Chapter 2: A new world ahead

As the students were called one by one in a conference

room, everyone felt nervous. When it was Danielle's turn, she mumbled a prayer

first before entering the conference room. She saw an unfamiliar man sitting in

a swivel chair.” Please have a seat.” He said while looking at Danielle.

 

Grabbing a chair, Danielle sat on it facing the old

man.

 

“I'm one of the Board Member in the Scholarship. My

name is Mariano Udarbe. Can you tell me something about yourself and why you

chose to apply for this scholarship?” The old man said while examining her

every action.

 

“ Well...My name is Danielle Artates. I'm  studying at Saint William's Institute. I am

the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez Artates. My father  is a tricycle driver while my mother is a

plain housewife. I chose this scholarship because I needed someone to support me

financially in college, Sir.” Danielle said straight forward.

 

Mister Mariano gave a sarcastic laugh at her. Danielle

was puzzled. Why is he laughing? Did I say something ridiculous? She thought.

 

“Do you think you can fool me? Your relatives are

rich. They can provide financially on your college.  Why don't you ask help from them?” Mr.

Mariano said frankly.

 

“ Pardon me, Sir. They are rich but I have my own

dignity. They can't  even help my father when

they knew all along that my father needed their help. They are rich but we are

poor. I would never dare ask for help from them. I will make my father proud

and help him when I finish my studies and got a job.” Danielle was about to

burst in anger.

How this man knew about her family background? Why are

they all insisting that I should ask help from my father's side. Never!

Danielle thought.

 

“ I see. Then what school do you intend to go to in

college? What course would you like to take there?” Mr. Mariano asked again. He

became serious looking this time.

 

“ I would like to go to University of Northern

Philippines and take education as a course, Sir.” Danielle answered.

Mister Mariano seemed impressed on what school she

preferred to study.

“ Okay. That's it for your oral exam. You may go out

now. Good luck on your written exam. I'm 

routing for your success in life.”

 

“ Thank you, Sir!” They shake hands before she left

the conference room.

Not long after, all the students prepared themselves

for the last procedure. They were group into 2: Set A and Set B. They were

given instructions and then the Proctor gave the examination paper to each of

them. The Proctor seemed young and a nice person. He was smiling at them and

wishing all of them good luck.

 

The exam was really damn hard. Danielle was having

trouble in answering the English exam. She looked at her co-examiners around

her and their faces were like their having trouble as well with theirs.

Danielle sighed and continued answering her

examination paper. When the bell rang, all of them felt disappointed and gave a

deep sigh. The bell was their signal to stop answering the test questions. Unfortunately,

all of them were exhausted of thinking.

The Proctor came to get their answers and said to us

to wait for a moment.

Then, Mr. Mariano, Teacher Leonora, Mr. Steve and the

Proctor, Mr. Edgar sat in front of them, holding the test papers. They

calculated and evaluated everything the students did. After a few minutes, they

said the results.

 

“ You all know that the scholarship is made for those

who are worthy. 10 of you are going to be in this scholarship. But before I

announce their names, I have a bad news for some of you.” Mr. Steve said with

dismay. “ In the oral exam, we have known that some of you gave a false

statement about your parent's job. Those who are going to be called are

disqualified from the scholarship. “

 

Patiently, Danielle prayed hard that her name would

not be mentioned in the disqualified applicants and luckily, her name wasn't called.

There were sad faces when the students who were disqualified went out of the

room. They were only few of them were left to be called.

“Now, I'll start announcing the names of the qualified

applicants and are chosen to be scholars in this scholarship programme. I'll

give their names randomly.” Mr. Steve said in a dignified voice.

Danielle crossed her finger when there was already 4

names given and her heart was beating faster and faster.

 

“ Danielle Artates! Congratulations!” Mr. Steve

announced her name.

 

Dumbfounded, she opened her mouth with full of shock. After

a while when everything sank in into her, she smiled gratefully. “ Thank you,

Sir!”

 

When the 10 students were already completed, everyone

laughed out loud and celebrated. The others who were not called was disappointed

and left. The 10 students including herself with the four Board Members were

left in the room. They signed a contract and congratulated each one of them.

“ All of you, congratulations! May God bless you all

and welcome into your new journey in life.” Mr. Mariano said with a proud smile

on his face.

The four Board members went near them and one by one,

they shake hands to one another. Then, they went all home and separated ways.

Danielle went home and excitedly told the good news to

her Grandmother.

"Nanang, I made it! I got the scholarship I

wanted so much. You won't have any problem in my studies anymore. “

 

Of course, her grandmother rejoice as well but then

her face suddenly became sad.

“ What's the matter, Nanang?” Danielle said when she

noticed the change in her grandmother's face.

“ You'll go in college and leave me with your cousin,

Jenny , now. Your school is based in the city and it's far from here. You need

to stay in a dormitory and live by yourself. “ There was a feeling of concern

from her Grandmother's  weak yet gentle voice.

At this instance, Danielle gave her grandmother a big

warm hug. “ Don't worry, Nanang. I can still come home every weekend or if it's

holidays or if I have vacant time. I can take care of myself. “

" Okay. Remember to call us when you need

anything. Your parents will be proud of you. “ Nanang  Elsa said with a teary eyes.

Danielle packed her things in her luggage. This is the

first time she will be living alone and far away from her grandmother. What is

there in the city? Will I be able to find friends? Will I be able to survive

there alone? Doubts came rushing into her mind.

After the graduation, Danielle prepared herself and

found a dormitory outside the school campus. She planned to take a part time

job as well because she doesn't want to ask money from her grandmother and make

troubles for her.

This was a new world she must endure at all cost to

achieve her dream in life.

A new world where she had no one to rely on but

herself . A new world that she never knew it existed. A world full of wonders

and worlds things to discover. A new world for adventure.