09 7 / 2012
Little Miss Woods comma Elle.
Elle: Wait, two jobs plus law school? How do you do it?
Emmett: Well, I don’t go to parties a lot, not good use of the time that I’ve got
Can’t spend hours doin’ my hair and stayin’ in shape
Elle: I don’t spend hours!
Emmett: But I know it’ll all be worthwhile
When I win my first lucrative trial
And buy my mom that great big house out on the cape
Elle: Oh, that’s so sweet
Emmett: No, that’s the chip on my shoulder, I hugged my mom and told her
With the chance I’ve been given, I’m gonna be driven as hell
Though I can’t take the day off, I just think of the payoff
You need a chip on your shoulder, Little Miss Woods comma Elle
The above song lyrics are from Legally Blonde the Musical’s soundtrack. It’s entitled “Chip On My Shoulder.” It’s one of my favorites from the play.
The play tells about a Delta Nu Sorority sister, Elle Woods. She entered Harvard Law School to regain her past love, Warner. In the process she finds her true self, and becomes driven to do good in school. And the result? She graduates Valedictorian.
Now, “Why this song? Why this play?”, you may ask.
Today I entered the Makati campus of Mapua Institute of Technology once again. But this day wasn’t like all the other instances that I entered MIT. This time, I was finally a student. I had my own ID to tap, I could move around freely inside the campus, I could go in and out anytime. My dream had finally come true.
I had no classes yet, however, so I decided to just hang out with some of my friends from the higher levels. They took me on a mini-tour around the campus, took me to the secret shop (again), and explored the Simulated Hospital (which is actually off limits for non-nursing students, but hey we pulled some strings). The day was perfect as it ended with a walk home.
As I was roaming around the school, it suddenly sank in to me that I was in college. And no ordinary college at that - I was at M I T. You would often hear a lot of Mapuans complaining that the school is being a pressure cooker. I was definitely nervous about that, but I knew that I couldn’t let my dreams be crushed by a few horror stories.
When I got home, I immediately listened to a few songs from Legally Blonde the Musical. One of these was in fact Chip On My Shoulder. I listened carefully to the lyrics, and realized that this song had all the things I needed to remember to succeed in College. Like Emmett said, you shouldn’t waste your time on parties and going to the gym and shopping to doll yourself up for school. Instead, you should focus on your priorities - the things you need to accomplish for school. Yes, it’s torture, but it will all be worthwhile. When you get on that stage to receive your diploma, or when you get your first salary, you’ll thank Mapua for training you to be diligent and determined to succeed.
“Grab that book and let’s do this, instead of doodling hearts all through this. Yeah, there’s a chip on my shoulder… Let’s see him knock it aside.” -Elle.
I can’t be scared. I can’t back out now.
I am a Mapuan.
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P.S. Elle and I are similar in a lot more ways than you think. ;)
