By: Mischa Loreign P. Manio of Grade 10C – Einstein
When life gives you tangerines, they do not come with instructions.
When life gives you tangerines, sometimes it is sweet, like a fresh and juicy fruit. Other times, they can be bitter. We cannot predict which one we are going to get. All we can do is accept it, taste it, and learn from it.
A new year feels like a fresh start. It gives us another chance to begin again, even if the past was difficult. New beginnings are not always big or exciting. Sometimes they are quiet moments, when we decide to try again. With these new beginnings come new voices—our thoughts, feelings, and dreams that have grown from our experience.
These voices help us understand ourselves better, and guide us toward change. A fresh start does not mean forgetting what happened before. Reflection is important, because it helps us see how far we have come. Looking back allows us to recognize our mistakes, our growth, and the lessons that life has taught us. Even the bitter moments matter, because they shape us and make us stronger.
Setting goals gives us direction. Goals help us focus on what we want to improve, and what we want to achieve in the year ahead. They do not have to be perfect or big. Sometimes small goals are enough, like peeling a tangerine. Reaching our goals takes time, patience, and effort.
Hope keeps us moving forward. It reminds us that bad seasons do not last forever, and that better days can still come. Hope gives us the courage to keep trying, even when life feels uncertain.
When life gives you tangerines, learn to accept both the sweet and the bitter; each one has a purpose. With new beginnings, honest reflection, clear goals, and hope for the year ahead, we learn to face life one day at a time—ready to grow, and ready to start again.
“One of the selected writers for January, highlighting the theme: New Beginning, New Voices.”