Hirap now, ginhawa later!

"HIRAP NOW, GIGINHAWA LATER!"

I've waited years para masulat ko to. Tuwang tuwa ako pag makabasa ng mga inspiring graduation stories before. I actually ended up crying, nadadala ako lagi sa story. Now, I'll grab this opportunity na ishare din yung story ko. I want to inspire other people like what I felt before.

Minsan lang to, kaya sulitin ko na. Stop reading now kung tamad ka magbasa.

Noong 2012 lang kami lumipat dito sa Manila. I'm a proud Bisaya! Tubong probinsya ng Zamboanga Del Sur. Di kaagad ako nakapag-aral nung andito na kami sa Manila due to financial problem. Actually, 2 years din akong stop! Pero within those 2 years, diko sinayang yun! Ayokong tambay lang ako sa bahay. Gusto ko may gagawin ako. Kasi para sakin, bawat segundo mahalaga.

At the age of 16, naging tindero ako ng sapatos sa may Cartimar Pasay. It was my 1st job dito sa Manila. Hindi ako masyadong nahirapan kasi sinanay nako ni mama sa province before. Nagtitinda ako dati ng isda after ng klase ko nung high school. Kapag weekends, nagtitinda ako sa pwesto ng tita ko. Dun kami nabubuhay, sa pagtitinda ng isda. It was then I realized na kapag magsusumikap ka, may aanihin ka.

At that time, super gusto ko na talaga mag aral. As an initiative, I have decided to be a working student. I wanted to be independent and at the same time, para mabawasan nadin yung gastusin sa bahay. Naalala ko pa dati, lagi akong nagdadasal na sana makapagtrabaho at makapag aral ako. God never fail to answer my prayers- dininig nya yung panalangin ko!

Out of 10 resumes na pinasa ko sa mga fastfoods around Divisoria, only one employer texted me for an examination. I almost lose hope that time kasi halos 3 weeks nadin bago ako tinext. I asked God to guide me all the way, and He never fail me again. I was hired as a Service Crew / Front Counter at McDonald's 168 Mall Divisoria.

After 8 months of working in McDo, nakapag-ipon na ako. I enrolled at EARIST Manila at ayun tuloy tuloy na. Pinagsabay ko both studies at work ko sa McDo! At first, sobrang hirap pala. Pagka out mo galing sa duty, sobrang nakakapagod. Pero instead na magpahinga kana, magrereview ka muna. Acads is life eh! Minsan nakatulugan ko nalang mga notes ko. May time rin na habang naka duty ka, yung isip mo nasa lessons parin na i-exam kinabukasan. Most of the time, pag diko na talaga kaya magreview after ng duty ko, sa jeep nalang ako nagbabasa ng notes. I actually cried out secretly kasi gusto ko na bumigay. But then again, naalala ko mga pangarap ko. "Pwede magpahinga pero bawal sumuko!" Yan ang motto ng mga working students. From 1st year to 4th year college, yun lagi routine ko hanggang sa nasanay na.

Yes, I'm an achiever simula kinder, elementary at high school. Kaya nung nag college na ako, I really prioritized my acads. I also involved myself to some extra curricular activities. Gusto ko maovercome yung fear ko sa crowd. Tinry ko mag MC sa mga seminar namin sa school. At first, may mga tumatawa. Kasi nga bisaya ako! May matigas accent talaga kami. Pero deadma lang, bakit ba? Little by little, nasanay nako humarap at kumausap sa maraming tao at nag sunod sunod narin yung pag e-MC namin sa mga school activities.

Despite of all the hardships, one thing that keeps me going is my faith to God. Sa masaya at malungkot kong araw, sya lagi kong nakakasama through prayers. Pero ika nga nila, "faith without action is dead." Which means wag lang tayo puro faith! Wag nating iasa lahat sa dasal. Kelangan din natin kumilos at magsumikap.

I am posting this to inspire and challenge the youth na kagaya ko na gusto mag-aral pero walang pampa-aral. Be brave to take risks! Pwedeng pwede ka mag working student. Maraming job opportunities na open ngayon sa government natin na pwede mong pasukan. Wag mong hintaying lalapitan ka ng swerte, dahil kung hindi ka gagalaw, talagang nganga ka! If ever you'll get a job, pahalagahan mo. Good thing now is that free tuition na to all State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). Tanging ang passion at driving force mo nalang talaga sa pag-aaral ang kailangan. The opportunity is being serve, grab mo na. Huwag mo na sayangin!

To all working students out there, saludo po ako sa inyo! It is a living testimony na dahil sa pagsusumikap natin, hindi lang tayo makakapagtapos ng pagaaral. But more than that, kaya pa nating mag excel sa mga acads at extra curricular natin. Sipag, tiyaga at pananampalataya. Yan tatlong yan ang tanging sandata natin sa laban. Gugulong pero gagraduate!

Success really entails sacrifices. However, this journey wouldn't be possible without the help and guidance of these following people.

To my family and relatives:
Mama Helen, Papa Joel, Ate Gladys ug sa akong mga igsoon, para ni sa inyoha! Thank you so much for your support and for believing in me. Thank you for inspiring me always!

To my mentors and former teachers before, thank you so much! Especially to Dr. Willy Gapasin at Prof. Ramon G. David. Thank you for your generosity sir.

To my McDonald's 168 Mall and KP Tower Family, salamat po! Sa mga nakakasama ko sa store, sa crews at managers. Kay Ma'am Maya, Ma'am Alpha, Sir Lodi Bernie at Sir Thamz, thank you po! Saksi po kayo sa buong college life ko.

To my OJT Families, thank you so much po! TTFC Classic Savory Family both in Accounting and Audit Department, thank you po. At sa Malayan Insurance Family lalo na sa Budget and Control Department, thank you so much mga Ma'am and Sir!

To my Molave Friends and Austra Family, thank you and I miss you all! Pati narin sa former teachers and classmates ko sa Molave Bliss Elementary School at Molave Vocational Technical School, thank you so much po.

To my college friends in EARIST and especially to GanGSS, mahal na mahal ko kayo mga beb! Boring ang college life ko kung wala kayo. Yakaaaap! Mwaaah.

Above all, to our Almighty Father! I will give back all the praises and honor to you Lord. Daghan kaayong salamat. Walay sukod imong kaayo Lord.

The battle doesn't ends here- another chapter opens and I welcome myself to the real world. It isn't a success yet. There are more sweet success to come, soon. But still, congrats self because you made this far! Ito na ang tunay na laban! Naghirap man tayo now, pero another opportunity opens para giginhawa tayo later.

"I have fought a good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7

To God Alone Be All The Glory!

--
PS.
The day I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior, He made me realized na wala sa galing, wala sa talino, at mas lalong wala sa sipag at tiyaga. Kundi nasa biyaya lamang ng Panginoon. Wala akong ibang itataas, kundi si Lord lamang. ♥️

BAGARES, JOHNEL UROT
BS in Business Administration
Major in Business Management
EARIST Manila
Class of 2018
PROUD WORKING STUDENT
CIVIL SERVICE ELIGIBLE
CUM LAUDE