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A Dream Come True

I have a new friend here in read.cash named @Eirolfeam2 . She had raised a question yesterday in one of her articles. And I gladly participated by commenting about it. Her question goes like this: What is your greatest challenge that you have encountered in your life? Please allow me to share to you guys my answer to her question by telling you my story. God bless as you read. My alma mater is a state college situated inside the base camp of the Philippine Air Force. It is an aeronautical school they say that lacks aeronautical facilities. A small yet a very controversial school.

"Hey, what's the name of your school?" Students from other colleges and universities usually raised. "PHILSCA." Replied the PhilSCAnian. "PhilSCA what???" Yes, it is a not so popular school. Infact, some sarcastically said that it is a school that is left behind by human civilization. But I tell you, it is where my world turned upside down- a place which proves that dreams do come true.

I was raised in a poor family. We are an islander. My schooling life belongs to those who study in a **weather-weather* basis***.*** If *Papa* had a good catch of fish, then I can go to school with *baon.* But if not, then I go empty handed.

During my elementary years, I went to school with a fifty centavos in my pocket. And for a food fanatic child like me, fifty centavos is a mortal sin. So here's what a young mind told me to do- during lunch break I would rush towards my *Lola's* house which was just half a kilometer away from our school. And when I am almost there, I then walk on tiptoe and my eyes on red alert status, carefully scanning the whereabouts of my grandparents. If they are inside the house unaware of my presence, then the *operation-get-guavas* starts. I get as many ripe guavas I could and then I brought it to school and sold it to my classmates. I was in second grade that time.

My play stage ended when I reached high school because my father started the rigid training for me. The goal was to catch as many fish I could. *Papa* wasn't able to finish elementary but he was an aspirant of Charles Darwin's *survival of the fittest* principle. He once handed to me the bamboo pole and he told me to pilot the boat. I followed as instructed. Unfortunately, I haven't befriended the wind and the waves that time and so both suddenly struck the boat without informing me. Consequently, I lost my balance then whooops!!! Splaasssh!!! In the seawater I went. My father was all laughs, he said, "Hey, don't be too excited the fishing area is still over there not here."

One time, my father and I went fishing together despite the weather's disapproval. It was a must because our cooking pot was already crying- he (the cooking pot) miserably missed the rice grains and the fire. As usual I was the one piloting the boat. I have mastered doing it this time. But the boat hardly moves because of the VFA. Oh no, not the Visiting Forces Agreement but the Velocity Forces Agreement of the wind, the sea current, and the waves. Nonetheless, I still managed to reach our destination- the fishing area.

When Papa saw a school of fish, he jumped off the boat and initiated the chase. Unfortunately, I was left on the boat unaware of the menace of being alone in the midst of untamed weather. The angry VFA started to strike hard and I found struggling in maneuvering the boat. I paddled hard... I was paddling for my life but my effort proved futile. The wind, sea current, and the waves joined forces together in dragging me away from my father. I could not help it any longer. Tears started to roll on my cheeks. I was paddling while crying and that was the turning point of my life. With full conviction and resolution, I told my self that I will never ever stay this way. I will get a college education no matter what.

Since that time, the passive student became active. From the slow learner class I was promoted to the fast learner section. To help finance my studies, I woke up early dawn to drive passengers to their desired destination through our pedicab. I resumed to driving after class too. My effort paid off and I have finished high school.

I opened up to my mother about my desire for further education but she was just silent- that was a defeaning silence to me. They were willing to send me to college but they can't afford it. But no, my decision was already firm. I went to the city on my own. I did not know the whereabouts of the universities and the colleges there. But who cares? This is my dream, I will fight for it! I went from school to school asking directions from strangers. I talked with school administrators and guidance councilors begging for a scholarship but all of them just turned me down.

One day, a high school friend told me about PhilSCA. He asked me to pay the school a visit. I did and when I was there I surveyed the school bulletin boards hoping to see posters or ads about scholarship. I found none. Frustrated, I decided to leave but then a tall and a slim guy positioned to post something. I took a peep and Good Heavens granted my wish. Indeed, they were looking for working scholars. Then exam and interview ensue and with the aid of the Divine Providence, I qualified. PhilSCA is a dream come true to a not so fortunate dreamer like me.

I hope you have enjoyed reading my story. How about you? What is your success story?

**weather-weather -* a Filipino colloquial term which means unstable. **Papa*- father **baon*- snacks **Lola*- grandmother **PhilSCA*- Philippine State College of Aeronautics @rgPhotography "Telling stories through the LENS."

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