Knowing and having people who puts effort on giving time on you, giving you a piece of advice, motivation or anything that makes you pleased are really amazing. In some days, people you expect to be always for you, will never be permanent. I have learned to understand and appreciate those work that they do for me. Even if your best friend could not make it to your birthday party, learn to understand. Just because they did something wrong in you, it does not mean that you have to do something wrong too. As what in Leviticus 19:18 says, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone, but love your neighbor as you love yourself”. You never know what you have until it is gone. But you have to take note, that just because you helped them does not mean that you have to expect in return too. Learn to appreciate anything and do not expect nothing.

6.     Pleasing everyone leads to nowhere 

Growing up thinking if I should just have the same talent that my classmates have, would please people. How I saw my classmates having a high grade which pleases themselves, parents and teachers made me envious. But to think that, I do not have to please people with the use of talents and skills. I was sincerely sinned by this wrong doing, I honor others before honoring Him. I asked myself if I pleased these people will they remember what I did? Will they remember me in 5 years? Whom am I really pleasing? In Galatians 1:10 “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” With everything I do that glorifies God is not essential to be seen by the people but by the only God. In fact, our value isn’t defined by the love of another person has for you.

7.     Parents are usually never wrong

We are all familiar and used in the saying “Papunta ka palang, pauwi na ako” or in English (You’ll still on your way, but I am on my way back already) stated by our parents. I believe that it is best to listen to the experienced people and our parents are the experienced people. We just have to listen to our parents because they give the best advices that we could ever have. In Colossians 3:20 says “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord”. I think there is nothing wrong with listening to them, it just really depends on you on how you will take and put action to it.

8.     Not all the things are worth risking for 

Learned this by riding an extreme ride when I was in Singapore, I was motivated by the thought of “You only live once’ or YOLO but as I dig deeper into it was it really worth risking for? Just for the ride? What if I need to continue this life because I have a purpose and a calling in my life. Another situation in here, is when my topic proposal got rejected, I have tried to compel with my professor but they somehow explained to me and I have understand that it is not worth risking for, which they are correct about it. So, to my research adviser who helped me and made me realized this, thank you it was such a big help.

9.     Getting in a relationship with someone should not be the priority in teenage life

When I was 13, I had my first love. There was nobody compared to my baby (if you know the song by Justin Bieber hehe) But kidding aside, when I was 13 I had a really huge crush on this guy. I even played and believed in the game called 'flames.'  In fact, we had a mutual understanding back then. I thought he was the one for me that God desired me to be with, because my parents knew him, but we didn’t end up being together. Fast forward to 2018, I met another guy and we had a relationship, that guy was my first boyfriend but not first love – no offense to this guy. As I continued going to our Church, the relationship between that guy became blurred, sometimes I am confused, it was somehow toxic, the happiness popped out like a balloon. Months later, there was the time that I had to let go of him. I realized that maybe the reason I couldn’t have the relationship that I dreamed and prayed for, was because I did not encounter the love of Christ, or maybe because I wasn’t in love with God because I was in love with someone else. Also, I remember our pastor said that, “Before you enter a relationship, make sure that he/she loves God first”. Maybe my purpose in life is not just about getting a boyfriend but on having a relationship with God and helping others to deliver God’s message to everyone. 

Maybe I should take this time to spend more time on my devotions, reading Bible in the morning, instead of checking my phone early in the morning for good morning texts. Although, I know someday I will get to experience this again but maybe I just have to wait for His plan for me and to my future husband. Being single is a God’s gift (1 Colossians 7:7-9), I do not need to rush things over because God is making a plan for me (Jeremiah 29:11). For now, having a romantic relationship with someone will not fully complete and satisfy me, but only a loving and faithful relationship with God can satisfy me. 

10.  Spend things that are worth spending for 

I've been a hoarder of unnecessary things. In the past few months I kept on buying things online and/or in store. Then I realized what will happen to this things after a month, will I still use it? will it still give me the happiness and satisfaction the same as I got those products? I guess not, I need to keep in mind that I should save the money so that I could use it in the future. I believe that I should buy things that honor God, that will give a benefit to others, to myself and to God as well. I should spend my money that will give satisfaction from my hunger and thirst. Just like in Deuteronomy 2:6 says, “You shall purchase food from them with money, that you may eat, and you shall also buy water from them with money, that you may drink.” Rather than to spend on unnecessary things, why not buy things that will give a benefit to myself and to the others. 

11.  You do not need to be friends with everyone 

In choosing a friend, it is better to have this kind of mindset 'Quality over Quantity'. It is alright to have friends with 2 or 3, rather than to have lots of friends but do not treat you as a friend. It is also alright to have friends with everyone, but always make sure that you have to know your limits in giving trust in that certain person. In making and having a friend, you have to choose wisely. Of course, who wouldn't want a friend that gives them bad influences? No one! Try not to get fooled because bad friends will ruin good habits (1 Corinthians 15:33) Good influences will lead you to become a good person. In Proverbs 13:20, "Be friends with who are wise, and you will become wise. Choose fools to be your friends, and you will have trouble" 

12.  Trying new things are amazing 

During my senior high school days, I've learned a lot not just  about the ordinary things but extraordinary things. Learned theories, researches, and in fact it will be aligned in my college year. I also discovered a musical instrument which is called 'Kalimba'. Through Bea Lorenzo, I was inspired to play kalimba. I thank her for that! Finding your passion on something will somehow change your life, you just have to be determined to it. Asking to the Lord God to find a new thing that will honor Him is okay. (Matthew 7:7) 

13.  It is okay to say "no" sometimes

I have been always type of this person who always accepts the job that they asked me to do. Even if my body are physically and mentally tired. But little did I know, there were also times that I am spiritually tired or lost, because I only focused on what people asks me to do, rather than to listen to God on what He asks me to do. I focused on the things that they asked me to do, instead of using the time that I got to read the Bible that were lost. The attitude that I showed towards to others are becoming deeply mad. I was full of anger. My mind was full of the thoughts  "why do you keep on giving this tasks to me?" , "Why me?" "Why can't you just do this, instead of giving a hard time to other people?" and many more complaints. After days of suffering with the load works, praise be to God that I were able to write on my devotion notebook and read the verse, James 1:19 “Always be more willing to listen than to speak. Keep control of your anger.” Why didn't I listened to their reason that they are giving those tasks me, instead? Maybe the reason why they gave me those tasks was because I have the ability to fulfill it. I should have just controlled my anger back then. 

It is okay to say 'No ' to the people if you can't help them, if you cannot make up to their party or gathering. Just be always reminded that you have to say it in a good way that people will not get offended or mad. I am sure that they will understand it. 

14.  Always spare a time with your loved ones 

You never know when your loved ones are going to live with you and leave you. A simple hang out with loved ones can give them and yourself a quality time plus a perfect bond. Do not get driven by the fact that since that we are in a digital world, a hang out with your loved ones is not like you will sit together in a one table and holding and playing each other phones and no talking -- is a hang out. Having a good conversation to a deep conversation will do. Furthermore, showing how you genuinely love them counts too (Romans 12:9) 

15.  Take bad comments as a compliment or motivation 

When people tells a negative comment based on my appearance I do not take it as a hard comment  and cried inside my bedroom. Of course, there will be times that I got sad but then I realized I do not need to mind those comment because it is just their opinion. If people would tell me about the wrong doing that I did of course (that is a bad comment), then I should listen to them because I got them offended. But I did not take it as a grudge because I know that I am learning through them, which I should also be thankful about that. I should not just listen to them,but also to the God. Listen to God and what He is trying to tell you and do the job on what He tells me who,what and how to be. 

16.  Confidence is the key 

Whenever I got to talk to in front of many people in our school, people would tell "Give yourself a confidence" "Trust yourself". I remember the time that I was running for a student council President in our school, which I need to have 100% confidence. If I am not confident, then what would be my other running as an officers will feel and think that I do not have the confidence?  Of course, I need to show and feel it to them that we are confident. To be honest, I wasn't really that 100% confident. Maybe the reason why I was not 100% confident that time is because I did not asked something from Him, because I was only focused on building a foundation of our group confidence. For some reason, maybe because I leaned on my own understanding, which should not be. There are many lessons that I've learned here. In this journey, it is not only our journey but it is a walk with God. No matter how tough it is, we are walking it with Him. Our foundation is 0% nothing but only through His foundation. (1 Corinthians 3:11). There is nothing wrong with asking from God.( Luke 11:9 ) Lastly, you cannot just fully trust yourself, but you also have to trust in God. (Proverbs 3:5) 

17.  Being perfect is not the goal 
Life is not perfect, we all make mistakes. When I make mistakes, I always make sure that  I will not do the same thing again. But the thing is, I cannot prevent on doing it again. We all have a sinful nature. For some reason, it is hard to admit to anyone that we made a mistake. Clearly the Bible states that we should confess our sins to each other, because that person will help you through prayer. (James 5:16). There is no shame in admitting (1 John 1:9). There is nothing to hurt if we seek guidance and assistance from Him. In order to succeed, I ask God to be with me all throughout this journey, He will not leave or forsake me.  If at first I don't succeed, then maybe I should take it as a test to improve more. I believe that we should not aim for being perfect but aim for progress. Making mistakes should not be like a routine but rather take mistakes as a lesson. We do not need to aim for perfection rather aim with righteousness. In Matthew 6:33, "Seek first His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well". 

18.  Failure to achieve your dream university does not mean that your dreams are failed too. 
My childhood dream was to study at least in the big 4 universities in the Philippines (UP, Ateneo, UST, and DLSU). Back story, when the UPCAT (University of the Philippines College Admission Test) was about to get close by, I had this feeling of I will be accepted in UP, I kept on praying about the exam, I prayed for peace of mind when I take the exam. I studied up until midnight every night even if I have classes on the next days. As the UPCAT day arrived, before I took the exam, I ask for His guidance, to give me strength. After that, the exam was not that easy but not that hard. During six months of waiting the result, I kept on praying to God asking for my prayer to be answered. I did not got the chance to take up in the remaining three universities (Ateneo, UST and DLSU) because I was busy doing my school stuffs, I lacked out of time. To my luck, UST re-opened for college application. I took up the chance to take an USTET ( University of Santo Tomas Entrance Test). I was full of trust and confidence that I will be accepted in UST with my priority choice of course BS PSYCHOLOGY. I waited for months in USTET results. Then, the results of UPCAT finally came. And guess what, I was not able to get accepted in UP. I cried but I realized I still have hope because of USTET. The result finally came, and praise be to God I was accepted. I was supposed to study there but I did not make it to the deadline of submitting a reservation fee. I realized that maybe because the reason why I did not make it to my dream universities was because it wasn't part of His plan. Maybe because I only relied and trusted my own plans and not His. That should be our number priority when making a decision -- Do not lean our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5) and to ask God what is His plan for you.