This man had online classes in the morning and a part time job in the evening.
Warren started working every school vacation in 2018.
At that time, he was enjoying a minimum wage that helped him buy his essential needs. Not until the COVID-19 pandemic changed their family’s financial status.
He decided to stay in Manila to work as a part-time waiter at a restaurant in Binondo while attending his online classes.
“My family doesn’t oblige me na magwork talaga, I just want to be financially independent pero at the same time gusto ko ring makatulong sa kanila lalo nung pandemic. My mother and my father is also a waiter kaya fascinated po talaga ako sa mga restaurants po ever since,” Warren Dugay told the Philippine STAR.
Warren went through exhausting nights, trying to work and study at the same time.
“Umaga po, class ko po, online class tas pag gabi dun po ako nagpapart time. Siguro 2 hanggang 9pm ‘yung schedule ko doon sa part time po. Andun po ‘yung challenge na kailangan mong ibalance ‘yung oras mo sa pagtatrabaho mo –’yung sa pag-aaral po. Pero ‘yun naman po, nakaya naman po basta tamang paggamit lang ng oras tsaka pag-organize ng mga tasks mo,” he shared.
His salary helped him pay for his school expenses and daily needs at home.
“Hindi na po kailangan humingi sa kanila ng pera, ‘yung dapat na iniipon na pambili, pinambibili nalang nila ng makakain naming,” he said.
Warren’s sacrifices and hardships finally paid off! He graduated cum laude at the Tarlac State University with a degree in BSBA Marketing Management.
His family couldn’t be happier about his newest achievement!
“Nararamdaman ko po na proud po talaga sila. Sa buong family ko po, sa side po nila papa ko, ako lang po talaga ‘yung first na nakapagtapos ng with degree po kaya super natutuwa po, lalo na po si lola ko na nagpalaki po sakin and also my mother po napakasaya po niya lalo na si father ko,” Warren shared.
Warren is still working as a waiter while applying for a regular job.
He said he decided to share his journey on social media to inspire other people to continue fighting for their dreams.
As of writing, his TikTok video has already garnered more than 300,000 views on social media.
“Kapag may ginagawa ka, you should know na kailangan magfocus ka lang sa sarili mo, sa goal mo at hindi dun sa sasabihin ng ibang tao. Lahat po sa mga katulad kong part time student, minsan ‘yung buhay na pinapangarap natin, hindi sang-ayon satin. Tandaan po natin na walang imposible sa taong may pangarap po. Minsan madadapa tayo pero let’s always use that as a challenge to overcome our limits,” he stressed when asked about his message to fellow working students.
