Today was my last day at work. I’m letting go of everything that’s familiar and constant in my life. For the past 5 years, all I’ve done is work and school. I finally get to focus in one thing at a time. I’ve always focused at work, this time it’s going to be school. I’m scared. I’m excited. I’m wary. I’m exhilirated. But I know if I don’t do this right now, I might not be given the same opportunity later. One of my good friends gave me a piece of advice that he was once imparted with, he told me that I will not succeed if it wasn’t for the uncomfortable situations in my life and because of this constrained situations I will have to rise above it all. Very true, it’s not that I’m looking for uneasy life, it’s just that whenever encountered it will give me a different perspective of what or who I want to be. I am no longer defined by my circumstances but of my decisions. 

Working all this time made me grateful for what I have accomplished so far. I have been working full time during the day and have been taking classes at night. I’m very appreciative for all the experiences I’ve had. If not because of my job at Jules Stein (UCLA), I would have not found my passion in working in the healthcare field. Working at Jules Stein also provided me the opportunity in leadership. I had to make certain decisions to make sure that the office and the clinic run efficiently. But being a good leader is nothing without teamwork. I learned that being a team player is crucial in carrying out our goals. To be honest, teamwork is something I learned back in my UST soccer days, I found out that the name in front our jersey is more important than the name on the back. To win a game it is for the best if we let go of our differences and be united. 

I once read, “education is no longer what one receives as a result of participating in American life. High quality education is what one must have if one is to participate in any meaningful way. Therefore, education has ceased being merely a part of the American dream: education is the dream.”  This is what my parents have ingrained in me; the value of education. It doesn’t matter where I am or where I came from, education is the key to knowledge. As I go from here, I will be embarking on a new journey. I will be attending the University of California, Santa Barbara and wil be studying Communication with Organization emphasis  and hopes to get admitted for a double major for Business Economics. With this, I hope to later continue a career in Administrative Healthcare and to pursue a master’s degree in Public Health and Business Administration. This is a new beginning..a good beginning.