By Francesca Ean Tiu
Art by Theone Tiu
Standing in front of a blank canvas, a learner holds a paintbrush to it. His lips press together in a straight line before filling the white space with bursts of color. Hues, shades and vibrance bring light to the once dull world, taking the form of a beautiful painting of different aspects that create a messy yet majestic picture.
Being an ISAer could take many things. Going through the hardships, dodging obstacles and being capable of conquering them, and the countless other difficult situations one must go through to reach the finish line of what we call the education system takes a lot. An ISAer has to have all these things along with the ability to mix them together.
It takes determination to be an ISAer. ISA is built for people who are willing to face the challenges thrown their way. Thanks to the adversaries students within the walls of the campus must cross paths with such as everyday quizzes, a towering amount of requirements, extracurricular activities of various and more, you must have the strength within you to accomplish them. Find the flickering flames burning in your heart and ignite them. Even if you don’t have that strength or haven’t set the flame ablaze now, you will definitely develop it once you set foot in ISA.
Another thing it takes to be an ISAer is versatility. Learners have to be thrown into one room and come out with newly attained knowledge etched into their minds. The names of these new skills are endless. You can belt out notes, release a melody by plucking strings or pressing down on piano keys, mold an entire world out of ink and letters or shoot a ball through a hoop. Possibilities are endless like a rushing waterfall and if you’re not careful, you can fall victim to the current of the river. Although it may be tiring, your future awaits the capabilities you have gained during your time in ISA.
The messy splash of colors on the canvas, your canvas, are the wild and unique aspects and qualities that ISA has helped hone. The movement of stroking the tip of the paintbrush on your canvas is you bringing those talents out into reality. And the messy picture you’ve created is you, the ISAer that’s proud to show it to the world. Yes, being a learner in a school like ISA is rough, messy and confusing but it’s also going to lead to a new kind of alluring charm that you managed to paint thanks to the aid of ISA.