A Bond Like No Other

by Christel Facundo

It's been how many days since PSYSC Camp "11 ended. And to tell you the truth, even though I still don't have a background in Chemistry, I learned a lot. Aside from the lectures, I learned from the workshops, experiences (good and bad), and mostly from my newly found friends.

I'm 15 years old, an upcoming 3rd year student in Agusan Sur National High School and I still don't know a thing about Chemistry. I had two choices to choose during the camp: (a) to stay quiet in a corner and pretend that I don't know anything (Okay, not pretend. I really don't know anything about Chem) or (b) speak up and try my best to help my satrape in any way that I can. Well, I chose the 2^nd option. It's not me to stay quiet in a corner during the entire duration of the camp. Even though I didn't know a thing about Chemistry, I helped my satrape. And guess what? Our leader even had trust to turn to me for a second choice, even though I don't know anything about what they're saying. That was a great honor, because he gave me importance despite of my lack of knowledge about the topic.

My Friends. What would I do without them? ELECTROPHORESIX, Satrape 6, was the highlight of my summer. With just four days we created a bond that not even a nuclear bomb can destroy. With those four days, we created miracles together, making the impossible, possible. All those times, the happy memories the bad ones, and even the funny ones gave me each a lesson in life. The happy memories taught me to savor each moment in life to never think of negativity when everyone around you is happy. The bad memories taught me to learn from my mistakes and never give up each task that was given to us by the Sages or by God Almighty. It taught me to trust my co-satrapes whatever choice they made ana it taught me to trust in God more than ever.

What about the funny memories? Thinking about them brings tears to my eyes. I still remember how each of my close friends laughs and the creases on their eyes when they smile. I sometimes cry when I wake up in the morning realizing that I don't have a breakfast stub anymore and I don't have to rush to Maragtas Hall to catch the last bit of cold breakfast. I wake up realizing that I don't have to listen to long lectures and I don't have something to look forward to at the end of it. The workshops brought us close together, it served as an important role in our everlasting bond. And now I have to wake up with this weird heavy feeling on my chest every day knowing that I might never see my co-satrapes again.

To our very supportive Guardian, ATE ALIX JEAN SANTOS, thank you: for all the sacrifices you made just to make our activities all right even though when some of us escape them (and yes, I'm talking about the 3 musketeers, Jian, Carl and Sheena. Peace Guys!), you still have patience to keep up with that.

To my newly found friends, especially to our leader, Meo, who tried his very best to make each workshop perfect and managed to do so, you are the best leader in the world, no matter what others may say; to KB, my buddy, thanks for being there for me; to Kwek and Hazel, who's been my girl friends in Camp; to Ate Dale, who made me feel that I have a sister; and to Mark who never failed to make me smile with his banats. To those I forgot to mention, you guys are still in my heart, giving me hope each day to wake up. But all in all ELECTROPHORESIX, you completed my summer. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH GUYS.

PSYSC never failed again to make my summer unforgettable. But this year, on the 40th birthday of PSY, it made miracles. And those miracles were my friends --- like a long lost one whom I just reunited after 40 years.

If only I could turn back time, I would spend Camp '11 just the way I did. I won't change anything, because even a little move of my hand is a factor that brought us close together like never before.