What makes a good life? Some may say you just need to be happy. There are those that say it takes more effort for a good life to emerge, a bit of a climb that makes the journey all the better.
It’s when I ponder these things that I remember one of my favorite game series to kill time with: Super Mario.
The game, albeit simple, is analogous to my feelings towards the latest experiences I’ve had, specifically the first half of my senior year in Mapua University.
How would a game originally released over two decades ago relate to my current feelings for the university? Well, when playing the game we see that the hazard foiled journey towards the end of the stage is what makes the game so enjoyable. Other than that, the small victories within the stages are so fulfilling: power-ups, mushrooms, invincibility stars; the little moments that help you push along.
Much like the game, my first semester in Mapua University was filled with trials but, along the way, had “power-ups” that made the journey have a lighter load.
Over the past five months, I have met amazing people. People that taught me about the colorful world there is beyond my own mind. The companion Yoshis if you will in the world of Mapua
Not only were they there to support me, but they also gave an aura of positivism that I rarely can supply myself. The Advance Placement Calculus that introduced me to new classmates, the science competitions that grouped me with interesting people who pursue the same fields as me; all of them wonderful people I’ve tagged along with for the first semester.
Sure, it wasn’t all fun and games. Heavy hitters such as research classes and project tasks would routinely slow down the pace of work. Stumble and fall as we may due to these unexpected obstacles, it was important to remember that we should always get back up (even if that meant taking a nap in the middle of the hallway to get through).
Overall, my first semester of senior year in Mapua University taught me the importance of looking at the amazing aspects of life, using that optimism as a springboard towards achieving goals. Maybe we’ll have a few hiccups here and there, a slip off a edge or a poorly timed jump, but we’ll always have that second chance to make it right and reach the castle at the end.
Over the Corner 