i never would've guessed it would come down to this...

a year like no other. 2 semesters of pure evil. 10 months away from all things familar to me. 38 hell weeks. 266 days at the mercy of acads and studying. 6384 hours of torturous classes, stressful reviews, and restless sleep. 383,040 minutes that would never end. an infinite number of precious moments. who could've imagined it would end like this? who thought it would ever end at all. but it did. it ended. at long last.

the first year of college is over. we are now officially non-freshmen. the 12 days of the most pitiful excuse for a summer vacation has begun. and all i can say after all that is... college isn't so bad. in fact, it's not bad at all.

college is always a big step. turning away from everything familiar to you, entering a whole new world of independence, excitement, and much much harder subjects. after going through a whole year of exactly that, i can say it's been a blast, and i wouldn't have it any other way. of course, i miss the ease and simplicity of high school life, and i miss the people to death, but i won't trade my freshman year in college for anything, nor would i trade the people i went through it with (save for a *select* few) for anyone else. after the first year, i can't see myself in any other course but intarmed, can't see myself with anyone else but imed 2011, can't imagine being anything else but a doctor.

of course, the year had its ups and downs, lefts and rights, and circles all around. near-impossible academic situations, days upon days of hardships, nights jampacked with study groups and cramming, hellish exams and tons of other academic requirements. but along with those, came all the good things about being in college and in imed 2011. freedom. living away from home. late-night gimiks. last full shows. baywalk runs. mallratting. bumming around in condos. amazing field trips. birthday surprises and celebrations. chatting. parties and debuts. foodtripping. singing, dancing, acting. a memorable valentines' loser date. cutting useless classes. camratting. water play in rivers and beaches. street food. and tons of other reasons to love it all.

and in all this, the weird thing is, it just went by so fast. yes, there were times when i'd just get fed up with studying and all that, wishing that the entire 7-year programs was over, but among the fun and laughter, i guess i just got swept away by the whole thing. it feels like everything just got started, and right away we finished the first chapter. you don't realize time has been passing until you reach the end. to put it simply, "time flies when you're having fun." and with being with the same people, the same place, the same experiences over the next 6 years, i can only hope it passes by just as quickly, but just as enjoyable.

it'll be all over before i know it.