TWO young women showed that life's challenges is not a hindrance to fulfilling one's dreams.
Cherry Toledo and Wenilyn Sabalo, who graduated magna cum laude during the 106th Commencement Exercises of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), Saturday, March 30, have two different stories to tell about transcending beyond the tribulations of life and becoming the best version of oneself.
The journalist
Wenilyn always dreamed of becoming a journalist.
That's why when she was awarded a scholarship by the Department of Science and Technology to select any science courses in college, she had to turn it down. And there was no looking back.
From the moment she joined a sports writing contest in elementary, Sabalo was fascinated with how the news is processed.
Born and raised in Southern Leyte to a father working in construction and a home maker mother, Sabalo will do anything to make her family proud.
A self-described "naning," a neologism to the Visayan word, "naningkamot" or one who perseveres, she told SunStar Cebu that she has been the first honor of her class from Grade 1 to 4th year high school and has received several awards and scholarship, notably from the Commission on Higher Education.
And as if like a culmination to her academic excellence, Sabalo graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
"I am very grateful that my efforts finally paid off," Sabalo said.
But life wasn't always easy for Sabalo.
Moving from Southern Leyte and leaving her family behind was the hardest decision she had to do.
"I experienced loneliness and culture shock in Cebu," Sabalo said. "It was way different from where I grew up where literally, you know each face that pass by."
Sabalo sees independence as a way for her to find herself and broaden her perspective in life.
During her stay in USJ-R, she rose to become the president of the Josenian Journalism Axis. She was also the editor-in-chief of the official trimedia publication of the Department of Journalism and Communications of USJ-R, The Purveyor Publication.
To further test her skills in news writing, Sabalo had her internship in SunStar Cebu. Knowing the pressures of working in SunStar, risk-taker that she is, she gladly took on the job.
Her experience in the field would then validate her want and need to be part of the media.
Her peers and editors in SunStar Cebu have seen in her the right energy of a reporter--smart, accurate and has the willingness to learn and to do the job.
And because of this, Sabalo was hired as a news correspondent for the daily newspaper, a huge leap to finally live her dream as a journalist.
"I am so blessed with the experience. The knowledge and experience I've gained will be ingrained with me when I work."
Sabalo sees herself as a lawyer ten year from now. But for now, she is doing what she has come to do: Spreading the truth to the masses and quashing disinformation.
Sabalo revealed that her formula to success is time management, discipline, prayer, never settling for mediocrity and, candidly, staying single.
"Journalism is a noble pursuit, it's just a matter of how to relay the cause to the people. People should know that journalism is more than just a job. You are walking through the corridors of power," Sabalo said.
The psychologist
Graduating with the highest honors in Saturday's graduation, Cherry Toledo is all gratitude.
Appreciation, especially to her parents, whom she considers as inspiration in spite of not being able to financially support her college schooling, is what Toledo holds in herself.
“Even though wala mo (parents) naka support nako, you guys should not feel sad. Thankful gihapon ko kung unsa ko nga person karon kay the situation we have helped me to become independent and to be the person that I am today,” she shared.
Toledo, who hails from Danao, graduated magna cum laude with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Psychology on Saturday, March 30.
As the eldest of the two children of separated parents, with her father in prison and her mother having another family, she has learned to become independent at an early age of 18.
According to her, starting from her second year in college, she has to be a student by day and a fast food service crew at night for her daily food allowance, and to pay for her monthly house rentals in the city.
This, truly, required a lot of sacrifice on her part.
“Wala na kaayo koy time sa akong self kay klase lang nya naa ray one hour nga vacant, dagan-dagan na sd ko adto sa OJT. Then after one hour na sad dagan dagan na sad ko andam para sa McDo na sad,” she said.
She is thankful for being an Aboitiz scholar.
“Nagpasalamat ko sa Aboitiz kay sila jud ang nag-provide sa akong tuition, and also to my ROTC family,” she said.
Aside from being a student, Toledo is also a student leader, a beauty queen, and a member of the university’s Reserved Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC.)
Perhaps, having a planner for her day-to-day routine has helped her fulfill her multiple roles in life.
“I have a planner, one page for one day. The upper part is dedicated for the things I have to accomplish in school for that day, while the lower part is for my internship and work,” she shared.
She believes that the values of patience and flexibility she has acquired from both school and work settings have made her equipped for her future endeavors.
“There are times nga rude ang customer or dugay ma ka-order. Naanad na ko to always have a positive attitude so that the customer will be happy and satisfied. Applying patience as a future psychologist, that is very essential. In psychology you also have to be patient with your clients and wait for them to open up to you,” she said.
Toledo, who also dreams of becoming a flight attendant someday, sees herself as a clinical psychologist three years after.
“I plan to take my masters degree for clinical Psychology. Then take board exam for psychologists,” she said.