This #wednesdaywalk had brought me in a state of nostalgia that painted a beautiful smile on my face although nobody can see it as I am literally masked by this pandemic. Just recently I heard the news that wearing a mask is optional in open spaces but then, I have become accustomed to wearing it that taking it out is like taking away my confidence. 😷
Anyhow back to this walk, I was not planning to do. I went to the town proper to take care of an important transaction. As I was done with the transaction, I looked for a potpot ride that would take me to the market center but unfortunately, I was not able to get a ride. Most of the public vehicles were occupied. It was around 5 pm, the busiest time of the day when workers and students clocked out and were on their way home flooding the streets with hectic commuters, walkers, and vehicle owners. The streets were busy.
I walked my way to the town center. I kept myself safe by carefully traversing the side of the road which is not even paved for a sidewalk. I met three kids joyfully walking on their way home. They are pupils from the nearby elementary school.
It made smile as I remember myself at that age with my two other friends who were my walking buddies going home from school while carrying a 3-kg bag of books and notebooks. But we never complained as we enjoyed walking while talking, teasing each other, until we end up fighting 😅. But the next day, we're good again. I miss those days when we were just kids who never carried hatred in our hearts. Just offer me a candy and we're good.
I finally find a potpt but it was already occupied by a student checking her phone. She must had been relieved that she can now use her phone freely after a back to back classes. I could see the smile on her face as she looked at her phone. Student life is indeed hectic but fun. Yeah, for me my student life was the most colorful and fun time of my existence.
I passed by the elementary school I mentioned earlier. The gate and fence were painted in attractive colors. Elementary schools are usually painted with attractive colors maybe to entice the pupils to come to school. Beautiful colors invites excitement to learn and lifts up the mood. The flags on the fence also looked very festive as if some high profile persons were to be welcomed. Well, I consider the pupils to be the VIPs since without them, there are no schools.
A few more walks and I finally arrived at the market center. I saw these students waiting for a ride. But I got a little worried. They were waiting in this area where the sidewalk is very narrow. Though vehicles on this area slowed down, I coudn't help but imagine the worst. I hope the traffic enforcers would prohibit the students to wait in this area.
Another group of students I saw were enjoying their time together while eating ice cream. Ah, I was a little jealous. I never had this luxury of eating yummy icecream. Back in high school, my allowance was only 5 pesos just enough for a morning snack and if I chose to commute home then I would have to spend my 2 pesos for the fare. Maybe one reason I was so slim back then 🤣.
A pupil here was fetched by her mom from school. Such a lovely sight for me. I never experienced being fetched from school. I just walked my way home. Even when I was in kinder, I just walked my way to the office where my mom worked. Back then it was safer traversing the road. There were less vehicles. But I never felt unloved. Instead, I was able to practice independence.
These back to school scenes brought back beautiful memories of my student life. Beautiful memories I will surely treasure for the rest of my life. If given a time machine then propably I would go back to this stage of my life. Though there are also bad memories but those are all part of the learnings.
Going to school is not just academics,it is also practicing independence and honing our social skills. Going to school hones not only our IQ but also our EQ and AQ. And this is what these student missed for the last two years when schools were closed due to the pandemic. I am glad that schools are open again.
This #wednesdaywalk initiated by 
Thank you for dropping by. Until the next Wednesday walk. See you at the crossroads. 😁