Heaven Sent
My "thank you" entry isn’t over yet, actually. There’s one person who’s so special to me and she deserves a separate entry. Yes, I’m referring to Ms. JOHNELYN F. GEMZON.
Before I met her, I was hearing a lot of things about her being a "terrorist" professor. I was scared to death that she would become my professor one day. I was really hoping that our paths wouldn’t cross…I was terrified.
The first time I met her was in my sophomore year in college. I was with my friend, Paula. We were sitting on the floor of the Arts building lobby (3rd floor), studying as usual. Then she came to us and said, "You two will join the debate, OK?" She was referring to this debate tournament between pol sci and mass com students. I trembled and without thinking, I said yes.
So when the elimination day came, Paula and I went to the room where the elimination was being held. We registered our names in the reg form…we found ourselves chairs and sat down. Then the lecture on debate rules started. Paula’s face contorted and whispered to me, "I don’t think we can absorb this in just an hour." I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and we still have midterm exams." We looked at each other as if we knew exactly what was going on in our minds. "Are you thinking what I’m thinking?" was the expression our faces had. We immediately stood up and ran away!!!
The following day, Ms. Gemzon came to our class to announce the details about the debate tournament. She asked the class to come and we all replied in the affirmative. Then she said, "Are you sure you’re coming? Because I don’t like people who say yes to me and yet they don’t keep their word. Remember, I don’t get mad, I get even!!!" (That’s her famous one-liner). I was pinching Paula so hard when she was saying those words coz I knew very well that she was referring to us. Hehehe!
Third year came and like the rest of the school years, I didn’t attent the first week of classes. I came on the second week and to my surprise, Ms. Gemzon was my professor in two subjects: INTRO TO LAW and PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE! My gulay! I really wanted to cry! But then I had to face reality.
When I first attended her class in parl prac, I learned from my classmates that we would have graded recitation! I didn’t know a thing…I didn’t have the book being used in that subject yet…and you know what? I was the first person she called!!! With God’s mercy, I was able to answer pretty well and she said, "Very good."
As time went on, I realized that she wasn’t really the "terrorist" prof that some people brandished her. Yes, she’s very strict when it comes to class (which is just proper), but she makes learning so fun especially in our intro to law class. But our friendship didn’t start from there yet…
OUr friendship blossomed when some unfortunate event took place in my life…I had so many friends to run to…but there was this thing inside me that was telling me to confide in her…though we’re not close yet. So I met up with her in school…when we met, I didn’t even say a word and she told me, "Cry all you want." We sat down, she hugged me and I just cried my eyes out! Oh, I still remember how the pain felt…but with her being there, I didn’t really suffer that much. She was always there when I needed to cry…and she would really tell me the right things that would make me feel AOK. She made me a better, stronger girl…she made me see my worth…she was there all the way till I finally healed. And now our friendship has grown into something more and it’s continuously growing. I love her so much and I’ll protect her with my life if I have to.
I’m so glad too that her family has accepted me like I’m one of them. Sometimes, she would joke around and say that I’m Nesrin Gemzon. Hehehe. I love her family especially her Mom. They’re like family to me now. And oh, I love her lil’ monster! I really love it when he’d jump around gleefully at the sight of me. And of course, she’s the reason why Pretty Afterglow and I are true friends now. Indeed, this beautiful lady with a beautiful soul opened my eyes to so many things.
Angel, to say thank you is not enough. I don’t know how to thank you enough…you’re my angel, my best friend, my sister (oh yes, a lot of people think that we’re actually blood-related sisters…coz we have so much resemblance! Separated at birth? hehehe). I love you so much, Angel and hell to those people who hurt you. Hehehe. You deserve all the great things in this world…thank you for being my beautiful angel. I’m always gonna shine down on you…your Sunshine for eternity. I love you so much! MWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!! 
Finally…
GAWD, it’s been 3 weeks since I connected to the net. I’ve been pretty busy…with so many things….like sleeping 16 hours a day and sitting in front of the TV, munching junk food until I fall asleep again. Hehehe. Kidding. So here’s the final installment of my "thank you" entry.
Lynette. The loudest girl I’ve ever known in my whole life! Hahaha! Thank you for just being who you are. I learned so much from you…like turning myself into a bad ass girl from a seemingly innocent, innocuous one! Kidding aside, I want you to know that my college life is one of the best chapters in my life…coz you’re in there. I love you, Lynette!
Lotis. You’re the youngest among the Virgin Force, but you seem to know a lot of things in life…thank you for sharing your wisdom with me whenever I find myself in the darkness. Thank you for being there, for assuring me that life is still beautiful despite its shitty nature. Thank you Lotis, I love you very much!
The P1 peeps! Guys, I don’t regret being a pure-blood P1 from the very start! It’s been such a beautiful experience being with you guys for 4 years…you really did challenge me and motivate me to do my best. The P1 boys: Junsel, Dave, Tofer, Kelly, Coleman, Oligriv…everyone! Thank you! The Garampingat Force: Erlou (we still have law school, girl!), Denise, Donna, Evert and Paul! Thank you for everything that I should thank you for!
To the half-breed: Francis, Ayann, Cris and my babe, Shy! You made my college life so much fun…sexual and pervy. Uhhh…I don’t know if I should mention that but yeah. Hehehe.
Cris. Thank you for being my study mate especially during our intro to law days! We still have law school to conquer, remember! I love yah! Thank you for everything.
Shy. You know what? I really regret the fact that I wasted my time befriending and hanging out with the very wrong people. I should’ve known way before that you’re the girl who’d make me complete. (Eew. Broken-back Mountain?). Seriously, I wasted a lot of time on other people who don’t deserve even a minisecond of it. But I’m still thankful that we’re this close now. I learned so much from you (I know you know that)…thank you for "enlightening" me, for making me realize that I was doing something very immoral…bestiality, that is (the "duck", you know what I mean…hehehe). Thank you, thank you, thank you babe! You’ll never know how grateful I am! I’ll miss our taxt rides…talking about life, love, ducks and more ducks! Hahaha! But this is not the end…we’ll have more iced coffee and strawberry shakes, right? I love yah! Mwah!
Haiyes. My pretty afterglow…like what I’ve always told you, I’m so much thankful to God for sending me a beautiful soul like you. You always tell me that I’m so good at balancing things in my life…but you know what? Credit has to go to you coz you helped me a lot in handling those myriad of problems…You made my faith in God stronger than ever…I’m so blessed to have met such a God-fearing girl and that’s what I really admire about you…and that’s what I’m trying to emulate. You helped me so much in healing my wounds…I can’t thank you enough, Pretty (tears are falling now…this very moment that I’m typing this…) You’ve always assured me when things become doubtful…I can smile now and you’re such a big part of that. I love you, my Pretty Afterglow and I’ll always be ubiquitous in your life whether you like it or not…hehehe…We’ll have more bonding time, OK? I love you! Mwah!
To all those people who made my college life so much interesting, thank you so much! TO my IAS-SC family, I love you guys! Thank you! Sir Roge…I’ll miss you, Sir!
To all the SANDPAPERS in my life, thank you for being such in my life! ;P
To my family. Thank you for everything. I am who I am today because of you. I love you to death! My Mommy…thank you for cooking the best meal in the world! Hahaha! I love you! Daddy…you’re the best Dad in the world and I’m not just saying this because you’re my Dad. You’re almost perfect and if I were to be born again in this world and I would be given the option to pick who my father would be, I would definitely choose Pierce Brosnan! Kidding! I love you!
Allah, Alhamdullillah, ya Allah. I can face anything in this world with YOU.
