Hours of yugyugan and siksikan. For the fortunate, it could mean a night at a local bar where all the college socialistas gather and mingle with one another. Partying ‘til they drop, maximizing all the time in the world, since tomorrow, they only have their afternoon classes. Perhaps, it is a cliché moment for the students studying in the prestigious universities such as La Salle and The Ateneo. But for me, it’s the hustle and bustle of the jeepneys in Quiapo. It is music in my ears, and I enjoy seeing many people and strangely, even hearing the stressful noise on my way home.
My name is Nancy, taking up B.S Education major in English at De La Salle University. But unlike any other La Sallistas, I don’t have my own car, neither do I have signature clothing and shoes because to tell you the truth, my clothes were just bought in my favorite ukay ukay in divisoria, and my old shoes were just given to me by my ninang Melba since her daughter already bought a new pair.
My friends are so proud of me, for the courage I have to have chosen a school like La Salle, considering the fact that my dad is a school janitor in there, and my mom is just a plain housewife taking care of my other six siblings. I know for sure you are wondering how are we able to pay the tuition. I pay the tuition, by being a working scholar.
I have classes from 7 am ‘til 12 noon, after eating my favorite binalot (fried galunggong no less!) I head to the library to take my shift. “OFF TO WORK!!!” I often say with a smile on my face as I also enjoy being in the house of knowledge. I never saw my work as work, because for me, it is a privilege to be inside the library for 5 hours.
I was blessed to have been chosen as one of the recipients of the scholarship. I know that some raise an eyebrow every time they see me, wondering how long am I going to hold on to my fantasies of actually graduating to one of the best (and most expensive) schools at this condition. I never got affected, not because I have thick skin, but because, my dreams of helping my family be in a better financial state is a weapon strong enough to face the endeavors of college life.
People think I’m less fortunate, because I don’t experience the things most of my classmates do. But as I see it, I am more than blessed to appreciate the little things in life that most people ignore. I have a mom that always supports me morally. A dad that does his best to feed us three times a day, and six little brothers and sisters that make my days by either annoying me or making me laugh after a long school day.
It’s not a matter of who has a bigger bank account, or who has a better ride. It is a reality in life that tells us the bigger dreamer has the better capacity of having a better future.
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