Kung may sipag at tiyaga, paniguradong may nilaga. Take note, napakasarap na nilaga.
When we were young, the age of twenty seems to scare and excite us. It’s really “Goodbye childhood, Hello responsibilities” kind of idea that we have instilled in our minds back then. But now that we’ve reached this peak, being 20 turns out to be nothing but just numbers reminding and pressuring us of all those fleeting dreams we have had once upon a time. We’re already at 20, but here we are, undignified as ever.
But for Ana who’s already having her Master of Science in Industrial Economics, being young and 20 is never a hindrance in trying her best to achieve her dreams all at once.
Ana was never shy to admit that she belongs to an indigent family; in fact she makes it as an inspiration to do better in life. She’s studying at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), which is one of the most expensive universities existing here in the Philippines. Albeit the fact that many believe on how physically, emotionally and financially hard it is to sustain your educational career in this university, this young woman proves that this speculation is wrong. She reveals her story about how she strives to maintain her status as a university scholar of UA&P despite all the circumstances. She’s focus and determined to achieve her goals and stay on the right track.
“Grabe! Minsan di na ako natutulog para lang magbasa ng mga papers, reviewers, modules, and other stuff, sobrang hirap kasi pagod ka na nga galing school and then paguwi mo sa halip na magpahinga ka, magbabasa ka na lang to be ready for your class tomorrow“.
She also recounted the time on when the opportunity of having to take her master’s degree alongside with her undergraduate degree came up knocking at her door one day.
“May offer kasi sa akin yung university when I was on my third year level, sabi nila if I am going to extend another year on my undergraduate degree, it will be equivalent to a master’s degree when I graduated so, I took the opportunity even if it will be an another ‘burden’ for me.
“Nagsimula kasi yun [offer] sa akin nung makita ng mga professors ko yung General Weighted Average (GWA) ko na almost flat one every semester, so far my highest GWA is 1.06. So, ayun binigyan na nila ako ng offer… sa una nga hesitant pa ako kasi another year na naman ng walang tulog kaso sayang opportunity so kinuha ko na.”
With all of her academic recognitions, Ana keeps her feet on the ground. Even if she is studying in a prestigious university like UA&P, she doesn’t brag about this as she always set her attention on how to make her family prosperous in life after she graduated.
This young woman has proven to us that with the combined passion and determination in everything that we do, being 20 will never just be a bland number. Instead, it will be a start of more opportunities and responsibilities that we shall embrace and welcome because in the end, it’s all worth it.
“Walang mahirap kung may pangarap.”
Philippine juanders 