All It Takes

*This essay was one of my Significant Human Experiences (SHEs) in English IV.

Before vacation, our soon Research II adviser, Prof. Lapa, instructed us to work on our project starting May (2006), as soon as possible! So, we practically did our job. Our research project was originally entitled “The Effects of Papaya Leaf Extract and Papaya Latex on Golden Apple Snails”. At first I thought it was a hunky-dory type of experiment because when I scanned through the methodology section of our group leader’s paper, it’s JUST SO SIMPLE. But as we started caring the snails, gosh… it’s JUST SO DIFFICULT! We’ve gone through a lot of work on that. We had to endure the filthy smell of the organisms. We took care of them, observed their lifestyles, and providing them the environment they loved. Golden Apple Snails were really difficult to deal with. We had to exert our best efforts so that they’ll live, but most of them just could not even survive for just a week.

So our group decided to work on the experiment in Inayawan, Pardo. Why there?

After “re-researching” facts about the said organisms, we found out that they easily die if they’re not in their original environment. Our group leader’s mom has a friend who lives there and she said that her friend has an access there for getting snails.

Last Saturday (July 15,2006), we began our journey. Although I was late in getting to our group leader’s place, we got there at 9:45 in the morning. We brought our materials with us like the papaya leaf extract, gloves, and mask.

The road to Inayawan was so narrow and long! And there was heavy traffic. When we got to our stop, I thought it was already there. To my dismay, we’ll be walking “miles” just to get to the rice field. The smell of the canals and the intense heat of the sun… we endured those because it’ll be worth the undertaking.

At the middle of the journey, the friend of our group leader’s mom approached us. He led us to the rice field. He also told us about how the snails pestered the farmers and about how the snails lived.

At last, it was our stop. We rested for some time. Then the neighborhood asked us a lot of questions like “From what school do you come from?” or “Why are you doing that?”. Yeah… they’re so curious! But not annoying because when we revealed that we’re studying in UP, they’re like “Wow! UP? That’s a very nice school!”. So even if I was so tired and stressed, on the brighter side, I am proud of what I am doing. I am so proud that I came from UP and after 3 years, I survived. Well, hopefully, I hope I could graduate!

Back on the experiment… While we were soaking the snails with the Papaya leaf extract, our group leader, his mom, and I went to the rice field to get some snails, mud, and grass. It was already 11 AM and the sun’s scorching rays beat on us. I’m grateful because I didn’t faint.

Then our companion, the friend of our group leader’s mom, assisted us in finding the snails. To summarize everything, the journey plus the experiment was so stressful, taxing, intricate, and tiresome! We spent a lot of time, effort, and money for that. It’s also frustrating because we haven’t started our research proper because all we did was to observe the nature of these snails. What I was also afraid of was that we’ll never be able to start our experiment because of financial problems, extra-curricular activities, and school projects or home works.

But I always put in mind that God permit stumbling blocks to pass on our way for us to learn something from it. And in every problem, there’s always a solution. This research project has been a challenge to me. It made me realize that I have so much to change for myself, especially my time management and my sensitivity towards things. It had hit me hard, of course. But I’ll see to it that I’ll be able to get through all of these.

It takes a lot of discipline and sacrifice in order to get what you really want. Me? I want to graduate in a “nice” school. Ok, I’m here in UP. That’s a nice school. But will I ever graduate here? Well, if I made it here, why not make the research project successful, too? Let’s see…