I didn’t expect my father to pass away years ago when I was in high school. Even now, I sometimes wish I could have his guidance on the decisions and actions I make every day. How he could have navigated my unemployment crisis.
But I wouldn’t have written this piece if he had not passed. I saw writing as a chore back then. I didn’t put as much thought to my past essays, let alone if they are written in Filipino.
Death can change you in many ways. My father’s passing led me to become more responsible and self-aware than ever before. I grieved, yes, but I learned how to accept it. That turning point made me cherish the present more.