From yellowish polo shirt to black suit.

I met this guy when I was in first year High School. He was my classmates and we were on section two that time. I witnessed how this guy being bullied because of his appearance. He's has no disability or anything but he was being bullied because he was poor. He was wearing a polo shirt that was totally yellowish and a shoes that looks so old that's why our bullied classmates always make fun of him. Back then I am neutral and I didn't speak up or meddle with thier actions. I am just one who observed them but keeps being silent.

I find him as a hard-working student even if there's a lot of intelligent student in class. I saw how he wan to be in top and he work for it. I love his confidence and I admire him for that. He was not ashamed with regards on his status in life and he was happy everytime he recieved a help. One day someone gave him a set of polo shirt and a pair of shoes and our teachers even speak to the principal to gave him scholarship that will surely help his study.

He was good at arts too and he used it to earn some penny. My classmates asked him to draw for them and then they gave him a penny. Sometimes two pesos or sometimes five pesos. Maybe it's a small amount of money but it can be a big help to him. He can able to buy a flavored drink or a sandwich that time.

The next school year came and we separated our ways. I became Section four and he remains on Section two. High School ended and the new journey waving at us.

In college , we enrolled in a same university but he's ahead on me that time because I stopped studying for a year because I choose to stopped taking up Biology. I enrolled in the university in our province and I saw him there. He was taking up Education and I am glad seeing him that he can able to continue college. I found out that he was a working student and he was working as an admin assistant in the registrar office of our university. He applied for different scholarship to support his study and in God's grace he graduated with a degree.

After all his hardworks from pursuing the degree, finally he was near on his dream. He applied of the licensure exam for teachers and then passed it for his first take. Everyone was happy because of it.

His dream of becoming a teacher came true and he even hired on a public school here in our place. I was also happy seeing him reaching his dreams and still admire him for his determination. Until one day I saw a post in Facebook that he will leave the country to work overseas as teacher also. No questions about why he needs to leave. It's all about the low salary of teachers here in the Philippines.

His career abroad was turned smooth also. He seems enjoying staying there and travel to every place. He was wearing a black suit as his uniform unlike when we were student that he wears a yellowish polo shirt.

A couple of days ago. I saw his post in Facebook reminiscing the days when we were in High School. He told a story happened when we were in High School where our classmates said he was cheating on our exams but he did not. Then I commented on that post asking who's that person because I no longer remember it. But he said he don't want to mention the guy but after a few minutes he messaged me and chatted the name of the guy but still didn't remember it.

This guy and I were not close or even friends who updated each other. He's like a batchmate to me but because of his story and admiration to him I randomly commented on his post. Now he went back to the Philippines and enjoyed the fruits of his labor by traveling different spots here together with his friends. I just thought of him a while ago while thinking of some inspirational stories that I can share here.

Being poor is not a hindrance if you want to finish study and my high school classmate proved that it's true. If you truly have a dream and you have determination and confidence that you will reached it then everything will be on your favor. I admire him because not all people will do what he did.