I am Jethil. I was the second eldest daughter of Malaya and Jun. I had 5 siblings and all of them has health problems as well as my parents. My mother has no work due to her sickness. My father has no permanent job due to his sickness as well. All my siblings are still studying.
Our house is just made of wood. Every vacation, I am always bringing with me my bedsheet just to have door for the bedroom. When I was 4 years old, I had experienced vehicle accident and that was my unforgettable memory. Being poor is really hard but it wasn’t the hindrance to stop everything. Despite of being poor, my parents still try to send us to school and they are always reminding us to study well for our future and not to be like them.
I am a working student; in that way I could help my family. We don’t have many things in our house and we had only 2 little bulbs one for the kitchen and one for our bedroom and little dining. There are times when I have to be absent from classes because I need to help my parents look for food in the mountain like getting wild sweet potato, cassava and any food we could grab from the mountain. Sometimes, if we don’t have any viand, we are using salt just to give some taste to our food.
My mother and I are the one’s who’s selling fish whatever my father caught from the sea. However, if no one buys our fish we would do some bartering, we exchange the fish to the grain of rice, because food is really very essential for us to live. When I was still grade 5, my mother is always reminding me that if there are some news about taking the exam for the Sisters of Mary School I need to take because she was inspired that one of my aunts graduated from the said school.
When I was in grade 6, there are mothers who are dreaming of letting their child study in the Sisters of Mary. Until one day one of the graduates from the school announce that in one of the towns in my place, there are sisters from the Sisters of Mary who are administering the qualifying exam. My mother and others who are interested immediately ask the parish priest’s help so we could go there. He offers his car and we went to the place.
When the result came, I was very, very happy. I received the envelope and letter that I qualify to study in the Sisters of Mary. I gave the letter to my mother; her tears fell and she really thank God that I am accepted. She said it is her answered prayer. When acceptance came, I am excited because my aunt told me a lot about the school. I am really surprised when I saw the facilities and big buildings. I received everything I need and all I can say thank you Lord for bringing me here. I am currently a Grade 9 student of section D. As I start studying, my goal and dreams in life grow bigger and bigger, and I am really determined to finish my high school in the Sisters of Mary.
My mother trust and hope that I will be a better person who can help them though I know that at times I am also stubborn. The education that I am receiving, help me changed a lot, not only in physical, mental but also in spiritual aspect. My parents even made some cards for Sr. Nory B. Espulgar, SM and they are saying that they are very thankful to the Sisters because their daughter changed a lot especially in attitude.
I am grateful that I am here in this school. I will be graduating on 2023 and I dream of becoming successful someday and with that I could help my family, rebuild our house, buy things for my siblings and bring them to the hospital. I want to help them especially for them to have a good health. I know Jesus will help them be cure. Some of our neighbors criticize me, not only me but also my family, but I ignored them. This experienced will make me stronger but I will never give up. I will try my very best to be a better person.
To all who unceasingly support my studies thank you so much and I am truly grateful. I cannot imagine of what will I become without the Sisters of Mary. Thank you, dear benefactors.