“ My children, you are not created to be fat little ducks waddling in the mud, but to be like eagles destined to rise above and explore the kingdom of God.” These words of venerable Aloysius Schwartz have been my inspiration ever since I set foot in this prestigious institution. For me, this does not only apply to my life after our graduation but even before I come to know the Sisters of Mary School.
During my early years in Albay, I regard my life as that of fat little ducks emerged in constant strife in the mud and incapable of soaring beyond its own stature. I came into this world on the 24th of March in the year 2003. I am eight of fourteen children. My parents were devout members of our community and were good practicing Catholics characterized by active participation on religious activities. These traits of my parents had a great influence to us especially to our manners and discipline in dealing with other people. Most importantly, they serve as my role model in living a pious life.
However, as I grow up and become more aware of my environment, I realized that life was not just consist of four letters but thousands of constant struggles. At an early age I had to take part in my parents’ concerns for the household. I was about eight years old when I started to help my father with his works in the farm such as plowing the soil and growing root crops and other fruit-bearing plants. It was not so easy. Due to scarcity in food and money, I had to deal with laborious farm works under the baking heat of the sun to help sustain our daily needs. This was further intensified whenever a calamity, particularly a typhoon, struck our province which is prone to this kind of natural disaster.
Back then, I know that I am too young to be involved but I cannot stand seeing my parents almost unable to unwind just to meet our needs, especially food and education. There was a time when we really have nothing to cook, not even a cup of rice or several pieces of root crops. We have no choice but to borrow money from our relatives or ask for two or three cups of rice from my grandfather, sometimes cannot give for they are also in need. But how are we able to survive? Everyday my father would go for an errand, either working as a carpenter from which he earns three hundred and fifty pesos on daily basis. While I and my younger siblings would harvest anything valuable from our farm and set on foot from one door to another selling bundles of leafy vegetables or several kilos of sweet potatoes and corn. At the same time my mother supports our educational needs though the subsidies from the government programs. My elder brothers and sisters had to work in hardware and convenient stores for their secondary and tertiary education. I was ten years old when another crisis came to us. My younger brother accidentally drunk a flammable chemical which is placed on top of a small cabinet. There was no supply of electricity in our place at that time due to the destructions caused by the typhoon which I could hardly remember the name. Since our place was several miles away from the city, we had a hard time taking him to the hospital. Luckily my relatives had their own vehicles which they used as they rushed him to the hospital. For us who were left, we had to transfer to my uncle’s house for there is no one to look after us. In time my brother recovered but we had difficulty paying the hospital bills as well as my brother’s medication.
After all this, I thought I would not be able to finish my primary education. But in God’s grace I was able to graduate as valedictorian of our school-the Flores Elementary School. My parents were very proud of me and I am also very grateful to have supportive parents like them. My next goal is to find a scholarship for high school. It was on October in 2015 when I learned that a certain institution will conduct an entrance examination for incoming grade seven students. It was the Sisters of Mary school in Cavite which I came to know through a teacher in our school, Ms. Lea who is also a graduate of this institution. On April 4, 2016 I was admitted to the Sisters of Mary of Banneux, Inc. Upon seeing the school, I was greatly overwhelmed of its structure, rules, administration and mission. During my five years of staying inside the school, joined different organization.
During my five year stay inside the school; I joined different organizations which helping me improve my personality. As I stay here, I come to realize that I am not the only person who experiences difficulties in life but there are thousands of young people who struggle like me. However, I believe that students will never go out being the same as person before they enter here. In addition, we are educated for our future careers, we are dignified to become fruitful citizens of our country and we learned to be good leaders for the future generations. Few months from now, I will start taking the first steps of new life. I know that this school had equipped me to enter my dream career which is being a soldier. I want to extend my service to the whole country like what I have done while I am still here. I will no longer be like that fat little duck of my fast who is unable to soar up high because through the Sisters of Mary, I was able to have a clear picture of what I wanted to become and whar I want to do for the future. I am able to spread my wings and soar like the eagle described by Fr. Al.