The Art of Being Misunderstood

Four months in grad school (may have) provided my most valuable lesson for the year --- the art of being misunderstood.

Coming to AIM on such short finances earned me differing reviews: crazy, brave, faithful, careless, courageous, carefree, unwise, obedient, stubborn. Suffice it to say that to date all these labels are still hanging around waiting to pounce on me once an "i-told-you-so" moment presents itself.
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Well, baby, the situation in the classroom and around it is not entirely different.
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Be a female, be misunderstood. Be young, be misunderstood. Be Filipino, be misunderstood. Be a foreigner, be misunderstood. Talk much, be misunderstood. Talk little, be misunderstood. Be nice, be misunderstood. Be naughty, be misunderstood.

And so on and so on and so on.
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Perhaps this is what we pay so much for, in institutes of higher learning such as AIM. To learn this delicate art. Making a difference at the risk (and certainty) of being misunderstood.
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Be Rizal. Be misunderstood.

Be Mother Theresa. Be misunderstood.

Be Gandhi. Be misunderstood.

Be Princess Di. Be misunderstood.

Be Benazir. Be misunderstood.

Be Jesus. Be misunderstood.
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Go ahead and make a difference, anyway.
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Understood?