I Became My Son’s Classmate
by Oliver Carlos
I’m not really a Netflix enthusiast, but recently there’s a Korean series that touched my heart. The 15-part “Eighteen Again” got me glued on my seat, I finished the whole story in just a couple days. The series is about a middle-aged Korean married man who got physically transformed back to his 18-year old self. He was a high school student again chasing his dream to play big league basketball. While in that youthful state, he took on a new name and was able to watch over his son’s high school life, helping him become a basketball star, just like him during his prime. He became his son’s best friend, protector, personal coach, study buddy, and greatest influence.
I can relate so much to this film because a segment of my life was so similar. I went back to my old self and became my son’s high school classmate when he studied in UST. Though I didn’t literally enroll in my son’s high school, I was a constant presence in my his everyday life. I lived with him in his boarding house for a good number of years.
Jethro was just 13 years old when he earned a slot to play for the UST football team on an athletic scholarship. We were Los Banos-based at that time. I knew it would be hard for him to live alone in the big city without parents, but at the same time, we wanted to support him in his dream of playing football at the highest level. Playing in the UAAP would be a doorstep to his goal. So we made a family decision, we would make some sacrifices. I would be sleeping over at my son’s rented room in Manila almost every day, and just come home to Laguna on weekends with him. My Laguna work was just a bus ride away from Buendia, so we believed the plan was feasible.
On a good traffic-free day, I would be at the UST football field at 7 P.M., just in time to see the closing minutes of my son’s team training. We would then eat dinner together. Oftentimes, he would ask help in his academic stuff, and I was there to gladly tutor him. After study time, we would talk the night away until we fall asleep. We would talk about what happened in school, in the football training, and many other things high school boys talk about.
On Saturday mornings before we commute back to Laguna, I would play basketball pick-up games in the playgrounds of UST. I noticed a unique hoops culture there. In their courts, nobody wore an NBA jersey. Every player sported a UST-related shirt. These are uniforms they got from intramurals, PE classes, student orgs, and the likes. So I bought myself a couple of UST jerseys so I can play there.
I had fun playing with the UST students. My playmates do not know me, I’m a total stranger to them. They must have thought I’m a fellow student like them; probably some dude taking up Medicine or Law, somebody who was just around 5 years older than them. So just like in the Netflix series, I had a sort of a basketball career renaissance too.
Looking back at those golden years (gold because that’s UST’s color), I think we made the right decision. Our friends also affirm this. Yes, teens need parents; but they also need a best friend, a peer whom they can have heart-to-heart conversations with. They need somebody who will rejoice with them in their victories, empathize with their struggles, and pick them up when they hit rock bottom. They long for such a companion in their formative years going into adulthood. If I weren’t there, my son’s life path could have turned to an unpleasant direction. I’m glad too I was able to see my son grow up, I have seen him grow every centimeter of his stature, physically and figuratively. I was there in every single day of his life.
Similarly, God the Holy Spirit does the same thing in our lives. We read in John 16:7,12–13 (ICB):
“But I tell you the truth….When I go away I will send the Helper to you…. I have many more things to say to you…. But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you into all truth.”
In this passage, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to his disciples. He said that the Holy Spirit will be a counsellor to them, a constant presence their life journey. He will guide them in difficult times, give them wisdom in discerning right and wrong, and provide the needed power to carry on.
The Holy Spirit is someone who wanted to be your best friend, confidante, guide, and ever-present helper. Just like in the movies, he will be in your life every single moment, watching over you, making sure you are okay, and seeing you grow up to be the person you are meant to be. What else can you ask for? Feel his presence today.
