Dreams do come true, even in Gym class.

                Gym class — I was fighting for my life (and grades) during the 4 hour straight badminton games. The sweat pouring on my face was as heavy and damp as the rain outside the covered court. It doesn’t take a genius to say that I was already worn out (even my messy hair says so). I needed some air, a break, or at least I needed to pee. So while waiting for my turn, I ran outside to the nearest comfort room. Suddenly, two people (one of them I’m familiar with) came into the view. They were packing up their photography equipment inside a car. Then out of the blue, one of them shouted “Hey, have you ever done and tried any modeling or at least posing for the camera?”, and without thinking twice with my haggard-walking-dead state, I said “Yes, I can try”.

                Yes, during my puberty stage my dream was to become a model. But I guess my body ran out of growth spurt.

                Yes,  I’ve always loved working with the camera.

                Yes, I never missed (or used to) an episode of Americas Next Top Model.

                Yes, when I get high in coffee and my serotonin levels are skyrocketing, I turn the volume up, and do crazy (model-like) things in front of the mirror.

                Yes, I finally had my first non-academic related photo-shoot yesterday.

                And yes, it was not what I’ve expected myself to be in when I was young. But it’s a nice and overwhelming feeling when one of your suppressed dreams comes true — even in the uncanny time of gym class. 

Selfies can speak through the camera

Selfies, for some, is just an attention-seeking-waste-of-time activity. Sure, we abuse it, and people get irritated, especially men. But it’s only half of the story; some of us do it because it’s a personal art that we get to live by.

As much as it is hard to understand, there’s just this strange connection with the camera. Maybe it’s the way a light dances on your skin and hair. And the way it overshadows your unseen emotions. Or maybe it’s how a person’s body playfully struts with the seamless angles. And all of this is a part of giving pieces of yourself, and that makes a still moment — your own personal moment — picture perfect.

Sometimes, all we need is an outlet and we find them through the camera. It’s an expression of how we want others to see our deepest senses, or the beauty of portraying the closest thing we have to ourselves.

Indeed, having gazillion of likes and compliments is just part of the equation; there’s another side that screams for self-expression. And it’s what keeps us coming back for more.