May I introduce myself
A Legacy of Hope
I am the youngest of six, a family of farmers who tilled another’s soil, but my story is truly a testament to the sacrifice of my second eldest sister. Our lives were tied to the rhythm of the sun and the seasons. My parents’ hands were rough and calloused from years of working a land that was never truly ours. We were grateful for the work, but we were also always aware that our home and our future were fragile.
Poverty was a silent member of our family, a constant shadow that followed us everywhere. My older siblings left school early to help, but I was the last hope, the one they all believed could break the cycle. My sister was barely a woman herself, yet she carried the weight of our family on her young shoulders. While my friends were worried about homework and high school dances, my sister was thousands of miles away in Hong Kong, working tirelessly so I could have a chance at a different life. She didn’t just give me an education; she gave me hope when we had none. That hope became my fuel, pushing me through every late-night study session and every challenge.
Even after graduating, my path was not easy. In the Philippines, I worked as a substitute teacher, but after almost three years of waiting for a permanent position, I went to Hong Kong, just like my sister. I hoped to find better luck and money, but I failed. I found myself with a boss who was not human, an experience that left me feeling defeated. After three months, I was lucky to find a new path to Sweden as an au pair. My employers there were good to me, but a one-year contract was not enough. I switched families and had to study to extend my visa and work. After one semester, I was exhausted from trying to balance both. I needed to find a new au pair job, and I was lucky to have a friend in Norway who took me in.
And then, the day came. Holding my teaching diploma in my hands, I didn’t just feel pride; I felt the years of my parents’ hard work and the miles my sister had to travel. Graduating wasn’t just my accomplishment; it was my entire family’s victory. That diploma was a promise kept—a promise to my family that their sacrifices were not in vain.
Now, I am a teacher in Norway, and my journey has come full circle. I am so grateful to be here. I earn enough to support my parents and help my nieces and nephews who want to continue their studies. I am doing what my second eldest sister did for me—investing in the next generation and building a legacy of hope for our family.