By way of introduction, at the age of 16, I took a leap of faith and embarked on a sinuous trail en route to transferring to the University of the Philippines Diliman soon after emerging out of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines with a General Weighted Average of 1.25 for a total of two semesters in my freshman year. Indeed, transferring to another school is easily punctuated by curvatures down the beaten road.
At the age of 16, I embarked on a trail towards becoming a news reporter, therefore pursuing Broadcast Communication at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Afterwards, I proceeded to the University of the Philippines Diliman where I was met with the good news of an opportunity to transfer there through their Communication Research program instead as the College of Communications Department already ran out of slots for the Broadcast Communication program. As a result, I proceeded to the University of Santo Tomas and continued my studies there. At the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, as freshman students, we were given assignments to book a tour inside GMA 7, giving us a glimpse of our opportunities as future media practitioners. At the University of Santo Tomas, as a sophomore student, I was offered the opportunity to become an actor for ABS-CBN but I declined out of my determination to become a TV reporter. Afterwards, I halted my schooling and focused on work opportunities for the next seven or almost eight years.
Since then, I’ve grown by leaps and bounds in all areas of my life and have also worn several hats to help my mom with her business and to gain an inch in the job sector such as by becoming a BPO employee for Sykes Asia Inc. and Concentrix, a real estate sales associate for Century Properties and Megaworld, an online freelancer (writer, leads generation specialist, etc.), and an ESL Teacher. I was also invited to the home of a Presidential Director for a direct selling company to his house at Valle Verde along my journey to discuss business. Indeed, education is a lifelong transformative thing.
I see the glass half-full most of the time. I’m a realistic optimist. I believe that the beauty of life is in the streams and rivers that rush past over rocks and stones, carving out tiny rivulets and valleys; in the mighty mountain ranges whose bases are filled with soil so rich it yields bountiful harvests, then rise high into waves of jagged rock before ending in snow-capped peaks. It is in the soft grass and rich soil of the plains which are home to countless creatures of all shapes and sizes, from great herds of animals whose hooves thunder through the land like an earthquake to birds that soar on currents of warm air above. It is in the vast stretches of deep, cold water filled with fish large and small, swimming or cruising through life at their own pace. It is in the forests that stretch for miles upon miles, and all their inhabitants such as the hungry bears or wolves who, after roaming through the forest for hours without locating any food, suddenly turn on their heels and set out in a different direction to hunt; it is in all of these things and more that life’s beauty can be found.
It is in the combination of flavors that make up a meal, each one complementing another to create one divine flavor; it is seen in small bits and pieces throughout our lives, such as when we laugh or smile at something funny or sincerely find ourselves smiling for no particular reason; such instances are life’s beautiful parts. It is seen in the moments of rest, such as when we can, at last, exhale after a long day, and so long as we are able to take that much needed rest and have time to analyze things from a calmer perspective, we all know that life’s beauty shines brighter than ever.
The endless possibilities for beauty presented to us throughout our lives are vast and as such are as limitless and beautiful as life itself. Life’s beauty is also found in the glistening droplets of water that trickle down the side of a water container, or on a petal’s surface through which it trickles down from a stem, or in the glittering droplets of sweat that run down a sprinter’s face. It can also be seen in the speckles of color that appear on a bird’s wing or tail. It can be seen in the varying hues that appear as two flowers blossom side by side or in the colors of a leaf contrasting against the pale green of a tree’s bark.
Apart from being a full-time BBA Learner, as for my personal interests, I also find fulfillment in volunteering my time and resources to help students from low-income families with their schoolwork, in volunteering my time and resources to feed the needy, in helping my mom with her business, and lastly, in nursing my private life such as traveling, listening to music and scrolling through social media.
As for my learning goals, I’m straightforward about my desire to become an official Nexford BBA graduate as I believe that the beauty of life can also be seen in the resolve to never give up, no matter what life throws at you. It is in the unrelenting perseverance of the sparrow as it lands on a windowsill to sing its song, and hop around before flying off to continue its journey. It is in the sheer tenacity of the willow as it stands tall and strong after being battered by gales and storms, against which it fights with every fiber of its being. It is seen in the resilience of the pine tree which even after being struck by lightning and hit by high-powered streams from falling trees above, still continues to grow branches that bend low and hard beneath the weight they bear and survive on until they are strong enough to stand firm against all impending storms and heavy winds. It is in the graceful swans that have learned to fly even through a raging storm. It is also seen when one realizes that even though life will bring many difficulties and trials, it will be worth it in the end once all these experiences are assimilated into our lives. It is also in the compassionate heart which beats for the underprivileged and neediest in their society. In conclusion, I’m also straightforward about my desire to travel the country afterwards before deciding to become a business owner.
I no longer desire to become a media personality after all of these years. I have also lost interest in climbing the corporate ladder despite the fact that my mom owns a corporation. I already find fulfillment with the joy, calmness and peace of mind that a simple house and our nine cats bring. I also find fulfillment in helping my mom with her business. As for what brought me to NXU, my mom and I attended the last Manila Event at the Ayala Museum, and we both agreed that it’s a good opportunity to acquire a degree while I’m traveling the country with her and also while I’m still living on my savings. As for why I’m excited for this class, I’m excited for this class because it renewed my mom’s hope to see me in a graduation attire after all these years.