Written by: July Rato Lleno
Scholar batch 2021-2022
School: Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges
Many people have unique life stories, and I am one of them. My life journey is very interesting, and there are many adventures and memories in it. My existence began on a Tuesday night, July 6, 1999, in Polangui, Albay, when I was delivered at 6 p.m. I was the sixth of eight children. I grew up in a simple family, and ever since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to be a professional and use the knowledge I’ve gained in my studies for the benefit of my community.
Most of us share a desire to improve. We want to be more productive and more successful. We all love to accomplish more in less time. And we all want to be good at what we do. When I was a young boy, I was fascinated by how the computer worked. Back then, my cousin had a laptop, and even though she told me to use it, I felt scared because I didn’t know how to use it or even turn it on. And in my mind at that time, what If I deleted some files or destroyed her laptop, I said no, because it is very expensive! But, out of curiosity and boredom, I tried it, and after a month, I knew how to use it.
Fast forward from a young boy to now, I am a dreamer. I am also business-minded because I have experience as a sales associate for a well-known marketing company here in the Philippines and other countries. I intend to start my own business soon so that I can help others, specifically my family, cousins, friends, and other unemployed individuals, to have a better job and sustain their daily expenses. I want to enjoy time and financial freedom. With the help of my business partners, I learned a lot about how the business works and improved my communication skills. I also learned how to talk to each other professionally.
Computer Science Journey
I am a student taking a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. It was not my first choice because, at that time, I was planning to take a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy course to become an accountant soon. Back then, up to the present, I loved finance, entrepreneurship, and talking with a group of people. I enjoyed it a lot, but unfortunately, my dream course is not available at my dream school. That’s why I chose another course, and that was mechanical engineering, for the reason that I’ve been wanting to create a machine that will help more people. Specifically, I planned to invent something to help my father on our rice farm more easily finish his work because I know that being a farmer is very difficult since I’ve experienced it myself several times during my free time. Another unexpected thing happened: BSME has no more available slots. So, I’ve decided to take a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Management to follow my dream job as an accountant because they have similarities. I am a techy person and also business-minded, so in any field between the two, I know I will enjoy my job soon. Finally, I officially enrolled in an Entrepreneurial Management course, but my sister advised me to take any computer course for the reason that jobs related to computer courses are in high demand at present. That’s why now I am a 4th-year student taking Computer Science. Luckily, thanks to our Almighty, a little bit of punch and I am very close to getting a Bachelor’s degree.
One of the reasons why I am pursuing a Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Program is that I am fascinated by technology and innovation and I have a strong interest in it. I want to become a Professional Cloud Engineer, a Certified Solution Architect, or an educator, or what God planned for me. I want to work in this sector as a professional so that I can provide a better solution for my community. I realized how much I enjoy this field and that there are many more opportunities for me to pursue if I learn more about it.
Community Service as a Public Servant and Figure
Some of the activities I have done in the past years of helping my beloved community are giving them the right community service as a public servant and figure. A service with the objective of benefiting my constituents. Typically, this type of service is usually done on a volunteer basis, which means there is no monetary outcome. I am just basically lending my time and efforts to help the people of my community without asking any return. Being part and a member of the Sangguniang Kabataan and a Campus Organization Officer has allowed me to understand more about myself and how organizations operate. It helps me to enhance my communication, interpersonal, and critical thinking abilities which I apply to the real life. It gives me the opportunity to gain experience in the workplace. It allows me to easily cognize leadership roles inside the organizations and allows me to apply academic knowledge to real-life situations. It help me also to spot the development in terms of a broader perspective on the world. Finally, connecting with individuals from all walks of life teaches me patience and empathy while also allowing me to build a global perspective.
My Determination to be a Better Person
I believe that everyone is unique in their way. What makes me different and makes me proud of myself is that I am an optimistic person. I think positively all the time and belief in believing. I think that, with enough effort and with God’s grace, anything is possible. I also like meeting people to share ideas, so I can see things from a different perspective by learning from others because I think the thing that matters most is the things that we learn from our own experiences. Furthermore, with the knowledge I have acquired as a computer science student, as well as the knowledge I will obtain in this scholarship program, I hope to contribute to the advancement of society as a whole. It’s not about me as much as it is about others. I want to help more people solve their problems.
I have decided to apply for this scholarship not just on feeling, but also on practicality because I am confident that Ulap.org will help me master the subject of Cloud Computing as well as other fields of technology and innovation.
Whatever the situation and time, I will never give up on achieving my dreams in life.
To those who, like me, are dreamers, I’d like to say that you are in control of your own life. You have everything you need to make all the decisions and bring you a step closer to your dream. Think big. Never limit yourself. Our hardships today will be our greatest success tomorrow.
