Four of Kay’s classmates went to the house yesterday to do a project in one of the major subjects in school. I had previously met the two of them, the other two I had just met yesterday.
Today, I learned that the other two had already spent a year in other schools first then transferred to UP. Except for the one who had come from a prestigious school, the rest had their own share of sad stories. But I won’t go into details lest my daughter will be mad at me being a bigmouth.
“I can relate…,” was all I can say after hearing one of the stories that tell that a classmate was absent from school once because she didn’t have fare to go to school. Memories of my college days came like a flash. There were days I cannot go to school because money was only enough for food. I was a scholar but most of the time during my college days, the monthly stipend ran out before the month ended. (This is still with tears in my eyes reminiscing those years. :-(
Being in a desolate situation, anyone who’s trapped awaits a day’s end like a month, a month’s end like a year, and a year’s end like forever. It seemed there is no end to the sufferings and to the endless travails of a poor family. But I chose to have a path for myself. I chose to do something for my own life. And I did it alone because I don’t want to stay in such situations and be dragged into its web forever.
I wish Kay’s classmates and friends with sad stories the best in the future. ‘Ika nga, sa wikang Filipino, makabawi naman sana. I hope they will not be bound to thinking of doing things first for other people and neglect their own needs and happiness. I hope they will try to weave a beautiful life also for themselves. And I don’t think it is selfishness because how can one love others when he cannot love himself first?
I believe parents are greatly responsible to what becomes of their own household. Some parents are irresponsible enough to oblige their children to pay them back for the birthing, rearing, and schooling expenses they had for their kids. Some are selfish enough to leave their own children to other people’s care and gallivant and enjoy life like they don’t have responsibilities. Some are poor, weak, or ill to even dream for their children.
"...anyone who’s trapped awaits a day’s end like a month, a month’s end like a year, and a year’s end like forever."
ReplyDeleteI can relate, too.
These days, making ends meet is such a stressful thing. It'll be the death of me, really.
I can relate too Bing!
ReplyDeleteWhen i was in school here in the states, I worked two jobs and had to rummage through the discards from a grocery store in the mall where I used to do night security and maintenance work as well. Tuition was much too much and my rent was also taking a big chunk of my paycheck. i used to line unlabelled discarded can goods on my kitchen counter top and open them one at a time and come up with a menu for my meal with whatever I can get from the can goods. Tomato sauce, green peas, carrots, etc. But that was the past and everytime I look back to it, I have a big smile on my face and never tired of telling this story over and over because I survived college here and the experience made me stronger as a person.
Making the ends meet is always hard, di ba?
ReplyDeletethere's always hope for a better tomorrow but we also have to make wise decisions to get it. for me, this kind of hardship is a great driving tool in life.
ReplyDeleteYeah, sometimes I ask my self... "why are we so poor?" It is hard being poor. Thank goodness I my fathe havent thought of sending me to work yet.
ReplyDeleteit is such a stressful thing, HB, to be thinking always what it is for the next day.
ReplyDeletei always do that, noypetes - tell my children stories of my life during my college days. i am not rich today, but comparing it to the yesterday, i feel like a millionaire.
oo, kyels. one cannot feel the hardship if one has not experience being there.
a great tool indeed, evi. :-)
then you are not poor, mon. your father can still work for you and your siblings. :-) at di biro ang nursing.
Good post! Our experience always gives us something to look forward to - an inspiration. But in some people they get bitter with this experience. I think one way or another we had our shares of running dry. How we come out of it is life's big lesson.
ReplyDelete*Hey bing, surprise for you in my blog. If it's not yet there, check after sometime alright? :)
Hi Bingskee,
ReplyDeleteIndeed, all of us had challenging moments when we were still studying. I remember I have to sell newspapers and biko when I was a kid. And I remember going to school with just one way fare. But life is such a great teacher that it can mold us to become a better person. It does require, however, our choice. Some people I know who faced similar challenges we had ended up in jail
BTW, thanks for visiting my site :-D
These so-called "challenges" in life can be a real pain in the proverbial butt. But I guess it's life's way of separating the weak from the strong... survival of the fittest ika nga.
ReplyDeletehi, ipanema. thank you, thank you very much! never did expect that surprise.
ReplyDeletei'd like to think that how we come out of life's challenges is the measure of a man's character.
it is an honor to have you in my site, sonnie. thank you for returning the visit. been frequenting and reading your entries. and i am inspired, and awed. it is sad that people dont have the same attitude as we had in dealing with life's challenges.
hmmm... survival of the fittest, single? true, but in surviving we cant do it alone.
Bing, I admire you for -- 1) having the courage to share your own 'sad' story here; and 2) for rising above the situation.
ReplyDeleteI've never experienced how it is to be thinking where to get money to buy food or pay for transpo the next day. It must be very hard. But I do have friends who had been in that kind of situation. And although I could emphatize with them at that time, I guess it's just not the same as experiencing it yourself.
I have great respect for people who do what it takes to improve their lot in life.
I'm sure Kay's classmates will be okay, as long as they do their part.
thank you. :-D
ReplyDeletevery true, jayred. one can only emphatize. i believe that God did not give us our brain, our strength, and our talents and skills for nothing. whatever situation, one is in, with God's help, and with a person's desire to alleviate his condition, it is possible. he may not attain his biggest desire, at least he did something about his situation.
i hope then that they will their part. :-)
A lot of students nowadays goes through a lot in their lives. And I agree, the parents are greatly responsible for their upbringing. Just hoping as well that they get pass these as well as school. For sure sa mga pinagdaanan nila, mas magiging successful sila sa buhay.
ReplyDeletei believe it is so, ferdz, na dumadami na ang mga estudyanteng hirap sa resources to go to school. parents always play a big role. kung titingnan nila na positibo ang mga nangyayari, sila ay magtatagumpay pero hindi lahat ay ganoon ang pag-iisip at sitwasyon. :-)
ReplyDelete