Late na ba? Sana hindi pa.
As I walked down the aisle holding my diploma, I wondered what my next step would be. Should I celebrate, or not? Celebrate in a way that would repay my brother for sacrificing his own career. Not because he was supposed to be the one celebrating, having earned his degree two years ago.
Maybe my story isn't epic, but I hope it's something I can cherish.
Initially, I aimed for Latin honors. Yes, I did. To make my family proud, to feel worthy of my brother's sacrifice, and to avoid taking the Civil Service Examination. But later, I realized life is unpredictable.
Since elementary school, I walked kilometers to attend classes. Always late, with scrapes and bruises, or with puffy eyes from crying. I thought things would improve in high school, but it was much the same. The difference was that I started aiming higher, bringing home medals and certificates. This continued in SHS, with the same routine but more responsibilities. I did my classmates' assignments, worked on projects for others, and even took on dressmaking. That was me.
In college, I took multiple entrance exams and passed them all. However, my decision was, "Kung diin Ang pwede ko lang malakat kung Wala ko plete ah." Initially, I never thought I'd go to college because of the pandemic. It was only because of the pressure—someone wanted to finish his degree, but it was given to me instead. The burden of that pressure was immense.
I became a dean's lister, with a GWA of 94-something. During the pandemic, I could focus, staying up late to study and answer my teachers' questions.
Then came face-to-face classes. I started well, as it was blended learning. But when we shifted to a full face-to-face setup, the old routine returned. I started borrowing money from friends, taking on jobs they didn't know about, just to survive. Sometimes they'd invite me to lunch, but I'd refuse because I couldn't afford it. I started depending on others' help. I lost my focus, my path. I got an 85, a grade far from what someone aiming for Latin honors should get. I doubted myself, wondering if I should just stop and work to pay off my brother's school debt.
It was too late to recover. I fell, and it took time to get back up. I lost everything: friends, my eagerness, and the Latin honors I'd aimed for. Yet, here I am, with a degree. Finally! Lord, thank you for sustaining me until now. This is for you.
To Ma'am Ma Corazon Sedeño and Dr. Junalyn Canoy Libiran , thank you for helping me realize that dropping out of school wasn't the answer to all my problems. Thank you because of you, I became a scholar.
To Tatay Doc Elias Elias and Miss Madilen Sario , thank you for your guidance.
To the Guidance and Welfare Center, Sir Ads Azael Bianchi , Miss Alizah Mae O. Mahinay , and Miss Rae Lausa , thank you for welcoming me to your office whenever I needed you, even when I cried because I was overwhelmed or tired. You know how it is, miss and Sir. Hehe.
To the Administration Office, who adopted me, thank you so much.
To the COED staff and faculty, thank you for your small acts of kindness. They meant so much to me. Thank you also for your encouragement to overcome everything. Dr. Reyan Bantolo Ballaso Dr. Maria Milagros Lizades , Miss Aubreylyn Jance Somogat .
To Jane and Lovely, thank you for being there for me when I cried so often. My vice and my secretary.
To Crazy Fluorine (Nelfred, Gween, Flora, Zaniayah, Joselle, Yuri, Joseph, and Bea), thank you for being my support system during difficult times. You will always be a part of my college journey.
To my student leader manangs, thank you for trusting me and inspiring me that in service, students should always be the priority, even more than our struggles and sometimes even our happiness.
To Larry, Rachelle, Rizza, Regine, Mikha Felmar, Jenny, and Glennly you were there when no one else was. Thank you so much.
To the Poda Family, who welcomed me as one of your own, thank you so much.
Miss devie, sir Ric. Miss Ghie Gildo thank you sa mga sponsor niyo. Graduate na gid man.
To my family, thank you.
To my brother, thank you for your sacrifice. This is for you. Your turn next. But I'll still need to find a job.
To everyone who believed in me, and to those who didn't, here I am.
Abegail D. Pangan
BSED- English
🎖️Institutional Service Awardee
🎖️Institutional Leadership Awardee
🎖️ Presidential Citation- The Inner Compass: Peer Counselors Club
🎖️ Top 10 Finalist- The Outstanding Student Award-2025
🎖️Youth Leadership Excellence Awardee
🎖️The Inner Compass Stewardship Excellence Awardee
🎖️The Inner Compass Culture Champion Awardee
🏅 Service to the Department- The Inner Compass
🏅Service to the Department- BCC SDRRMU
🏅 Service to the Department- YUHOM
🏅Service to the Department- CSG
🏅Service to the Department- College of Education
🏅Service to the Department - Working Bee's
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