IT’S graduation season, it’s the season for tears and celebrations. But most of all, it’s the season of inspirations.
If you think you have it bad, wait till you hear the story of those who have it even worse.
We’ve heard it before, in a quotation shared on social networks: "I cried because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.”
This graduate’s story is collective efforts in action.
This is what John Fritz P. Roslinda experienced as he completed high school at Panabo Christian School, Panabo City.
In his Valedictory Address, being the batch Valedictorian, during their Commencement Exercises on March 25, 2015, he recounted the the sad and happy moments he experienced with his classmates that made their high school days fulfilling and excited.
There were a lot of funny moments that sent the audience laughing out loud, but this soon shifted to gloom as he recalled the last two years in high school.
His father left and never returned forcing his mother to take on odd jobs, including laundry, just to keep him and his younger sibling in school and their body and souls together.
While before, all their education needs were provided for and more, in high school, there was barely enough to get by.
He was thankful for having neighbors and friend who helped them all throughout.
He was even more grateful to his classmates, teachers, and even school staff and administrators who would provide him his daily meal in school, which he described as a daily fiesta.
Countless times, his mother, Teofrida Roslinda, would visit the finance office promising to pay his tuition and other fees, but countless times too, she would break her promise on when she will pay. There was simply no money to speak of.
He had thought of quitting many times, but people around him would always convince him to keep on, graduate from high school, finish a course, and land a good job.
Then came JS Prom, the occasion that every high school student looks forward to. He broke down instead, in the middle of the practice, because he had nothing to wear on that night.
His teacher Sarah and his classmates came to the rescue once more and enabled him to attend.
Despite being poor, John Fritz knows that he is very blessed.
He is supported by everybody. He has a brilliant mind, a Math wizard and expert in drawing that is why he wants to be a Civil Engineer someday.
He passed entrance examinations and scholarships from Mindanao State University and even Davao Merchant Marine Academy where he was offered a Canadian scholarship but which he could not avail because he is still 15 years old.
This coming school year, he will be enroling at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) as a scholar of the Department of Science and Teachnology (DOST). This summer, he is also assured of a summer job sponsored by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the City PESO.
He holds no grudge for the father who left them, he said. He will still embrace and forgive him should he choose to show up.
His life guiding light is the verse in the Bible from Luke 1:37 which says, “For with God, nothing is impossible”