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Every hardship and sacrifice is entailed with a great prize
received after every necessary thing was learned.
Rendy
Student, Boso-Boso Elem. School, Antipolo City,
Rizal, Philippines
Rendy’s every step is his building-block to
reach his dreams. His priceless perseverance and
determination are his key to be a lawyer
someday. And now, he believes that his walk to
his second home can bring him to the peak of
achievement.
As we went to explore the remote
mountains of Rizal, Phlippines we have realized
little things which are not noted as typical
students. As early as the rising sun, we have
witnessed their determination to pursue learning
through schooling. Their school – a
semi-concrete constructed structure, composed of
rooms not more than twenty. In these four
corners of their room, dreams were made. Upon
witnessing their sacrifices, our desire to
quench our thirst in helping these students who
take miles of distance for the opportunity to be
educated was enliven. We have witnessed their
desire to learn. They are longing for a better
future, and they regard education as their
building-block in constructing their dreams.
Rendy, a third grader caught our
attention. While having an enjoying time playing
with his friends and classmates, we approached
him. We curiously asked him questions and he
answered innocently. We asked him why he studies
and answered “To learn and finish my studies in
able to help my parents.” Prior to his response,
we even got curious. We asked him to tell the
whole story behind his answer. He has to wake up
early in the morning, about five in the morning.
Take a walk to their school. Busted shoes, along
with their tainted school uniforms; they are now
equipped to take miles of distance, with an
allowance of five pesos a day. All of this is
his desire to be a lawyer someday and help his
parents. His mother doesn’t have work, while his
father earns money though scrap metals, adequate
enough to support their schooling. He has
brothers and sisters who are now pursuing their
college education. In spite of this unadorned
and poor life, he has a positive outlook in
life. Trying to avoid looking forward or
backward, but trying to keep looking upward. He
actually enjoys schooling and never thought
about the problems he and his family encounters.
After a whole-day class at school, he helps his
parents by fetching water which is distant from
their house. His frail arms must fetch water. In
his little way, he is pleased to know that he
can help his parents. Whenever there are no
classes, he cleans their house. Being contented
in a life they have shows the secret of
contentment. The secret of contentment is
knowing how to enjoy what they have, and be able
to lose all desire for things beyond their reach
because they know that someday they are enable
to reach those in time – through schooling. His
innocent answers have touched our egotistic
consciousness.
In spite of this, they even find
schooling as a leaning journey wherein they are
pilgrims who seek for their development. Their
parents earn meager amount of money, enough to
support their daily needs. Unfortunately, he
didn’t know if he can still pursue his tertiary
education after taking the basic curriculum
because their small village can no longer
support this need of every child by building a
state university which offers free education.
Poverty had deprived the opportunity to be
educated from him. His parents still have to
send him into cities in order to be educated, he
actually feel sad about it. If we could just
help them pursuing their dreams, if we could
just serve as their blocks to reach their
ambitions. In point of fact, we aren’t there to
give any support but sharing their story helps
us. They serve as an inspiration for us. This
simple interview widened my insight about
education. Education should not be taken for
granted, appreciate even this little thing for
there are millions of students who were left
uneducated.
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