Could Have Been and Could Be

I woke up today to the sound of rainfall. It was past 7 AM and I could hear my alarm go off. As usual, I ignored my phone and tried to catch a few minutes of sleep. As if it'd help. Wrong. I spent the next hour rushing to have one egg sandwich, take a bath, dress up and do a little make up. A little make up meant just putting on foundation, concealer, eyeliner, blush and lipstick. I may sound fully made up but I wasn't. I wasn't strikingly glamorous. I had no eye makeup! I needed to be out by 8:30 AM to make it to my 10 AM interview and I was running late.

Generally, the interview went well. It was for an executive position that had to deal with financing. The interviewer did most of the talking and I could tell, he was good at what he does. As he was telling me what the job was all about, I was close to having a nose bleed. He was talking about project finance, loan structuring, financial ratios, financial statements and all that time, I had to keep my composure. I felt I wanted to phone home. E.T. phoooone hoooome. Is this something I wanted to do? Think Melissa, think. For the most part, I listened and I have until Monday to revert to them if I was interested. Abangan!

I could have gotten myself into so many things but I chose not to be one way or another.
1. A singer - I think I can carry a tune and back in high school, I had my mom enrol me in Yamaha's singing lessons. I had to do a lot of vocal exercises that made my head spin. That was a lot of breathing exercises. I had to inhale for a long time to take in as much air as I could and exhale it slowly. Ssssss. After the first course ended, my mom told me that she wouldn't be enroling me because she felt I wouldn't be a singer anyway. "Meh, di ka naman magkaka career sa singing kaya wag na." Geesh, I thought I wanted to be another Joey Albert. I just don't know if Joey Albert wanted me to be another version of her.

2. A dancer. - When I was around 6 or so, my mom enroled me in art class. I always envied the children on the dancing class. I wanted to be a hula dancer. I was drawn to the colorful grass skirts and head dresses. That whole summer, I just happily stirred my water colors till the itch to dance wore off. I never really got myself into ballet either. I was chubby to even bend my back or even reach my toes. It was in college that I knew I had rhythm. I was lucky to have ballrooming dancing classes and I liked the steps but I knew I could never get myself into dance sport. I will forever be guilty for causing any back injuries on my partner. Think about that. He has to lift me, throw me up in the air, catch me and still make me look glamorous while he's thinking of going to the orthopedic.

3. An actress. - I've always wanted to join Little Ms. Philippines when I was younger. I'd ask my mom to allow me to join but her better judgement prevailed. I can't even think of a knock knock joke right now and I don't know if I could even give a straight answer of what I'd do if I catch somebody stealing. That was how the questions were phrased "Melissa, anong gagawin mo kung nakita mong nagnakaw ng candy ang kalaro mo?" I probably would have answered that I would ask for that candy. Bebel gum anyone? Bow.

4. A lawyer. - I wanted to be one when I was in college but I knew this wasn't for me. I think I had 4 law classes and I had to do a lot of reading and be familiar with the different provisions or whatever you call it. Exams were always essays and I had to explain my answers. Take for example the case of the pregnant carabao. Great. We can give her a baby mud shower. Ok here's the case. Juan sold his carabao to Pedro for Php 50,000. Little did Juan know that the carabao was pregnant. Who is the rightful owner of the baby carabaos? My answer: the father of the baby carabaos. If not for him, the mate would not even be pregnant. Itigil ang kasal!

5. An accountant. - I hate math. The fewer the units that needed my mathemical skills, the happier I am. I also had 4 classes in accounting back in college and I was toiling. Every exam meant I had to sweat beads. I will never ever forget my first accounting teacher. She drove me nuts with her exams. I needed to do my journal entries, do a trial balance and whatever it was. Looking back, I should have listened more. I remember entries such as Maria bought a car from XYZ company for Php 600,000. Debit cash and credit ... I don't know. All I know is that I didn't enjoy the car and the money is not with me. Your credit is good but we need cash. It is nice to look at but if you break it we consider it sold. Ha?

I have countless possibilities of who I could be now. A banker, a financial planner, a real estate executive or even be a business development expert. Given a chance, I'd love to transition into a banker and to think I said I would never work for a bank. Whatever my next adventure would be, it will definitely be what I think I could be and what I should be.