POVERTY may be a hindrance to someone’s dream but it never means that you have to drop what you yearn for in life, because you’re poor.
Poverty never stopped a top notcher of the recent May 2022 Nursing Licensure Examination. Elizabert Derama Lamoste, a daughter of a taxi driver, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in Ateneo de Davao University last April 2022 with a Magna Cum Laude distinction.
Growing up with not a well-off family, Lamoste relied on scholarship grants to be able to study in college. AdDU has given her this opportunity to help her take a step in realizing her dream of becoming a doctor.
However, this was not enough to finance her study considering how expensive medical programs can be.
In the middle of completing her degree, a pandemic happened.
Although some have seen this as an unfortunate time, Lamoste thought that it was a blessing in disguise for her to make a living.
“There are still other fees along the journey, like ‘yong living expenses, ‘yong medical supplies na kailangan namin if mag-hospital duty na, so to compensate po non nag-work po ako sa BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) industry full time, kasi nong third year and fourth year online class kami dahil sa pandemic (I worked in the BPO industry full time to be able to cover my living expenses and the supplies needed for hospital duty),” Lamoste said.
Lamoste said aside from working in the BPO she also accepted jobs as a bookkeeper for some businesses in the city as well as selling medical supplies to her batchmates.
“‘Yong little rakets po, yon po naka-help sa akin na ma-sustain po ang mga needs ko all throughout my college journey (Those side hustles helped me sustain my needs all throughout my college journey),” Lamoste said.
Amidst all these, Lamoste said time management is important to juggle work and studies.
“Minsan po pag may break ako... doon ko gawin ang mga videos na kailangang i-pass or mga requirements (During breaks, I will do my assignments and requirements – like videos that needed to be submitted. I just have to balance my time),” Lamoste said.
Lamoste said once their teacher will give them a task, she will do it right away and submit it before the deadline.
Lamoste said working in the BPO company inspired her to finish her studies.
“I am very grateful po sa BPO industry and everyone na aking na-meet like my teammates and my TL (Team Leader) na they really inspired me, kasi po sa BPO iba-iba po experiences ng mga tao, ma-open talaga eyes mo sa reality na hindi lahat na may same opportunity sayo, parang you get to reflect and then if I were in that position anong gawin ko (they inspired me. Because in the BPO industry we have different experiences. Your eyes will be opened to the reality that not all of us have the same opportunities. You get to ask yourself if I were in that position. What will I do?),” Lamoste said.
Eventually, working and studying at the same time took a toll on her.
“Exhausted ka masyado sa lahat and then sometime as human as we are, we tend to compare, bakit ganyan ‘yong mga classmates ko? ...Kahit gaano pa kakapoy ang ginagawa mo, kahit over exert mo na ang effort but you’re still at the same place, wala pa rin naga-move forward, minsan kasi may mga ganyan na days po na bakit at the end of the day unfair parin po siya (You get exhausted and then you tend to compare yourself to others. Why is it that with all the things I am doing, I am still in the same place? Sometimes it makes me feel that, at the end of the day, it can be unfair),” Lamoste said.
Even though there are days she’s down, she also sees a silver lining.
“Pero ginaisip ko nalang po na at least may improvement sa sarili ko na mas nagiging independent po ako dahil doon sa mga experiences ko, at tsaka napatunayan ko po na kaya ko po, at yong self worth ko at mas naging confident po ako sa sarili ko (But I always think that at least I am improving, that I’m being independent because of those experiences I’ve been through and I was able to prove that I can do it. I have better self-worth and confidence),” Lamoste said.
Lamoste said she is grateful to her aunt who supported her since she was in elementary school.
“Siya po yong unang nagbigay ng trust sa akin na kaya ko, kaya ko sa Ateneo... Ngayon po nga nag-top na po ako sa board exam, sobrang laking pasasalamat ko po sa tita (She believed in me, that I can graduate from Ateneo. Now that I topped the board exam, I am grateful to my aunt),” Lamoste said.
Also, she’s thankful to her family but most of all to God.
“Kasi throughout my battle po, siya po yong nagpatatag ng loob ko po, kapag hindi ko na kaya siya lang po talaga masabihan ko ng lahat without judgement (Because all throughout my battle, He made me strong, that whenever I feel down I can always lean on Him and I can say whatever I want without judgment),” Lamoste said.
Left with two weeks
Instead of having a little vacation after her graduation, Lamoste still continued working, and she only had two weeks to prepare for the May 2022 Nursing Licensure Examination. This led her to stop working and focus more on her review.
Lamoste said during her two weeks' review at home, her family supported her.
“Wala po talaga akong ginawa sa bahay non, syempre nakaguilty po kasi nasa room ka lang naga-study, and then thankful ako sa kapatid ko na siyang nagsalo sa lahat ng gawaing bahay at lahat ng utos nila mama at papa, kasi nagkulong po talaga ako sa kwarto (I felt guilty just being inside my room studying and not doing anything else. Therefore, I’m thankful for my brother because he did every household chores as well as attended to our parents’ requests),” Lamoste said.
Aside from studying, Lamoste also went to their church every night.
“Kasi sa Iglesia po naniniwala po kami sa pagpapanata, pagpapanata ka everyday at humiling ka sa Diyos tapos magtiwala ka na diringgin to ng Diyos ibibigay niya ito, sa awa ng Diyos binigay naman po niya sa akin at sobra sobra pa po (For us going to Iglesia, we have to have faith. Faith that the Lord will give you what you desire. By the grace of God, he answered my prayers),” Lamoste said. KSD