old reliables were there. Rose, our intrepid KBP chairperson; Atty. Chally, one of our legal eagles; John, our big brother/father figure; Carla, former student and now teacher; and Liz, writer/producer extraordinaire. There were new faces in the group, too: Pam, John, Kuya Lito and Ron. Seeing all of them was like coming home to a family I haven't seen in a while.

Apart from advertising, teaching is one of the things I'm passionate about. When I was still "Professor Lester" at SSC, I'd always teach the early morning (read: 7:30am) classes. Despite the ultra-early schedule, I'd still make it a point to arrive in school at around 7am, to the chagrin of students because I'm always on time.

Interacting with both my co-professors and students made me feel so alive. Exchanging ideas with them - be it creative or academic - rejuvenated me and enriched me both intellectually and emotionally. There was so much positive and productive energy, and that was energy I'd bring back to work on Monday. As I'd always tell Prichy, I learn as much from my students as they learn from me. And seeing my former students make their mark in Advertising reminds me why I love teaching.

One of the reasons why I took time to accept the post in HK was the fact that I'd have to give up teaching. And after missing more than two years of being in front of a class exchanging ideas, missing more than two years of meeting the "Saturday Group" in SSC, missing more than two years of reading a mountain of scripts and poring through ideas thrown at me by my students, a bit of my life felt missing as well. Life became a bit less lively, and less enriching.

While we were having lunch and Wowie began talking about the Advertising minor, I felt a surge of new life in my system. Suddenly, I felt rejuvenated, and soon after, I was emphatically talking about making Advertising one of the key selling points in St. Scholastica's. I was beginning to ask about large format printers and how the department should have one. I was beginning to talk about radio commercial production and how it can be a new subject.

Just 2 hours in that faculty meeting brought a surge of familiar energy that I've been longing for. I felt that the life that was missing the past 2 years suddenly came back. And that felt good, really, really good.

As I exited Pergola and made my way through my usual route of Pablo Ocampo then Taft, the decision became even clearer in my head.

It's time to get back to my life.