“LIFE is so full of rough edges. There are times you will start asking yourself whether these things you have been doing and working for are all worth it. Then, you will end up telling yourself — it does not matter as long as you keep going.”
This is how the 30-year-old Marian Joy Ferrer Castro described her voyage in life before and even after she passed the Licensure Examination for Geodetic Engineers on October 25 and 26, which she took at University of the East, Manila.
Born on September 4, 1987 in Davao City, Castro completed Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mathematics from University of Southeastern Philippines last 2008 and a BS in Geodetic Engineering from St. John Paul II College of Davao in 2017.
After she finished her first course, Castro worked as a teacher in Mathematics at EJE Educational Insight Tutorial and Enrichment Program—Kumon Franchise until 2017. She had to leave Kumon to focus on second degree course.
Castro finished her two courses the hard way just like how she was able to understand and get through the difficulties in life.
“It was not easy,” she said.
Castro also passed the Career Service (CS) Professional Eligibility on October 26, 2014.
“Wala man tingali sayon jud sa kinabuhi. I grow up in a Christian family since my grandfather is a pastor, but it was my godmother who financially supported my studies from elementary to high school. I admired her for that,” Castro said.
After she graduated in high school, Castro was supposed to register for college in Samal and take up Bachelor of Science in Nursing. But when she was told about the scholarship at Usep, she took the chance and enrolled in another course.
Castro recalled that she had to work amid her studies to earn for her allowance and for the school expenses. She was once a crew at Jollibee, and sales associate both at Gaisano Mall of Davao and JS Gaisano Ilustre from 2004 to 2007.
“For 24 years, I have been obedient to my parents… It was just recently when I started to make decisions on my own, which I am glad that my parents respected. Dira man gud ko mu-grow on how I will manage my own life,” she said.
Castro said like most people, she also went through a lot of things. She experienced the utmost downfall in life that it took her courage, strength, forgiveness, and faith to get back on her feet. She described it as an awful lesson learned.
Now, living up on what she loved to do the most without compromising the comfort, happiness and contentment of her family is but a best success for Castro. She debunks the notion that success is determined by an economic status.
Castro, for the meantime, is working as a part-time college instructor at St. John Paul II College while she is looking for a permanent job. When asked how she managed the pressure in life, she said, she always seeks guidance from God.
Though Castro still has several things she wants to achieve, she said she believes that God has plans, adding that despite the responsibilities on her shoulders, she sees to it that all is well at the end of the day.