When I was 16-year-old, my life doesn’t really reflect the kind of life like other girls out there dream of. Yes, I am the only daughter of a famous man in our town, I have two brothers. Yes, I’m a member of a prominent clan of business entrepreneurs. Yes, I do get what i want most of the time without any hesitations. Yes, I am a consistent honor student and I won first place in feature writing that time in Schools Press Conference. Yes, I passed every college entrance examination I took, which means yes, I passed the prestigious University of the Philippines College Aptitude Test. My whole family is actually proud of me, but I’m not happy. Why? It is for the simple reason that although my life seems perfect, my spirit is not free.

          Don’t get me wrong! I’m actually satisfied with my achievements and thankful with the kind of life my parents have given me. However, even if I passed the UPCAT, I’m not going to study in UP, because my parents don’t approve of my course, which is Communication Arts. This means I’m never going to have my own column or any particular space on any magazine or newspaper. My parents want me to take up BS Computer Programmer or become a Lawyer. I don’t understand why they won’t let me do what I want. Why should they take away my right in choosing my own future?

          I want to be a writer. Someone who can touch people’s hearts through print and who can influence people’s perspective about different issues. I know writers don’t get paid much like Programmer or a Lawyer, but I don’t see the point of depriving myself of who I want to be. Money is not an issue. I can live without the big pay. I want to study in UP because I studied so hard to pass its entrance exam and luckily, all the hard work paid off. I want to make my own decisions without anyone nagging me about what kind of future my decisions will bring. I want to be free from the stress and the pressure. I want to be heard.

          When I was in high school, I was forbidden to go out with my friends. I wasn’t allowed to go out of town for school competitions. When I finally convinced my parents to let me, they decided I should do so on my own. I had to use my own savings just to go to the venue and compete but it was worth it because I won first place without their support. I had to constantly prove to them that I was actually intelligent and should not be treated like a delicate little girl who’s too frail to stand up on her own. When I passed the UPCAT, I finally convinced my parents that yes, I could do it just like my brother.

          All of my struggles have motivated me even if I know I might not be able to use my talent professionally. I still hope that maybe someday I can prove them wrong again! I may sound like a brat but I’m not. Writing is how I express myself, my voice within. This dream has brought me to different places and I won’t let it disappear. It pains me that I won’t have the chance to be who I truly want to become. Sometimes, when I speak, they don’t listen. When I explain, they shut me out. When I defend myself, they don’t pay attention to me. It seems like I don’t have a voice. I don’t blame my parents for being super strict with me. I don’t think I have the right to blame anyone. I understand that I’m their only daughter and so they think it’s right to be more cautious. The only problem is, I can’t breathe anymore. Being considered as the class “princess-who-is-trapped-in-a-bottle” is not fun at all. I hate being Cinderella. I hate being Princess Jasmine and I certainly dont like being Snow White. In fact, I’m miserable in this bottle and I’m suffocating.

          I know there’s more to life than this. I always tell myself that maybe all my dreams will come true in the future; now isn’t the right time. Maybe my life is not just about what I want because no matter how much effort I put into it, I still can’t deny the fact that my attempts are not working. I just need to learn to deal with life’s flaws, so, I take the course they wanted for me to make them feel happy, and I’m happy now being a writer here in Triond as a “CutestPrincess” and not as a “princess-who-is-trapped-in-a-bottle” anymore. Also, I’m thankful to Him because I’m still alive, accept that everything happens for a reason and continue to be myself because as Dr. Seuss once said, “Be who you are, say what you feel, because the ones who matter don’t mind, and the one’s who mind don’t matter.”