Journey
As an idealistic Filipino, I have always led myself to believe that I am meant to create and achieve great things and to leave a good path for others to follow. I have always nurtured a vision for an intentional life built on the basic values and beliefs I have learned from my family. An intentional life built by paying attention to what others need of me and what I can do to offer.
If given the chance to live another life and if given the opportunity to choose whom I want to live my life with, there is nothing I would change. My father and mother who both led a very hard life before my siblings and I took our first steps in this world instilled in us the values and the principles in life we now hold. They have given us love and the shot to live a good life which they themselves were not able to have.
I hail from the island of Leyte in Central Philippines. I have a loving and close-knit family, a devout Roman Catholic and a patriotic Filipino. I was born on the 26th of September 1982 to my father who is now a retired law enforcer and my mother who is a housewife. I am blessed to have an elder sister and two younger brothers. Despite the meagre salary of my father, my parents were able to pull our family together through personal sacrifices and sheer hard work by augmenting the family income with backyard hog-raising thus making both ends meet. As strong believers in the promise offered by having a good education, my siblings and I were sent to the best private school in our locality; we were able to study in the best university in Central Philippines, the University of San Carlos in the hopes that we will not share the same fate they had. To repay my parents for all the sacrifices they made for my sake, I studied hard and persevered despite the ominous challenges that awaited me, reason why I always made it to the Honour roll every year despite scant resources.
The road that I have walked on has never been that smooth. But somehow, with the aid of God’s grace, I was able to withstand it all. The first steps I made so happened when a mentor of mine was able to recognize my potentials. I joined an interschool competition illustrating our awareness in current events. I was able to bring home the bacon that time. Ever since then, I allowed myself to be challenged. There were times when I was able to nail it. And sometimes, Luck was not on my side. Those events moulded my personality, made me persevere and not crack amidst the tight face of competition. Those events gave me the willpower to face life. More than that, it gave me the realization that in order to give meaning to my existence, I must bring myself to a much higher echelon.
During one of my journeys, I recognized my affinity for Chemistry. My inquisitive mind pondered on the why’s and how’s. Living in a community where there are people that can barely put something on their dinner table. I indulged in the noble idea of being able to help out. I took up Chemical Engineering in the hopes I could build my own industry later on in life which can benefit my community.
As I opened myself to the world, I was able to meet a lot of different personalities. I interacted and I got to learn more. Some just passed by, others became dear friends of mine. I joined an organization in college; the university’s Chemical Engineering Club which I thought could help me out by providing me inputs about the course I was taking. Unfortunately, it turned out the other way around. I became a president of a troubled organization which could not function due to lack of funds and a member decline. However, I just took it in stride and considered it as another challenge. I took the responsibility humbly, managing and presiding while at the same time b
When I got to work as a budding Chemical Engineer in the Philippines, I displayed the same zeal and passion I had while I was still a student, putting into mind the values my parents instilled in me. I worked hard and I was able to deliver with my counterparts. My performance was brought to the attention of my superiors. Within a short span of time, I rose from my ranks.
Then, something came up, Taiwan. Eager for more knowledge and keyed up to step outside into the world, I risked everything for a Postgraduate scholarship in NTUST. The opportunity which I now enjoy has given me the chance to further the cause of Chemical Engineering and at the same time embrace a different culture from my own. It was a difficult decision in my life but the best decision nonetheless. I have never regretted making that choice for Taiwan has been very good to me.
I don’t know where I shall be headed next, but one thing is for sure I will always be eternally grateful to the people of Taiwan. If given the opportunity to pay back the kindness bestowed on me, I shall do it with the same zeal and passion which have become an inherent part of me.
The journey of a thousand miles was made, but one thing is for sure... it will not end there.
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