A millennial yet again proved that disability is not a hindrance to achieving one’s dream!
31-year-old Dianne Mendoza is a firm believer of the famous quote “never say die!” Because despite her disability and failing the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET), she did not give up and continued to persevere to become a professional teacher.
“No’ng unang bumagsak super stressed. Kasi parang, ang hirap. Pagod na pagod siya mag-aral. Parang, paano, paano siya papasa? Anong kailangan niyang aralin? Paano? ‘Yun nga, padalawang bagsak niya. Pero pagod na siya, umiiyak siya. Sabi niya, kailangan kong baguhin ‘yung plano para makapasa. Kailangan baguhin ko ‘yung way paano ako mag-review,” she told The Philippine STAR.
Behind her success was her supportive family that motivated her to continue aiming for her dream profession.
“Wow, nakayanan niya talaga.Na kami, ito normal, ‘di ba? Pero siya, nakayanan niya talaga. Doon ka talaga ma-aamaze. Kasi, ‘yung determination niya talaga na, kaya ko ‘to, kaya ko ‘to. At saka, sobrang talented niya,” her sister Kristel said.
According to her mother, Genebelle, they found out that Dianne was deaf when she was two years old.
“Sabi ko, bakit ‘pag ako’y naglalaba sa likod ng bahay, ‘pag mahangin, bumabagsak ‘yung pintuan. Hindi siya nagigising. Hanggang sa manganak ako sa pangalawa kong anak, si Princess Aimee. Tapos siya pala, ang salita niya lang nun, mama, mama. Tapos ang way niya ng pagsasalita, uh, uh, uh, uh,” she recalled.
“Severe as in, tinest siya, walang marinig talaga. Sa sobrang taranta ko, inakay na nila ako kasi parang pakiramdam ko, mababangga ako. Parang lumulubog ako sa kinatatayuan ko,” she added after sharing that they brought Dianne to a specialist.
Mommy Genebelle admitted that at first, it was hard to accept her eldest daughter’s condition, especially her husband was working abroad at that time.
Noting, “Sabi ko, Lord, bakit po ‘yung anak ko? Ano pong kasalanan ko? Umiiyak ako. Tumingala ako sa langit. Nag-pray ako.’Lord, ikaw na po ang bahala sa anak ko. Gabayan n’yo po siya. Hindi ko po alam kung ano po gagawin namin.’”
Their whole family then learned to use sign language to be able to communicate with her.
“It was normal naman. hindi lang namin siya parang napansin. Nag-enjoy pa nga kami kasi we got to learn ano din, sign language,” her younger sister Aimee said.
“Ang lakas talaga ng loob nito. Hanggang sa lumalaki na siya, nagiging responsableng ate na siya, nagiging responsableng estudyante,” Mommy Genebelle echoed.
Dianne first graduated with a degree in applied deaf studies, major in business entrepreneurship at the College of Saint Benilde in 2015.
After finding out her true calling, she enrolled at the De La Salle University-Manila for the Teacher Certificate Program.
After passing the board exam, Dianne wants to pay back to her community and teach to her fellow PWDs.
“Gusto ko lahat ng PWD mag-aral nang mabuti, magdasal. Mag-try nang mag-try. Kung bagsak man o hindi, mag-try lang nang mag-try. Kasi, kaya nila eh. Kaya nilang gawin. ‘Yung mga deaf, mga blind, pwede pa din silang mangarap na magiging teacher. Kasi nakikita ko na pwede silang tumulong, matulungan,” she noted.
