"Be like a thumb that is raised and upright!

"

PHOTOGRAPHER’S INSIGHT OF THE SUBJECT AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE:

Inspired to take a snap of a moment where most of the learners can relate to and to share the positive
ambiance that we can feel just by looking at the authenticity of this masterpiece. Such an arena for
realization that while you are busy seeking for that bright horizon under that surmounting difficulties,
your resiliency and fortitude must be manifested. This is not too close, not too far, just right.

Be like a thumb that is raised and upright!

Settling and adjusting to new normal is not a walk in the park. It has made complicated changes in my
life. It causes a 180-degree turn to all my routines. Human interaction is impermissible. And to breathe
the air without a piece of fabric to cover my mouth and nose is prohibited. Simply put, I'm longing for
the things I took advantage back then because what has been left is only the footprints in the sand of
time.

I have never been from any contact or opposing forces but have been sick and tired conquering the life’s
greatest conquest. I've never experienced war or any gun fight but I am at war everyday--tiredness and
laziness, misbehavior, temptations, wrong decisions, and even disappointments and failures are just
some to mention. These wars are within me. Until one day, when I was looking into the gist of this
challenging situation one thing began to sprout in my mind is the idea of “giving up” that everyone tried
not to do but most of them ended up of doing so and that is mainly due to the massive changes that
failures have brought to life.

Everything changes. Everything seems so hard. Even in usual conversation regarding education, classes
that are usually hard become harder facing the screen. Laptops and computers become bruised because
of weak internet connection. Modular learning does not really brings learning because most of the time,
parents are the one answering the questions for their children. Fear is the thing that causes all of these
because people merely fear failures. People fear disappointments. The same fear that took the lives of
the many. Same time, same place.

This pandemic has become everyone's common denominator. Living this pandemic for more than a year
has already made me feel a tired witness to the weaknesses of people and even of myself when
undergoing breaking periods.

Sad to note, everyone is longing for success but the situation has been absolutely made stuffs turned to
a formidable blurry and senseless matters. The effect is seen. The effect is heard. These things have
been set in motion which aim to remind humans that there is no special formulas for a plain and better
life.

However, despite of fear and the war, the will to succeed and the determination to bring change fueled
my eagerness and passion. I’ve made mistakes and I got failed many times but I have learned that
failures are just experiences that taught myself to get up and remain steadfast and bold to raise the flag
of resiliency amidst this pandemic.

I have to stand. I have to be like a thumb that is raised and upright, even though I can see other people
backing out, like the remaining fingers curling into a fist.

I have to. We have to.