EXCESS BAGGAGE comes with a price—it could either rip you or your suitcase apart. As I stared at my suitcase, sweat dripping down my forehead while I sat atop it, I grappled with the task of squeezing everything in. It appeared as though my suitcase was on the verge of bursting at the seams, its zippers stretched to their limit—but, it was ready.
Stepping through the airport doors, reality struck—my entire life was compressed into a 30-kilogram suitcase, dreams meticulously tucked within its confines. However, the true weight burdened me in the form of hidden doubts and fears, stowed away in my chest.
As I set foot on the school grounds, I was greeted by a heartwarming scene: parents exchanging affectionate kisses, imparting words of encouragement, and sharing tight hugs with their children. A sense of yearning surged within me, evoking memories of the once-familiar joy when my own parents used to kiss me goodbye.
Caught in an emotional whirlwind, I found myself trapped in a state of limbo. On one hand, a part of me basked in the euphoria of finally living the life I had long envisioned: navigating unfamiliar spaces, forming connections with new people, and taking charge of my own decisions. However, amid the freedom I now enjoyed and the constant company of my new friends, an overwhelming sense of homesickness persistently gnawed at me.
Homesickness felt like an anomaly, a sentiment that seemed incongruent with the image of a capable “grown-up.” Ashamed, I resolved to bury these feelings, viewing them as a detour from the path of maturity I was striving to walk. In the process, however, I found myself packing new experiences into my baggage, adding to the weight I was already carrying.
There were no steaming hot meals awaiting me at the table when I arrived home from school. Instead, my current reality revolved around overly salty ramen noodles on my study table, with Meredith, Miranda, and Derek keeping me company through seasons one to ten.
As the weight of my baggage grew insurmountable, it eventually ruptured. I came to the realization that baggage weight limits exist for a reason. The memory remains vivid—through choked sobs, my words faltering into a jumble of incomprehensible fragments, “Ma, nalangkag na ako sa imo.” (Ma, I miss you).
I lost count of how many times I had to go through these equally agonizing instances. Despite putting on a tough and confident front, I would revert back to being the scared little girl I was as soon as I entered my dorm room. Lying on my bed with the scent of home lingering in my blanket, I grappled with homesickness in silence, alongside the struggle to fit in.
Baggage isn’t meant to remain confined within the limits of a suitcase; rather, it allows us to carry pieces of home with us as we venture in search of new ones.
Just like that overpacked suitcase, we often find ourselves carrying baggage—the baggage of our doubts, fears, and worries. However, there comes a point when the weight becomes too much, a moment when we realize we can’t keep cramming everything in.
We can’t carry everything with us, but we can always learn to set that baggage aside and unpack it one by one to lighten the load.
Fin is a Health Sciences student expected to graduate from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2025. Advocating for children’s rights, she weaves together her passions for science, journalism, and effective people management.
Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed by the opinion writer do not necessarily state or reflect those of the publication.
