“Hindi nga ako nakapag-boyfriend eh sa sobrang busy ng buhay. Tumanda ka na lang na parang iniiwasan mo ‘yung lovelife ‘di ba para maka-focus ka sa work at sa marami pang bagay.”
A University of the Philippines graduate recently shared her journey after she was able to receive her diploma after almost two decades.
Helweena Barrientos Sadorra said she got accepted in the university in 2000.
“Pumasok ako ng UP, 2001. Nakapasa ako ng UPCAT, 2000. Hindi ako pinayagan ng parents ko na pumasok ng UP diretso dahil hindi nila ako kaya pag-aralin,” Sadorra told The Philippine STAR.
“‘Yung tatay ko sinitdown niya ako, sabi niya anak hindi ko talaga kaya. Naintindihan ko siya na siguro hindi niya mapapanindigan kasi, parang ang gusto niya kung support niya ako, siguro full support. Pero alam niyang hindi kaya especially noon na may dalawa pa akong mas batang kapatid,” she added.
Sadorra then enrolled in a college institution in Cagayan Valley for a year since her parents did not allow her to stay in Manila.
“Isang taon kong kinukulit ‘yung tatay ko noong nasa Cagayan ako na payagan mo ako, kahit mag-working student ako. Winarningan na niya ako noon na “anak mahirap mag-working student especially kapag kumikita ka na ng pera,” she recalled.
When her father allowed her to study in Manila, her aunt supported her so she can enroll at the University of the Philippines.
“Ang dala ko lang papuntang Manila noon, P500. Imagine, paano ako papasok ng UP and first time ko rin ‘yon na mag-live alone. Noong nag-aaply na ako, ang gusto ko sana educ pa rin or journ, kaso lang sinabi sa’kin sa registrar, “Alam mo mahihirapan ka na makapasok kasi ‘yung average mo, hindi siya kasing taas noong mga kalaban mo.” Bigla niyang in-introduce na, alam mo sa Filipino department ka kaya? Wala siya sa plano ko,” she shared.
Due to poverty and her eagerness to continue studying despite financial problems, Sadorra took several sidelines while studying to sustain her daily needs.
“Mahirap talaga ‘yung pagsisimula ko sa UP pero maraming mabubuting tao na tumulong sakin, nakapasok naman [as] student assistant, research assistant, registration assistant. ‘Yung tita ko sa Fairview, meron siyang pwesto sa palengke, so ‘yon tumutulong ako sa pagtitinda ng isda,” Sadorra said.
“Talagang lunch lang minsan, isang beses lang sa isang araw. Mag-aaral ako sa umaga tapos sa hapon magtatrabaho ako. Sa gabi, hanggang alas dose ng gabi ako nasa library. Kasi wala akong pangpa-photocopy ng libro,” she added.
Sadorra tried to juggle studying and her different jobs for several years. But it was just this 2022 that she went all in to finish her degree.
“Narealize ko nanaman na gusto ko talagang magturo sa regular school, maging teacher na with a diploma. Noong nagdedecide ako bumalik para tapusin nanaman ‘yun kasi pabalik-balik ako, kaya siya student Emeritus kasi hindi kagaya ng iba na nag-leave for a long time tsaka lang bumalik, ako pabalik-balik talaga ako kasi nag-aattempt talagan akong tapusin. Ang equivalent noon, I have to always appeal. Kapag nag-aapeal kasi sa UP, kailangan mong i-prove ano ‘yung merit mo,” she explained.
“Ang laging shortcut ko kapag tinatanong ako bakit nagtagal ka? ‘Nagtrabaho ako.’ Pero it’s not as simple as nagtrabaho lang. ‘Yung tingin kasi ng iba, ‘Pasaway ka na estudyante ‘no?’ Hindi naman. ‘Pag sinilip po ninyo ‘yung transcript ko, maganda naman po ‘yung records ko,” she added.
After 18 years, she achieved her dream of getting a degree. She also hopes to inspire the public that age doesn’t matter in going back to school.
“Hindi naman talaga dapat maging sukatan ‘yung diploma for success. Kasi madami nang nag-succeed without a diploma. But, if you think you really need it and want it, whether that’s for the field, or for your own ano din, fulfillment, then fight for it,” she stressed.
“I faced that with courage and faith na kakayanin ko ‘to kasi gusto ko talaga ng diploma, dahil alam ko mas marami akong magagawa, hindi lang para sa sarili ko, pero para sa mga pwede kong maturuan,” she added.
