I Returned to 3D After 5 Years – And It Felt Like Home

Five years is a long time.

In five years, you can graduate, build a career, move abroad, fall in love, become a parent—or all of the above. Life changes fast. Priorities shift. Places you once knew fade into memory.

But some places—very few—stick with you.
They stay in your heart in quiet, unexpected ways.

For me, 3D Academy in Cebu was one of those places.

My First Time at 3D: A Distant Memory

I first came to 3D Academy in 2018. I was in my early 20s, searching for purpose and desperately wanting to improve my English. I stayed for three months. It was my first time living abroad, my first time speaking English daily, and my first real step into independence.

I still remember my teachers’ names: Michelle, Carla, Jun.
I remember late-night chats in the dorm, weekend trips to Kawasan Falls, and trying halo-halo for the first time. I remember being nervous, but also feeling supported in a way I had never experienced in any other school.

When I left, I told myself, “I’ll be back.”

Life Happened

But then, life got busy.

I moved to another country for work. I changed jobs. I got married. I became a parent. My days were filled with deadlines, bills, diaper changes, and the never-ending rhythm of adult life.

I still used English sometimes at work, but not as much as I had hoped.
And yet—even as the years passed—I often thought about 3D.

Not just about the classes, but the feeling.
The freedom of walking down to JY Square for snacks after class.
The laughter over breakfast in the canteen.
The warmth of a teacher saying, “Don’t worry. You’re doing well.”

A Trip to Cebu—Just to Visit

In early 2024, my wife suggested we take a short vacation before our second child was born. “How about Cebu?” she asked.

I smiled. “I know someone there.”

We booked the flight. I didn’t plan to study. I just wanted to visit the old dorm, walk around the neighborhood, and maybe say hello to a few familiar faces—if anyone was still there.

When we arrived in Cebu, the heat hit me like a memory. The smell of grilled street food, the sound of jeepneys, the chaos and color of the city—it all came flooding back.

On a whim, I messaged 3D.

Walking Back Through the Gate

The guard at the front gate looked confused when I said, “I used to be a student here… five years ago.”

He smiled and let me in.

The lobby had changed. There were new posters, a fresh coat of paint, and some staff I didn’t recognize. But somehow, it felt familiar. I felt nervous—like I had gone back in time.

Then I saw a familiar face behind the reception desk.

“Hey… you’re back!” she said. “Your name is…”

I didn’t even have to say it.
She remembered.

And just like that, I felt 22 again.

A Visit That Became a Stay

I only meant to stop by for an hour. But after chatting with the staff and walking around the campus, I asked, “Do you still offer the Business English course?”

They did.

And just like that, I enrolled—for two months.

I called my wife. “I know this wasn’t the plan,” I said, “but… I think I need this.”

She understood. She always had.

Studying as a Returning Student

Being back in class felt surreal. I was older, busier, and juggling parenting duties—but I was also more focused. I wasn’t learning English to pass a test. I was learning it to express myself more deeply, to expand my career, and to set an example for my kids.

My teachers were a mix of new faces and old friends.
And to my surprise, one of my original teachers was still there.

She looked at me, blinked, and said, “Wait… you’re the guy who always asked about idioms!”

We both laughed.

And just like that, I wasn’t just a student. I was a story.

What Changed—and What Didn’t

A lot had changed in five years.

The dorms were upgraded. The canteen had more options. The curriculum had been updated with more real-life conversation and digital tools. There were even online hybrid programs now.

But what hadn’t changed was the feeling.

The feeling of being seen.

The feeling of being gently challenged, but never shamed.

The feeling of sitting across from a teacher who actually cares whether you succeed—not just in English, but in life.

Rebuilding My Confidence

After five years of emails and meetings, I realized my English had become robotic. Functional, yes—but lifeless. I had stopped enjoying it.

At 3D, I got that joy back.

We laughed about cultural misunderstandings. We role-played job interviews. We had real conversations about parenting, burnout, and the future. I remembered that English isn’t just a skill—it’s a bridge.

By the fourth week, I was participating in group discussions again.
By the sixth, I gave a 10-minute presentation on how English helped me build my career.

One of the teachers said, “You should be a mentor here.”

It meant more than they knew.

Old Habits, New Purpose

In the evenings, I returned to some of my old habits.
Late-night chats in the dorm. Trips to Ayala Mall. Mango shakes after class.

But this time, I wasn’t a 20-something explorer.
I was a father. A husband. A professional.

Still, I felt at home.

3D didn’t care how much I had changed.

It welcomed me as I was.

Saying Goodbye (Again)

On my last day, my teacher asked, “Will you come back again in five more years?”

I smiled. “Maybe sooner.”

As I stood at the front gate, suitcase in hand, I felt something I didn’t expect: peace.

It wasn’t about nostalgia.

It was about recognition.
Of how far I had come.
And of the place that helped me start.

Final Thoughts

Some schools give you a certificate.
Some give you knowledge.
3D gave me something different.

It gave me a place to return to.

No matter how far life takes me,
No matter what language I speak day to day,
A part of me will always be that curious student,
Sitting in a one-on-one class in Cebu,
Trying to find the right words—and being met with patience, encouragement, and a smile.

3D isn’t just a language school.

It’s a place that stays with you.

Even after five years.