Hi, my name is Mary Kate Talban, and I just turned 18 years old back on December 31.
“What does it feel like to have a birthday at the end of the year?.” - a common question I get after meeting people for the first time. During my growing up years, it was through my parents that I learned to love my birthdays. Every year, we would travel back to the Philippines to have celebrations with my family members and friends. It would either be at Jollibee or Shakeys. Those two restaurants hold a special place in my heart till today. Believe it or not, my last birthday celebration at Jollibee was at the age of 13. It slowly became a tradition for my family.
Now that I think of it, since my birthday is close to Christmas, I have never received a present on Christmas with a note written, “Merry Christmas and Happy birthday!”. I have always received two sets of presents within a span of a week! But even so, the main reason for my joy is being able to surround myself with people that love me.
I am proud of that, and I wholeheartedly receive it with honor. That one week in a year would be one of my biggest wins. It's a time wherein I reflect on my wins and losses, the things that I had been through, and the people with me throughout the year. Picture this, after one year of dedicating time and effort to studies and personal goals, when you get to end the year with more love and appreciation of the things you have.
So, what does it feel like to have a birthday at the end of the year? Well, for me, it is a gift of bliss that has become a great part of who I am. It is a very special day for me. I hope that through this article, I get to share this experience with all of you.
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