I Was Grateful for Being Alive at 11 Years Old

I’ve had an interesting occurrence happen to me when I was on a recollection along with my classmates. It was the first time we were separated from our parents for more than a day. The recollection was a requirement before graduating from primary school so, we were 11–12 year-olds having a once-in-a-lifetime experience in a sanctuary governed by religious ordinations as students from a private catholic school.

People used to cringe about being serious in life, I even thought the same at times. Now, that was what the concept was about during the recollections. There was plenty of reflection and realization held in the process. It was important to create an atmosphere of memory and outlet for people surrounding each other. As we were only youngsters at the time, the facilitator was in great command of instruction to bring advice and insights in a cohesive environment. The facilitator had a big responsibility to become helpful in the process of internalizing the activities within the recollection proper. Every time a student recites their prepared reflection on a certain question in a specific activity, the facilitator should be flexible in giving insights.

The question posed to us that sparked interest in me with what happened afterward that I still remember to this very day was, “What are you thankful/grateful for?” I’m not exactly sure what my schoolmates told the class. I would guess their answers were probably about having a nice family or something along similar lines. I distinctly received laughs after saying that I was grateful for still being alive as an answer. To be fair, it was indeed a mature response even thinking it out now but, I thought it was a unique answer that I saved up on. To add, I was the last of everyone actually to share so, I might’ve been the conclusion no one in class expected to hear therefore allowing a burst of laughter as favorable feedback.

To this day, it amazes me that I thought of such an answer and that my classmates then didn’t think deeply about it. I had tons of ideas to reference as to why my answer was something that might have been out of the ordinary for peers in that age group. For instance, it was like, I’m grateful that there wasn’t a storm brewing near our place where the recollection was held that a possible accident might occur that could take a class in a tragic turn of events. I was elaborative in my thoughts and I was genuine about my response. I admit to being confused by the laughter; the facilitator played it off and shared important insights to fit the atmosphere.

I even remember being turned off by a crush of mine who wasn’t particular about people who do “hugot” lines. They said people who say lines that have deeper meanings sound old. Of course, some people would agree, but I didn’t. It was in my nature to be curious and enlightened about beauty. I appreciated what the world offered and I could see the greener grass than most people around me, based from observation. So having a mindset that thought deeply about things and wove intricate meanings in life, I also didn’t like their opinion. Besides, I had no way of looking at life any different than what I did then and even now.

I consider myself lucky to have the capacity to think ahead of others. I mean sure there might be similar 11–12 year-olds thinking about finality even at their young age. But, it seems there aren’t plenty. They somehow break the norm and it challenges the adults around them. It makes you realize the human capacity and potential to make a difference despite the age difference. Just like a story, I remembered reading somewhere on the internet. A child under the age of 7, consoled their grieving parent to a grandparent they lost. The child understood that the parent bonded longer with their grandparent than them so the child imagined that the pain must have been great. Children who are allowed to witness a normal occurrence that will pass in life, along with guidance, encouragement, or awareness, might become one of the elite forces that society can teach to produce more mindful people.