Farewell 2010s: A Colorful Decade Ends

As I dug old computer folders dated as far back as 2008, I saw how fortunate I was to have been able to document most, if not all, important life events in the last decade. From my high school years to postgraduate studies, I was able to capture moments—from the fleeting to the momentous—and preserve their memories in thousands of photographs. And as an over-sentimental person, I find joy and relief in the fact that I can always look back and vividly recall the past through my photographs—the most important treasures I've accumulated throughout the years.

As early as November, I've been on the bittersweet task of digging age-old folders in search of suitable photographs for the ultimate decadal #throwback post.

One of the first photographs I took in 2010 

2010-2013

• High school. I entered the 2010s as a hormonal freshman who was really into Hollywood celebrities (Logan Lerman, Cody Simpson) and anything that was trending (graphic tees, side bangs, espadrilles). I was in my manic pre-adolescence stage (i.e. teenage rebellion), so I was a riot! And because I studied in a strict Catholic school, I got into lot of trouble even for the tiniest and pettiest things. On the bright side, it was in those years when I met most of my present-day closest friends and discovered my passion, dreams, and ambitions. Even if I can now only remember a small chuck of my high school life, I will never forget how much I had fun being a wild and carefree high school student, and how those four years molded a significant part of who I am today.

• Got into Photography. I had my first camera, a Canon point-and-shoot, in late 2008 when I was 11. Though it was in 2009-2010 when I discovered my passion for photography through DeviantArt—thanks to the iconic Zhang Jingna and Tricia Gosingtian. Even though they were into portrait photography—a genre I never ventured deep into as I'm more of a nature/landscape person—their works still largely inspired and shaped my photography style in the early 2010s. My Nikon DSLR came in 2012 which all the more inspired me to pursue this hobby. Looking back, I'm in awe at how passionate I was with photography. It was in those years when I shot the most photographs [for my hobby's sake], and many of them remain as personal favorites to this day:

   

   

Canon Powershot SX100 IS (2010-2012)

         

Nikon D5100 (2012-2013)

2014-2017

2017-2019

The last decade was very special as it saw me transition from an impulsive, happy-go-lucky teenager to—what I now like to believe—a more mature and levelheaded young adult. Not only have I grown out of my old clothes—but most importantly, I've gone through a diverse range of experiences that threw me into repetitive loops of abandoning outdated prenotions and accepting real, hard-earned lessons in life. In short, I've grown up.

Perhaps the defining thing of my 2010s was my student life: I started the decade as a high school freshman and ended it as a graduate student. Life throughout the years mostly revolved within the walls of academic institutions, which says a lot about myself—a dedicated lifelong learner.