WRITING 101: Dream Chaser

From: http://www.survivefirstaid.com.au/portfolio/dare-dream/

Wait until someone say YES to your dream. – rosemawrites

Recently, Ryan of Musings on Whatever a post titled “School Sucks”.

He said, “However, the sad reality is that a diploma wouldn’t guarantee employment. Not everyone can afford higher education. Poverty among other reasons hinder a lot of children to finish school and drop out instead. Plus the fact that school tend to be unattractive.”

As a Filipino, I clearly understand and agree to his points. I said:

For me, the best education is not priceless here in the Philippines. Education, that is a supposed to be a right, is actually a privilege here.

We have three universities that are among the top 100 universities in the world. That’s an achievement, yes. But those schools are just a ‘dream’ for most of the Filipino students.

There are some who are deserving enough to have scholarships. That’s good news. But they are just so few.

I also dreamed of setting my foot in one of those universities, University of the Philippines, to be specific.

But I am not able to take the entrance exam, because it’s costly. My tatay and nanay are also against about it  because we really cannot afford it, even with a scholarship grant.

I have completely accepted that, so I took my degree at Bulacan State University. With the help of two scholarships and with my father’s unceasing hard work, I was able to graduate.

Just when I thought that I am now ‘someone’, I was awaken that I am not.

The playing field is not fair, because most of the employers will judge you not in terms of what you can do but in terms of where school are you from.

I applied in a well-known newspaper company where I had my on-the-job training.

I passed the initial writing exam. I passed the interview with the editor-in-chief.

I passed the interview with the operations manager.

I was really happy. It felt like my dream is really possible.

Until I faced the chief officer. The company owner’s wife.

I was asked to write a story and then another one.

I waited. Then she called me.

She asked a few questions. I answered nervously.

Finally she said,

“Thank you for your time.”

Those words crushed me. It crushed my dreams, too.

Even with a diploma and a medal, I felt worthless.

Why a sudden no?

It’s because I am from Bulacan State University.

Until now, I get teary-eyed when I recall this experience.

It’s just the lowest point of my life that I almost gave up my dream of becoming a writer.

But after 3 years of prayers and persistence, someone FINALLY said a YES to my dream.

I am now a PR writer. But this is just the start.

So for those who are products of State Universities, hold your head up high!

Yes, there will be rejections! Yes, there will be a lot of discriminations. 

Yes, your schools sucks!

But hang on.

Someday, someone will believe in you!

Keep the fire burning.

Keep the dream alive.

It will not be easy, but it will all be worth it.

Take it from a dream chaser. 🙂

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In response to Blogging University’s WRITING 101 Day 8 assignment.

Day 8: Expand a comment

Do you ever peek at the comments you’ve left on other blogs? You might find ideas for future posts. Perhaps you left a response on a writer’s post but could have said even more, or wrote the beginnings of a larger discussion.

Look for a comment you can expand on — one that can evolve into a new post, where you can continue the discussion or address a related idea or topic.

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Does your country has the same discrimination?

Can you relate to my experience?

What are the dream that you are too afraid to chase?

Please tell me.

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