Autobiography

On March 29, 2005, my mother, Mrs. Pronilda Bulan, gave birth to me, the most handsome son she ever had, or at least that is what my parents always tell me jokingly. I grew up in a household full of laughter, teasing, and warmth. My father, Mr. Richard Bulan, was always the funny one in the family. He had this habit of turning even the smallest things into something we could laugh about. Because of that, our home never felt dull or empty. It was always filled with noise, laughter, and the smell of home-cooked food.

My father also started a small tradition we called lugaw day. Every Friday afternoon, after school, he would take me, my older brother, and my older sister to the porridge shop nearby. It was a simple routine, but to me, it was something to look forward to every week. After eating, we would visit our grandparents house, where we usually spent our weekends. Those moments became some of my favorite childhood memories.

I was very close to my grandparents, especially my lola. Every Saturday morning, she would walk to the river to wash our clothes. My brother and I would always follow her, not only to help with the laundry but also to take a bath in the river. Of course, we were not very good helpers. Most of the time, we would swim in the deeper parts of the river instead of helping. My lola would always scold us for playing around, but even as she got mad, she could not hide her smile. It was her way of showing love.

When we got home, the fun did not stop there. I often played with the kids in our neighborhood, and one of our favorite games was using pellet guns. I almost got shot in the eye once, and I still remember the fear I felt that day. Luckily, it missed. My father later bought me a toy shotgun, which became one of my most treasured possessions. I once challenged a neighbors kid to a pellet gun war. During our little battle, I ran out of bullets and tried to escape, but I tripped and fell. My toy gun hit the ground and broke into pieces. I was heartbroken, but that moment taught me to laugh at small failures.

As I grew older, I developed a love for basketball. My father supported this hobby and would often buy me a rim and a small ball to play with. However, those things rarely lasted long because my older brother and I would always end up fighting about who was better at playing. Our friendly rivalry turned into real arguments at times, but looking back, I think it made our bond stronger. Competing with him pushed me to improve myself, not just in basketball but in everything else I did.

During my Grade 8 year, I experienced one of the scariest moments of my life. We lived in Carabatan Chica, near the Cagayan River. One day, the river overflowed, and water started to reach the edge of a cliff close to our home. Out of curiosity, my brother and I went near it to see how high the water had risen. I slipped and almost fell into the river. My brother quickly grabbed me and pulled me back to safety. It was a frightening experience, and I realized how fragile life can be. Since that day, I have been more careful and grateful for every moment I get to spend with my family.

By the time I was about to enter Grade 10, the world changed. COVID-19 began spreading in our city, and soon, everything was on lockdown. Our barangay had checkpoints, and we were not allowed to go out unless it was necessary. The empty streets and quiet nights felt strange. I remember lying in bed, wondering if the world was really ending. But as months passed, I learned to adapt. During those long days at home, I decided to start exercising and doing calisthenics. It became my way of coping and staying motivated despite the uncertainty. Slowly, I began to see changes in my body and realized that progress takes time and effort.

When I entered Grade 11, the situation began to improve. Vaccines were rolled out, and the government started lifting restrictions. Schools reopened, though things were still different. We had limited face-to-face classes, and wearing masks became part of our routine. Despite all the challenges, that school year became one of my most memorable ones. I studied harder than ever because I wanted to make my parents proud.

In 2023, during my final year in senior high school, my parents gave me my first motorcycle as a graduation gift. It symbolized freedom and responsibility at the same time. I graduated from Grade 12 with the honor of being listed as With Honors, a moment that made all my efforts worthwhile.

When I started my college life as a freshman at ISU Cauayan Campus, I felt both excited and nervous. The environment was new, and everything seemed more serious. I realized that college was not just about passing subjects; it was about building my future. As an Information Technology student, I faced a lot of challenges. I had to learn programming languages such as C++, C#, and Java. At first, it was confusing and frustrating. I made countless errors and spent long nights debugging code. But every small success gave me a sense of pride and reminded me that hard work always pays off.

In my sophomore year, we had a midyear class, which I honestly did not like. It was supposed to be our vacation, but instead, we had to attend face-to-face classes. To pass one of our major subjects, we were required to create and defend a website using Laravel. It was stressful, but also fulfilling. When our group finally presented our project, I felt proud of how far I had come, from someone who barely understood coding to someone who could actually create a functioning website.

Now, as a junior student, I have high expectations for myself. I know this year will be filled with challenges, but I am ready for them. It still feels surreal to think that I am already halfway through my college journey. There are days when I feel exhausted and unsure, but I remind myself that every difficult moment is part of the process. Whether this year turns out to be stressful or rewarding, I have promised myself to enjoy it fully, to learn, and to grow as much as I can.

Looking back, I realize that life has never been perfect. It is a mix of joy, pain, laughter, mistakes, and lessons. Every experience, good or bad, has shaped the person I am today. I learned that growth does not come from comfort, but from the challenges we face and overcome. My childhood taught me happiness, my teenage years taught me responsibility, and college continues to teach me perseverance.

I know that my journey is far from over. There will be more struggles ahead, more moments of doubt, and more lessons to learn. But no matter how difficult the road becomes, I will keep moving forward with the same determination that brought me this far. My family, my friends, and every experience I have gone through have built the foundation of who I am today. And as I continue to walk toward the future, I will carry every memory, every mistake, and every lesson with me, not as a burden, but as a reminder of how far I have already come.