It’s been two weeks since our graduation, and I still cannot quite believe everything that happened since I took it in my head that yes, a fifty-year-old person can go back to school. And so, on this lazy Sunday, I pause to take a few minutes to reflect on some of the things I’ve learned in the course of those heady, whirlwind weeks in school.

1. It is always a good idea to challenge yourself.

The moment I saw the announcement about an e-commerce training program, I was hooked. I work in social media. While I’ve got the content part down pat, I thought my knowledge in the tech part was woefully little. I wanted to make myself better, but there were a couple of obstacles. First off, I had to take a test. Me, take a test! Since the program was going to be free of charge, candidates would have to be  screened.

I almost backed out, I tell you. The thought of failing in these qualification tests was far beyond humiliating. But then again, not to take the tests for fear of flunking was worse.  So I did, and I passed, and got into the program.

2. It is still possible to make friends at any age.

When you’re fifty, you figured you already know all the people you’re supposed to know. I am always amazed when I see people having more than a thousand friends on Facebook. I’m like, wow! That’s really quite a feat!

You see, I’m not exactly Ms Congeniality. It takes some time for me to match people’s faces with their names, so making friends is not my strongest suit.

But lo and behold, I did make friends during the course of the program – maybe it was because we were all in this thing together, or maybe it was because they thought they should be respectful of the old lady in school, or maybe it was because we all shared a liking for having a good time. Whatever. The reasons don’t matter. I am grateful for this opportunity to get to know these individuals, whose personal histories are just amazing!

3. It is still possible to spot a true leader amidst these frustrating times.

I had been warned that the program would be rigorous, and that it was going to take real hard work to be able to finish it. And it was!

At one point, I was ready to pack it all in. I had learned all I needed to learn, and I had made my partner business happy. If I didn’t get to complete the program because of my inability to finish all my tasks, it was fine with me.

But my classmates would have none of that.

During the course of our classes, there were, in my mind, three individuals who emerged as true leaders. I refer to them as the Rock Star, the Speaker of the House, and the Best Director ever. These three never let up. They pushed us, motivated us, went out on a limb for us. They could have just easily rested on their laurels, having finished their tasks early on, but they refused to let everybody else be left behind. #walangiwanan became our class’ mantra. It was not only inspiring, it was empowering.

How I wish our national leaders were as inspiring as these three.

4. It is always a good idea to just do it!

Yes, in the immortal words of my favorite shoe brand, just do it!

For weeks, I was on auto pilot mode. Because I still had to work while enrolled in the program, my everyday to-do list was exciting, to say the least. It was a physically taxing pursuit, one that had me slapping Salonpas on my back and downing an extra dose of multivitamin. It was crazy, I thought. Why was I doing this to myself? But I just kept going. I figured that heck, if I could give birth to four human beings, then I could very well do all these! Mwahahaha

I remember a couple of years back when I resigned from a plum position. My boss asked me if I was moving to another company, and I said no. I honestly did not have anywhere to go, but I just knew that it was time to leave. I remember telling her: “Well, I guess I must be crazy to leave, but it’s time.”

Yes, sometimes you need to do crazy things, if only to make sure you’re still wonderfully, gloriously alive.

So go ahead. Go crazy! Just do it! Today!