If the world paused to listen to me for two minutes, I would tell the story of a student who keeps searching, but it feels like no one wants them. Finding a job has been harder than solving the question of how to survive with just a single dollar in my pocket. I scroll through job posts, send applications, and wait for replies that never come. And yet, classes still demand my time, projects pile up, and bills never stop arriving.
Some days, I ask myself how long I can stretch one meal, how long I can stay awake after working online until dawn, only to sit in class pretending I’m fine. The truth is, I’m exhausted—mentally, physically, and emotionally. But behind that exhaustion is a stubborn heart that refuses to give up.
I want the world to know that being a student in this kind of life isn’t just about chasing grades—it’s about chasing survival. It’s about walking into school carrying hunger, worry, and hope all at once.
If being educated is truly a privilege, then it is not simply an award to achieve, but a lifeline. It is a chance that not everyone is given, especially those of us who struggle every day just to stay in school. For me, education has never been about chasing medals or honors—it has been about chasing survival, chasing the hope that tomorrow will be lighter than today.
If my story is heard, I want it to remind others like me that you are not alone. And though it feels impossible, we are stronger than our struggles.
Phoemela Ericka A. Zipagan, Bani, Pangasinan.
