18/09/2026
๐๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐ | The Journey He Never Expected
There are things that cannot be explained. There are things that should be left unsaid, but there are things that should be spoken. The journey of a third year in college must be a good thing. But what is behind that journey?
Earl Francis Jhian P. Cao is a third-year college student from the Department of Computer Studies. He spends his time exploring everything that could be enjoyable and meaningful. College may be our last academic journey, but Earl makes his experience more than just studying.
In his first year, he thought, โMohuman rako'g 1 year diri sa TMC, para makatigom og pang-school sa dream school nako.โ This line was really his mindset. He honestly says that TMC isn't his dream school. But there are things that should be practical when choosing. He is an ambitious kidโthat's the good thing about him. The line that he sometimes spilled from his mouth is now a line that brought him to show his talents.
While he was thinking deeply about his chosen journey, he suddenly realized something. He said, โWhy not use my talents to enjoy my journey and to make my college memorable?โ Instead of thinking about what could have been if he had chosen his dream career, he joined an organization that was aligned with his passion.
Instead of staying with the thought, โDili ni akong gusto nga journey,โ he tried to embrace the situation and look forward to the experiences he would face. Slowly, he became comfortable in this school. There were unexpected things that blessed him from above, and he met some friends who supported him through his ups and downs.
His first year in college was about adjusting to life, as college meant living independently. As he became more comfortable, he joined the TMC Choir. Along the way, people discovered his talent in singing, and he became the Choir Master/Choral Conductor of the organization.
When first-year college students were expecting their first College Days, Earl decided to use his talent in singing. College Days were also about embracing the talents and skills of every student. Earl didn't think about not joining competitions when it came to music.
There was a contest for the TMC Hymn, and he managed to create the lyrics and sing it. Unexpectedly, his song is now the TMC Hymn.
His chosen career wasn't his passion at first, but he tried to embrace it and learn to love it.
He joined the IT Club not because he loved it, but because he wanted to embrace it. There are things that happen unexpectedly when we try to embrace things that are beyond our goals. These are the things that deserve to be spoken.
When he became a second-year student, he became more comfortable. Despite knowing that second year was challenging, he still managed to continue what he had started in his first year.
This time, he used time management. He says, โTime management is not about making sure nga perfect tanan, itโs about knowing what needs your attention first, what can wait, and when you need to rest.โ
From thinking โWhat could have beenโ to practicing time management, Earl from first year was now far from the Earl in second year. He finally saw TMC as a place where he could actually grow and discover more things about himself.
He realized important things in his second year. He realized that โDili diay kinahanglan nga maayo ka dayon sa usa ka butang.โ The important thing is that youโre willing to learn, take risks, and make mistakes.
Now that he is a third-year student, he is becoming more comfortable. He continues what he had started. Despite knowing that third year is much more challenging, he still manages everything despite how many things he is now doing. He is making progress, trying, and learning.
When he became one of the judges of โHugyaw sa Trinidad,โ while sitting on the stage and watching all the contestants, he realized his entire journey here in TMC.
He said, โMaybe it is not always about kung asa ka gusto mo eskwela, but sometimes it is also about what you could do with the opportunity nga naa sa imong atubangan.โ
He may not have chosen TMC as his dream school, but eventually, TMC became the place where he discovered things about himself that he never expected to discover. He found his voice, shared his talents, built friendships, and learned to embrace an unfamiliar path.
Perhaps his journey was never about ending up exactly where he wanted to be. Perhaps it was about discovering that even an unexpected road can lead somewhere meaningful.
He came to TMC thinking it was only a place he had to pass through. He never expected it to become the place where he would find his voice, discover his talents, and become someone he never knew he could be.
๐๏ธ: Marinel Q. Gerona
