The Road

               to Success

SUCCESS STORY

“…to reach your dreams is like sailing at the largest and deepest sea in a stormy weather. It is like climbing a rose w/ many thorns. It is really an uneasy journey before you can taste that sweet resounding success. Thus, you must face the risk, feel the pain and taste the bitterness before reaching that pot of GOLD…”

-REFLECTION OVER THE FALLS

Kristine F. Badua

Ma’am Kelly born w/ cleft lip was loved by her parents so much that they have never let her feel she’s different. She is an intelligent and strong woman. She always take that she is normal and don’t have any defect. When she was in elementary she encountered how to be bullied by her classmates but she never allowed herself to be affected. “naaalalako pa nungtinutuksoakong classmate kohinabolkosiya at sasobrangbilisniyangtumakbonadapasiya at nataponang 2 kilongbigasnadalaniya at angginawako ay sinipakotalagahehehe” .

She is always top of the class and she remember what her teacher told her when she was in grade 1 “hindiakonagkamalisayo” when she entered high school in Bulan National High School she felt that not all the people would understand her condition and accept her for who she is. She experienced that even with her teachers. “Noon kasiisasamga project naming angi-record angboses at walaakong choice kundiang mag-comply dun kaya ginawako. At ngpinakingganyun, nagtawanantalagaangmga classmate ko. But despite of what happened I have never lost confidence and believed that if people could not accept me and that is not my problem anymore. I don’t want to punish myself for having this condition because if I do my life would be nothing.

When Kelly graduated high school she decided to continue her studies at University of the Philippines-Los Baños but her parents don’t like that idea but she insisted and told them that if she would study there whe won’t be able to achieve her goals in life. “Naalalako noon mag-eenrollpalangako, anghabangpila at nangmalapitnaakohindiakopinayaganna mag-enroll kasi 6 thousand angkailangankongbayaran at 1 thou langdalako. I asked the staff if I could talk to the head of the school and she allowed me and this is what I told him, Sir, maatimmo bang dahillangsahalagang 6 thou masisiraang future ko? SabikokasinponpagbumalikakongBulanhindinaakomakakapag-aral.” The head of the school was amazed and let Kelly enroll. Kelly didn’t suffer any discrimination when she was in college. She took up BS in Forestry and became active in different school organization.

Year 2001, she graduated at UP-LB she showed to everyone that she has succeeded in life despite of all the criticism and discrimination. Now, Kelly is the Department head of MENRO or the Municipal Environment Resource Office in the municipality of Bulan. According to Kelly, in life there are many challenges that you will encounter before you can taste the fruit of success and if you let other people to ruin your life, you will end up nothing. She said that the key to success is to believe in yourself more than anyone could, study hard, be strong, set your goals in life and most of all trust God that He always has the best plan for all of us.

from left: Abegael, Clariza and Ms. Kelly Tan

Mylene Formanes pose with Ms Kelly Tan

Reflections

          Success is getting what you want, believing in yourself and have positive thinking.

-Abegael Fuentes

          Success is the result of all the hardship that a person went through before they can harvest the fruit of their success.

-Clariza Lozano

Success is the achievement of one person who really deserves it.

-Maria Jienena Pojas

Success is when one has accepted defeat and gain lessons from it. Success also means achieving your dreams without taking advantage of others.

-Marie Royallyn Hany Guban