"Who Am I?"

Funny how this is such a simple question; but yet the hardest one to answer. I can't answer this with one word or one sentence alone. I am seen as a different person by different people. Just like any of us are -- we are like prisms. Pne object reflecting different colors -- I am one person bearing different personalities; all of which contribute to my whole being.

Just like a regular 17-year-old would, I too, spend eight hours of my day inside the red brick walls of my school Woodrose. Although it seems like only yesterday that I had my first steps into this one huge school, it's been 11 years already. 11 years of studying, 11 years of a diversity of teachers -- some of whom I've built relationships with. 11 years of laughter. 11 years of friendship. I've been through so much in these red brick walls -- all of which, although I refuse to admit, have molded me into the best person I can be today.

My instrument is my body. I am a dancer. Dancing helps me relieve stress. Dancing is my escape. Dancing makes me happy. It's been eight years since I started ballet and I've been enjoying every minute spent in the studio. Academy One, my oh so prestigious school, is my second home. My ballet friends and teachers are my second family. Ballet helps me focus. Ballet makes me strong. Ballet is discipline. Ballet makes me believe in myself. Had I not started ballet, I don't think I'd be as resilient as I am today.

Most, if not all, memories worth keeping are those with my friends. They're the reason I laugh. They're the reason I have fun. They're the reason life is more enjoyable. Imagine highschool without friends -- that's just so sad. I am a friend to those who appreciate me. I am a friend to those I am grateful. I am a friend even to those I don't really get along with. We all try to make more friends and at the same time, make ourselves better friends to others. It's a process for life -- as much as we want to, we can never be a perfect friend but we can always strive to be.

I am a sister. A baby sister to my two ates, a maturing sister to my protective kuya and a concerned ate to my younger brother. I love my siblings -- we are the 5 M's! Monique, Monina, Miguel, Margarita (me) and Mateo. No matter how wide our age gaps are, we all relate to each other; we have special bonds. Ate Monique is the role model among us. Ate Monina is my twin! Kuya Miguel is the protective one when it comes to boys and Mateo is the one who opens up to me the most. We are each others' guardian angels -- really.

If I am a sister, then of course I'm a daughter too. To my dad, I am still his baby girl he can carry on his shoulders. To my mom, I am still her 8 ounce baby she can lullaby to sleep. Unfortunately for them, I'm 17 years old now. I try my best to make them happy. I try my best to show them my gratitude. I try my best to make them proud of me. Yes, I am the daughter of Manolo and Marie, but most importantly, I am a daughter of God. And that in itself should be enough to make me proud. (Okay, it's cheesy... But true!)