for all those who know me, attending a school like ateneo isnt something i would ever consider if not for a scholarship. the school gave me the opportunity to learn at their institution and receive quality education at almost no cost. however, my scholarship became somewhat of a-

chip on my shoulder. it didnt give me as much freedom to make errors or mistakes that my peers had. last year however my status as a scholar was used against me by parents who wanted me to stay away from their kid.

they threatened to report my romantic involvement with her and ensure that my scholarship be taken away. syempre i was shocked and furious. wala akong ginagawang masama, bakit parang ako pa may mali?

in fact, i was helping pa this person with homework when this confrontation happened. ask anyone who knows what i'm talking about, everything i did for their kid was out of love and respect. nothing i did was without consent.

i felt completely looked down on. these people made me feel as if my life was in their hands just because i dont share the same privilege as them.

i fought back. i told them off and said they were out of line. i couldnt blame their kid for not being able to defend me cause she was caught up between me and her parents. i never went to the admin cuz the parents have a reputation of bullying admins into getting what they want.

ayaw ko na din madamay magulang ko (although i did tell them this happened just recently) as i didnt want the problem to get bigger and actually put my scholarship and record on the line.

this event was something i kept between me, close friends and those involved cuz i didnt want to go back to that place where i felt tiny and belittled by people whose opinion i valued because they were important to a significant other.

mind you, they already publicly humiliated me and their kid once before, shouting, cursing, and pointing at me. during this time, they were completely strangers.

imagine, a stranger shouting at you in front of dozens of people while you cant do anything about it.

these events are something have brought me anxiety at even the slightest thought of them. with everything thats come up, privileged people really have it easy. its so easy to be ignorant of the situations of others just because u dont get your way. its so easy to belittle those

you know cant fight back. we call you out because all your lives you have been protected by your privilege. you get away with things you arent supposed to, things that cause your victims trauma and anxiety.

people like me who arent handed a 200k education on a silver platter work harder in all ways not for you to look down on us, even more so take away our only chance to get opportunities like this. we dont ask for your charity or your pity, we only ask for your respect.

if you cant even give us that, then you deserve all the backlash all these brave people are giving you shit for.

to the person whose parents im talking about, i dont blame you for anything. although i regret, we didnt end things on better terms, not a day goes by where i wish i could have done better by your side. i hope you find nothing but happiness after what weve been through.