In the Students Affairs Office

"Do you know what you are asking of me, Alicia?" Dr. Francis Batista, who was the students' affairs counselor asked. Dr. Francis was a middle-aged man in his 50's and was always kind to students who were good at their studies and Alicia was leading in her cla.s.s with her next to perfect scores making her Dr. Francis' favorite. he looked at her with his gla.s.ses placed at the end of his nose bridge.

What he could not understand was why the most serious student he has seen so far for a very long time in years, leading her cla.s.s and practically the whole school when she represents them for compet.i.tions outside the school would ask to either drop out or be included in the foreign exchange program. As if the part about dropping out was not enough, but she was going to totally change her course of study.

A final year student, studying business administration wanted to be exchanged into a Performing and Film Arts Major. Anybody hearing this would find it unbelievable. The exact kind of people he hated the most were people in the entertainment industry. He stared at her with mouth agape for a while before asking "And why exactly would you do that? that is very ridiculous you know. You are the best in your cla.s.s and I don't see how an introvert like you would be good at Theater Arts. You know you are my star student, so just explain to me why exactly you would present these options or why I should even agree to any of it"

Alicia who has been looking down all these while raised her head slowly and gave a smile to Dr. Francis before answering "Because I know if I drop out or enter into the exchange program, I would still start at the same level. while the exchange program might a.s.sist me in developing quicker, dropping out is not really bad too I just have to go through a year of unnecessary work"

"Just tell me this, why do you want to be a performer when you clearly know that your courses, h.e.l.l even your career is not set there? I can help you when you graduate in a months time by getting you a job in a friend's company or even in the school, but changing the program all over!" Dr. Francis gave Alicia a skeptical look, rubbing his temple as he spoke, he took a sip of water before turning to Alicia as if encouraging her to answer his question "I want to fulfill my mother's wishes, sir" Alicia finally told him the truth.

Dr. Francis looked at her silently to check if she was really lying or saying the truth "The dead are gone, but the living as to continue living no matter what, fulfilling your dead mother's wishes may not give you the solace you think it will" he said to her finally. "I have already failed sir and I do not want to fail again"

"Going down this path means you have to be ready for anything, your road to success might not be smooth but are you willing to do down the path no matter where it may lead you?" Dr. Francis insisted thinking maybe he could knock some senses into her. "I can only help you if you plan on helping yourself, I admire someone that knows what they want and although I may not be able to help you achieve your goals, I can still help you the little way I can" "Alicia are you really ready to change your life?"