Believe it or Not... But You Must Believe!! :-)

I am poor.

I am shy.

I am a slow learner.

Oops! I hear you… “Why do you think you are?”

Well then, let me tell you why.

I am poor. Unlike other students that were totally excited for tomorrow’s class (not because of lessons to learn) but because of their chance to buy something (new personal stuffs), to eat what they want, to go somewhere after class (gimiks) and so on… I’m always afraid of tomorrow, not because of reporting nor another graded recitation. I fear of not having any cents for tomorrow’s class. Meaning I won’t be able to buy even a single candy for lunch break! I still remember my Lola way back then. With a brave heart she goes to the neighbor to borrow money for me. I know you are asking “Don’t I have any parents to support me? Of course I have parents and I live with them…but not right to tell you here…it’s another story.

I am shy. Well, I think I was born to be shy… I have that kind of feeling ever since. I actually hate reporting! Students out there, I know you know what kind of tense it brings. And I hate that feeling.

I am a slow learner? – I know you think I’m kidding. But that’s how I describe myself. It’s really hard for me to catch up on our lesson. If ever I did, well that’s a miracle. I used to review every lesson when I get home. If I’m not yet satisfied I’ll give it a final look before bedtime. I even experienced hitting myself. Because I hate myself every time I forgot what I had reviewed.

Fortunately, that was before.

Today I don’t consider myself poor. I can buy what I want now. Needs and even wants. I’m able to help somebody too when ever I have an extra money. Geeeez!!! That’s the feeling I wanted before. Happily contented and not fearing of tomorrow.

I don’t consider myself shy anymore. As a matter of fact I love reporting in front of the class which made me think I can be a teacher someday. I already finished my four -year-course. (BSEd- Major in Filipino) I graduated with Outstanding Performance during Internship Award and as a Cumlaude, yes, that’s the slow learner girl before with the itsy bitsy common sense.

You see? Anyone can change according to what they want their self or their life would be.

You know Henry, John and Lucio? I really love their stories (as I have read in Bo’s book)

Henry Sy came to the Philippines from China as a young 12-year-old boy with no wealth to speak of except the shirt on his back and the slippers on his feet. At that young age, he worked in a sari-sari store 12 hours a day. Today, he owns 27 SM malls all over the country- with 1.6 million people passing through them every single day.

That’s incredible right?

John Gokongwei, at the age of 15, was a simple market vendor. He was the youngest market vendor at that time, riding his bicycle, carrying soap, candles and thread. He’d sell them to one customer at a time, face-to-face, belly to belly. He never graduated from college. Today John Gokongwei is a multi-billionaire and owns Cebu Pacific, Sun Cellular, Robinson’s and a host of other businesses.”

Wow!

Lucio Tan? Same story.  Arrived from China absolutely poor. Never finished college too. But look at him now. He owns Philippine Airlines, Philippine National Bank, Allied Bank, Eton Properties, etcetera.”

That’s great!

“It’s never one’s destiny to be poor. You may have been born poor but you don’t have to stay poor.”

We’re not victims of fate.

“ NO ONE IS A VICTIM UNLESS YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE ONE.”