Today is my first day in Graduate School.

My first day as a post graduate student.

I was kind of ecstatic and nervous at the same time.

Now that I am walking inside the campus, I have to know where my building is.

I asked the guard where the Graduate School Building was and was immediately directed to it.

I was able to ask the guard stationed  at the gradschool building where Room 117 was and she politely pointed out the way to go.

As I was walking towards Room 117, my heart started beating so fast.

It has been more than a year since I graduated from college and it still feels unbelievable to be studying again.

But this time, on a higher level.

There were around seven to nine  students inside the room.

Four girls and five guys.

From the way I see it outside, it looked like they are friends already.

I checked the schedule outside the door and true enough, this is my first subject.

I drew a deep breath and entered the classroom.

I chose to sit at the fourth row beside a lady where I can ignore the students' noise from my radar and focus on the professor.

Glancing at our wall clock, it's past the scheduled time.

"MBA 1-1 to, miss?" I asked the lady beside me and put down my knapsack.

"Yes. Uh, here's the attendance sheet, anyway." She said and handed it to me.

I got her pen instinctively and scribbled my name which got her  eyebrows raising in amusement.

"Oops. Hiram lang. Hihi." I giggled at her. I returned her pen and smiled before standing up to place the attendance sheet at the Prof's Table.

On top of the table were a couple of syllabus so I got myself a copy.

When I got back to my seat, I pulled out my notebook laptop from my knapsack.

"Oops. My bad. I forgot my manners. I'm Shaniah Ella. " I smiled at her and held out my hand. "But, you can call me, Shai, instead."

She seemed to suddenly felt at ease and flashed back a grin.

"Nice meeting you, Shai. I'm Leniah. Leni, for short." She introduced herself and shook my hand.

"Yey! May frenny na ko sa Gradschool!" I exclaimed and scooted my chair closer to her.

She looked like she was surprised by my unexpected enthusiasm.

"Frenny, kunin ko mamaya cell number at FB mo ha. Mukang magiging duguan ako bago matapos ang sem dito." I joked which would normally earned a laugh from her but was surprised when she appeared to be uneasy.

"Hey, Miss Salcedo." A man's voice boomed from the front of the class.

I watched in curiosity when Leni's eyes immediately flew open and met with the Professor's gaze.

"Uh, present, Sir." She said loudly which made the class erupted into fits of giggles.

The professor sighed.

"1st day na 1st day, Miss Salcedo ha. Anyway, now that we're done with the attendance. It's time to introduce  myself." The Professor said and roamed his eyes around.

"I am Quentin Tanjuangco, your Professor in Human Resource Management this semester. I'm expecting full cooperation with you all since we are on the higher level of learning already." Prof. Tanjuangco said and gave her his stern look.

I darted my eyes at Leni as she gulped and her face reddened as waves of embarrassment crept within her.

"Mukang demanding si Sir." I whispered to her and she nodded in approval.

Looks like this semester will be a challenging one!

I got home with a light feeling.

My first day was indeed a tough one but I know I am loving being a student again.

Two weeks have passed since I started MBA.

I was getting a hang of it.

At first, it was just me and Leni who constantly hang out.

But, as days pass by, some of our classmates joined us.

Perry Coleman and Zena Tejada.

Zena is currently the owner of a patisserie shop while Perry is a hotel heir.

Both came from well-off families.

This is the time when I get to say, "Sana all!".

In our group, I am the only middle class one.

Salingkitkit kumbaga.

I sighed at my fate.

Oh, well, self-pity won't get me anywhere.

Kaya nga nag-aaral at nagtatrabaho ako para makapag-ipon at makapagpatayo ng negosyong gusto ko.

Tapos magmamaktol lang ako?

Anyway, we spent our usual routine having lunch and get to know each other more.

Ang Leni! May-ari pala ng isang Spanish restaurant!

Sana all talaga!

So, with our new buddies, we promise ourselves to help each other and graduate on time.

I'm happy to gain another set of friends.

I just know I can make it thru this phase in my life.

Aja!

Fighting!