Journey of my NSA Cadet Life

My journey began on August 22 of the year 2020, when we were called to enter the dormitory. But before entering the dormitory we undergo numerous health protocols to ensure that we are clean before interacting with the others. That day was one of the memorable moments I've experienced because I couldn't explain the feelings gushing inside me, I am nervous yet excited, anxious but up for challenges. 

This is the last photo we took together with my parents before they handed me to the school personnel attending us.

After I said farewell, I began to feel fear, fear of not being able to finish what I started, fear that I might not have friends. I was overthinking the whole time I am in the quarantine facility. But I was wrong because I met new friends the first day in the quarantine facility, I meet my batchmates and we introduce ourselves. That moment I feel relief because I have them and we all share the same feelings, the feeling of excitement yet nervousness.

When the day came, where we are going to enter the dormitory finally. I felt the uncertainty again because I am scared that I might not able to accomplish the physical activities they want us to do. Because I enter the dorm overweight, I am a big person and I am always insecure about my body.

On the 3rd day of our journey in the dorm, our seniors took photos of us for memory.

But within the succeeding days, I was subjected to physical activity in order to lose weight. It was hard at first, but then I slowly adapt to the routine and I began to feel comfortable about it. I also have other batchmates with me who have the same goal, to lose weight. We conduct exercises, training and such things.

At first, the stay inside the dorm was difficult, as if the time runs very slow. Eventually, we got used to the routines that we always do, day by day. In there I always count the days, days turn to weeks, and weeks become months.

"Kanusa pa kaya mi makagawas? makakitag dalan og sakyanan?" These are some of the questions that I always wonder and pounder when I was still inside the dormitory. I kept asking myself when is that day where I can set foot on the outside world, and eat all the foods that I missed.

During TAPS inside the NSA dormitory, where the lights are turned off and all the cadets are in their respective bunks, I always imagine what if the pandemic has finally ended, then maybe we can have the chance to get out once in a while.

Not that I don't want the environment inside the dormitory, because I must admit it was one of the best experiences and highlights of my life to undergo training and to be away from my family. Because inside the dormitory, we are forged to become the best versions of ourselves, not just academically but personally, mentally, psychologically, and socially. I discovered different people with different backgrounds, and that people become my family, not by blood but thru hearts, we become brothers and sisters sharing common goals and experiences.

The times we undergo hardships but still cherish the moments because we believe that this kind of experience only happened once...

The times where we move as one, think as one, act like one. At that moment I  realized that this is way too cool, and amazing how we reached this point.

Life inside the dormitory is one of a kind, you can't find a place like that with those people on it. Those people who become part of my journey as an NSA cadet. The times where we raced in the formation ground to form and account our men's, the times where we are still sleepy but we need to perform calisthenics, and afterward go to our respective cleaning stations. The times where there are activities that we team up to brainstorm and plan, the times where we laugh, cried and share problems. It was one hell of a ride, like a roller coaster.

But how do we end up being sent home to our respective places? Well at first I was fascinated by the idea of us being able to come home with our family in the outside world, but there is this part of me that still wants to finish and stay for the training. 

Well, to make the long story short, half of the population of cadets inside the dormitory tested positive for Covid-19, it was a piece of scary and sad news for us at that time. Those cadets who are manifesting symptoms were isolated, and I am one of those cadets. My quarantine days were scary but memorable also because at that time we were still able to bond with our batchmates who also tested positive. But I cannot deny that, that time was also one of the scariest times I experienced because I don't know how to explain it to my parents, I don't want them to worry about my condition. And thankfully they acknowledge the news calmly, and they always monitor and call me every day.  

Even at the quarantine area we still do catch up with our batchmates who are tested negative.

After the 1 month-long quarantine, we were informed that we will be sent home to our respective places and continue our studies at our homes. That announcement brings joy and excitement to the majority of us. The preparation of sending us home took a month, the first ones to go home are the cadets from Mindanao and followed by Visayas and Luzon.

On the day that I will be sent home, I was really excited to see my siblings and parents and to finally see the road. But before I was allowed to go home I signed a lot of papers first pertaining to the role and responsibility I must do while at home. 

Before my parents fetched me in the dormitory, my batchmates and I took the time to take pictures for memories.

I also took a video before leaving the dormitory.

When I finally meet my family, they can't believe the changes I went through, and they were all shocked. I am really happy to see them again and to know that they are healthy and in good condition. We eat out and catch up with one another.

Afterward, we went home, and I surprised my grandmother. At first, they couldn't recognize me at all they can't believe my changes. In the succeeding days, I meet and catch up with my friends.

After the sending home duration, when all the cadets are already in their respective homes, our routine begins. We are required to join the morning calisthenics and evening muster. We are provided with the gadgets and loads in order for us to attend those said routines. For the following month our classes resume, and we finish our 1st-year subjects outside in the dormitory, we also conduct assessments and seminars in our places, and school activities.

This picture is taken during the NSA fun games before we enter our Academic Year 2021-2022

During the World teachers day celebration, we created a video greeting for our instructors.

This screenshot was taken during the first DMMA Freshmen's day virtual event, where I was invited to be one of the hosts.

And for the latest update, we might be coming back to the dormitory later this year. I am nervous and at the same time excited. Nervous because I don't know yet if I am ready to be a prisoner again hahaha, but I am excited because we can now finish our necessary laboratory and training, and I am looking forward to being reunited with my batchmates again. Hoping that the coming months of the year 2021 will be fruitful and full of blessing. I will end my blog here, and I will be posting more soon.