Hello everyone, this is 
I was bored,
Did something I couldn’t ignore.
Checked our group chat, scrolled and scrolled,
Random memes, answers, stories retold.
They were all memories
Dalton, the best days I hold.
I miss Dalton so much! It was truly one of the best sections I had during my junior high school days. Maybe because we spent our Grade 7 and 8 school days at home, either doing modular or online classes.
We first had our face-to-face class during the last quarter of Grade 8, so basically we only met some of our classmates for a short period of time. And we only had half-day classes back then. Each section was divided into two , Set A and Set B attending school at different times, either in the morning or in the afternoon.
Grade 9 felt new. At first, we were still separated into sets and still had half-day classes. It was fun, even though we were curious about our other classmates from the other set. What do they look like? Are they nice? Are they intimidating?
I got used to having only a few classmates around me.
I was happy just being with half of them daily.
Set B was my group, where laughter stayed.
My classmates were funny, my worries they swayed.
With an adviser so kind, always ready to guide,
Those days felt special, with friends by my side.
Everything changed when they announced that we would finally go back to full face-to-face classes after more than two years of the pandemic.
I was nervous.
I didn’t know what to feel.
Pressured? Nervous? Scared?
Yes, I felt all of that for real!
Happy and excited?
Yes, I felt that too, what a deal!
It meant we could finally meet our other classmates from Set A of section Dalton. And after meeting them, my life or rather, our life as a class, as a family became even happier! It got louder, more alive, compared to when we only had half of the class around. We were different in many ways, but we all had one thing in common, we loved to have fun, always in a good and respectful way.
We loved making TikToks in every space.
We loved playing games with so much grace.
We loved random chit-chats, laughs we’d chase.
Being with Dalton felt like the best place.
Of course, just like other sections, we also had small fights or misunderstandings. But that’s normal. We weren’t the type of class to drag each other down. We always helped one another and let everyone shine.
During Grade 9, I had a rough time. I was really sad because during the first quarter, I was one of the 3 or 4 students who didn’t get into the honors list. I cried the whole afternoon , even while riding the tricycle home. My friends and classmates were worried, but they never looked down on me. They didn’t pity me for not being an honor student. Instead, they motivated me and told me I could do better in the next quarter. And true enough, during the second quarter, I was finally back with an award "With Honor.” One of my classmates even told me, “Wow, Lorene! We’re so proud of you. You improved a lot!”
They are there when you are down.
They are there when joy comes around.
They cheer for you when you make a sound,
Of laughter, of dreams, where love is found.
We respected each other. There was even a time during our “Year-End Party” some of us called it “Christmas Party,” but we didn’t use the word “Christmas” because we respected our INC classmates and others from different religions. We never forced them to join if it wasn’t allowed for them. But deep down, we still hoped everyone could join because we wanted to celebrate together, especially since we wouldn’t see each other for weeks or almost a month.
During activities, we also got to know each other better. Some classmates who were shy or rarely participated surprised us with their talents. Some were great at dancing, singing, acting, sketching, cooking or memorizing. We all had different strengths, and everyone shined in their own way.
This section will always have a special place in my heart.
I didn’t just meet new friends, it was a start.
I found a group of loving souls.
I found a safe place that heals and consoles.
I found a family where love never ends,
Dalton forever, my home, my friends.
Live, Laugh, Love Dalton.
Thank you for reading, everyone! Do you also miss your past sections during Junior High School?
