18 Again

If I have given a chance to be at any age again for a day, I would choose to be 18.

I'm 26 years of age right now, and it was eight years ago when I was 18. I choose this age not because to be young or what but because I want to experience having a debut. In the Philippines, the Debut is a traditional Filipino coming-of-age celebration that celebrates a young woman's 18th birthday, considering the age of maturity.

I know some of you also dreamed of experiencing this kind of celebration where you can wear a beautiful and shining gown, where I can dance with a glance my roses to give honor to the closest male in my life, especially with my father., Eighteen gifts, 18 candles, 18 wines, etc. 

I'm not into celebrations, because since when I was young, I never celebrated my birthdays. Not because I don't want to, but because we are suffering from poverty during that time. I belong to a big family, I am the 4th child of my parents, and all my older siblings have their own families already. My parents had no decent jobs then, my mother had a small carinderia, and the income was only suitable for a day, and my father was a farmer, and we were indebted during that time.

I was 16 when I entered College; K to 12 Curriculum was not yet proposed. I enrolled in a private school despite our struggles because of my Aunt, that is in America, and my Lolo, who is a retired soldier, but he's not with us because he is in his second family, who supported all the finances during my studies.

And one day, a nightmare happened, where everything seemed that my world fell apart when my Aunt died due to brain cancer. During this time, my parents were apprehensive that I would be able to finish college without my Aunt. And I'm turning 18 at that time.

But despite what happened, my parents pursued my studies. They face all the challenges, especially when it comes to my finances. I will not be able to transfer that time because not all my subjects would be credited to other schools, meaning I will be an irregular student or worse, I need to take all the courses again. It's halfway; I need to finish it by hook or crook.

So that's why I'm not able to celebrate my 18th birthday, even a simple celebration.

I know I have no right to think about the celebration at that time because the priority is to reserve all the money for my studies. And I'm glad that despite everything that happened at that time, I can finish my chosen profession with education, and now I'm a licensed professional teacher with a Master's Degree.

I'm not regretting not having that kind of celebration during those times because I fully understand why and why I have to set it aside. But if I am given a chance to be at any age, I want to be 18 again, to experience what I missed.

What about you guys? What would it be and why if you're given a chance to be at any age in one day?

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