Kent J.

Camposo
Grade 11 ABM Pacioli

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

On a scorching summer day, March 27, 2007, within the delivery room of

Sunga Hospital in Digos City, I took my first breath. Little did I know that this

would mark the beginning of a journey filled with unexpected twists, unwavering

dreams, and the relentless pursuit of self-discovery. From the cramped hospital

room where I entered the world to where I am now.

Though I don’t remember much from those early years, my parents have

told me stories filled with laughter, love, and a few struggles. They talked about

my first steps and my first word, which was "PAPA." Before my kindergarten

year, my parents decided to leave Barangay Guihing, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur,

and move to Barangay Tibanban, Davao Oriental, my mother's hometown. I

remember our house being close to the beach, and before dawn, my cousins and

I would go to the beach to watch the sunrise and then play in the water. A few

years later, I started kindergarten. I remember my teacher always praising me

because I was so good at math. I also remember that after class, my cousin

James and I would climb the school wall because his house was behind our

school. When my auntie asked us why we did it, I always answered, "to save

time," because we were excited to watch Ben 10. My mother would always look

for me after school but couldn’t find me. My auntie would then call her to let her

know I was at their house. Back then, I was really naughty.

 One summer, my father and I went back to Davao del Sur because my

father needed to tend to my grandfather's farm. It was a fun experience because

I was born in the city, raised on the coast, and am now learning how to live in the

mountains. Even if it was just for one summer, it was fun, and I even made

friends. That’s when I started loving vegetables. When we returned to Davao

Oriental a few months later, I remember Typhoon Pablo hitting Davao Oriental. It

was really traumatizing. This was the first typhoon I had been through. I was

really scared because we had to go to an evacuation area near a mountain due

to the possibility of a tsunami. After that, my parents decided to go back to

Barangay Guihing. I started first grade at Guihing Central Elementary School. I

was a shy kid because I didn’t know anyone except my cousin Danes. But I

learned to make friends and even encountered my first enemy, a boy who

stabbed my eye with a pencil. After that, Christmas break came, and I visited my

grandparents on my mother’s side. Little did I know this would be the beginning

of what we could call first love. There was this one girl who caught my attention;

let's call her Mae. If you’re wondering where I met her, it was at one of the

Christmas parties that the village threw. Almost all families went, including ours. I

saw her dancing with her friends and was enchanted by her beauty. The next

day, I saw her playing with her friends, so I joined them, and we played all day

long. It became a routine until one day I confessed to her that I liked her. She

also told me that she liked me; some of our playmates had heard that, so they

urged us to kiss, and that was my first kiss.

 Moving forward to my second grade, I was the kid who only wanted to

play. I always played with my friends, but my parents were shocked when my

exam scores were perfect or I had just one or two mistakes. I also didn’t know

how I did it, but all I know is that I didn’t cheat. The year after that came my third

grade. I remember this one teacher who taught me a lot of things. She was a

strict teacher who always made me stay late because I was a slow writer,

alongside my other classmates, but that taught me to be a fast writer.

Moving on to fourth grade, I would never forget the bad and happy

memories that fourth grade brought. It was during this time that I hit my chin on

cement, and it bled a lot. I also wouldn’t forget when I broke a classmate’s

necklace and her mother came to scold me. I was really scared back then. There

was also a voyager underwater theme, like a seminar for kids that taught about

life underwater. A friend of mine and I entered a spherical dome full of air inside,

with a projector showing underwater scenes. A few minutes later, I felt something

wet. I thought it was just an effect, but when we left, I asked my friend if he felt

that wet effect, and he told me he had wet his pants. I burst out laughing. A few

months before summer, there was an "oplan tuli" at the school gymnasium, and I

got circumcised. It wasn’t painful because of the anesthesia, but after it wore off,

it was hellishly painful.

In fifth grade, I suddenly felt different, like I was on a new page of my life. I

discovered that I also liked boys. At first, I didn’t know if it was because I wanted

to be friends with them or something else, but I just went on with my life. During
that time, I found my first trio of friends, and we were inseparable. They were the

ones who taught me about the LGBTQIA+ community, a community for rainbow

people. They also encouraged me to accept who I am, and I’m thankful for that.

Even though we are now strangers, every moment of my fifth grade is precious

because it was when I discovered part of myself.

Sixth grade, the last year of my elementary education, was when I tried to

be a more mature version of myself. I tried to be more adult-like, but my inner

child always emerged, so I decided to let it be and just go with the flow, making

my last year in elementary school memorable. Moving on to seventh grade, my

cousin and I decided to join STE. We took the exam, but sadly, I was the only

one who passed. When classes started, I was scared because I barely knew

anyone except some familiar faces. On the first day of class, one professor

announced that there would be a report the next day. I was shocked to the core

and doubted if I could do it. I even cried when I got home because I felt like I

didn’t belong among the smart kids. The next day, a ray of hope appeared when

our teacher announced a second exam to filter out some students due to

overcrowding. When the second exam came, I knew the answers but deliberately

picked the wrong one. Afterward, I shared the results with some friends I had

made in the classroom. The next day, I was transferred to SPFL, where I learned

some Chinese words like "wo ai ni," which means "I love you." I believe

everything happens for a reason because, in SPFL, I fell in love with learning

new languages and cultures. I won’t forget the time there was an earthquake and

the land shook violently. Many of my classmates, including myself, cried because
it was our first experience with such a strong earthquake. Almost all the students

panicked, and even some school buildings were damaged. A week or a month

later, the pandemic hit.

The COVID-19 pandemic is the most unforgettable bad memory I have,

but it also taught me a lot. It all started before graduation in seventh grade. We

thought there would only be a week without classes, but it turned into months

and then a year. It felt like being trapped in a prison with nowhere to go. I

realized that nothing is permanent in this world, not even our freedom. During the

pandemic, I discovered the Boys' Love series, which tells the stories of two boys

falling in love. This became my safe place. I also tried drawing, writing stories,

planting, and even cooking pastries. I did lots of things during the pandemic to kill

the boredom. It was fun, but there was still a feeling of emptiness and a desire to

go out. So when my father said he would go to the mountains for a week to work,

I asked if I could go with him, and he said yes. It was a relief to go somewhere

else. When we arrived, the place was breathtaking: the mountains, the lush

forest, the singing birds, and the breeze. It felt like a new sensation. It had been a

year since I had left the house, and this feeling of relief was overwhelming. Long

story short, I stayed there for a week, made friends with the local kids, and we

played traditional Filipino games like patintero and luksong tinik. It was fun, but

everything has an end, so I returned home. Little did I know it was going to be

more than just a pandemic. One fateful night, days after we came back, there

was a sudden earthquake. It was very shaky, and there was hearsay of an

upcoming tsunami, so we decided to leave our house and go to my aunt’s, who

lived in the mountains, for safety. We slept there for the night and returned in the

morning. The following weeks were no different; there were still small

earthquakes occurring until I got used to it. A month later, face-to-face classes

were announced, and I was so excited to go to school.

Tenth grade was the first face-to-face class in two years. It was really

exciting because I could see my friends again. I remember doing our first

research project and performing in front of large audiences multiple times. We

even performed in the SPFL recitals, and I participated in a cosplay event,

dressing up as a Chinese angel. It was a fun school year overall. On the first day

of grade 11, I was really scared because it felt like stepping into a new world

where nothing was familiar. There were so many new subjects that I wasn’t used

to, and it overwhelmed me at first. I felt like I was drowning in uncertainty and

doubt. But over time, I adjusted, and with the help of my friends, I was able to

conquer those challenges. In the second semester of grade 11, I became more

comfortable, and it was during this time that we participated in a group dance.

We performed the Sinulog, a traditional Filipino dance that celebrates the Santo

Niño, or Baby Jesus. It was just a friendly dance within our section, where we

were divided into groups. One group danced the *Singkil*, and we danced the

Sinulog. This was the moment when my creativity really began to shine. We

crafted the dress for the queen in our dance, who would hold the Santo Niño

made out of plastic and wires. It was a really fun experience, and I worked

closely with my friends. My creative juices were flowing, and I was able to

express myself in ways I hadn’t before. I persevered and became one of the top
students among my peers. It was an achievement I thought I couldn’t do, but I

was able to because of the support of my friends.

Now in grade twelve, reflecting on my past, I see how much I’ve grown.

Each experience, hardship, and achievement has shaped me into a better

version of myself. I promise to honor my past and continue striving for success.

The journey from a timid kindergartener to a confident senior high school student

has been transformative, filled with lessons that have shaped my character and

[Link] is my story, from the beginning of my life to where I am now—a

journey of growth, discovery, and perseverance. As I look to the future, I carry

with me the memories of my past, the lessons learned, and the dreams yet to be

fulfilled. I am determined to make the most of every opportunity and continue

evolving into the best version of myself.

Looking ahead, I am determined to pursue a degree in marketing in

college. My goal is to build a successful career in this dynamic field, where I can

apply my creativity and strategic thinking to make a meaningful impact. I am

committed to learning and growing, both academically and professionally, to

achieve my dreams. With dedication and hard work, I aim to excel in the

marketing world and make a significant contribution to the industry. My journey

so far has equipped me with the resilience and skills needed to succeed, and I

am excited to see where this path will lead me.