The coronavirus outbreak has been a huge stressor and has had a deep-felt impact in everyone’s lives. It keeps a large part of the world hostage, which, from the point of view of students, leads to rising debt balances and everyday dilemmas in terms of having online classes.
While the virus is undoubtedly an enemy that gives everyone fear and sets our goals in lockdown, it is also the time where people who made the best of what this crisis gave them shines the most—making us understand the importance of eagerness and perseverance.
Ax Valerio, a third-year BA Communication student at Adamson University who works as a delivery service driver at the same time, became viral over a social media post that frames him stopping at the side of the road in Sucat, Parañaque to attend his scheduled online class last September 3. The netizen captioned the picture with "Sana matupad mo [‘yung] mga pangarap mo salute [you] pre.”
(I hope you fulfill your dreams, I salute you.)
THE FACES OF DETERMINATION — (from left to right) Klasmeyts Andrea Buñag, Francis Ax Valerio, and Josephin Asucro are among the hardworking students who strive to help their families despite the pandemic (Photos from: Buñag, Valerio, and Asucro)
In his interview with INQUIRER.net, Valerio stated that he chose to work to help his parents especially since his father had suffered from a stroke and his mother needed help for their everyday expenses during these trying times.
Meanwhile, AdU immediately responded by providing him with a brand new laptop, in partnership with Aren Computer in order to help him with his online studies.
On his Facebook post, Valerio shared his gratitude to AdU President Fr. Marcelo V. Manimtim and Engr. Edwin Mendoza who is also an AdU alumnus and CEO of Aren Computer.
With this, Grab Philippines has officially nicknamed Ax as one of their “Super Lodi” in a campaign to give back to their hardworking drivers. Valerio also appeared in Stand for Truth, Eat Bulaga, and GMA News. Many stores even lent their helping hand and appreciation to Valerio, such as Fast Money PH, RMarketing MNL, and Rue.
Moreover, while students strive amid the "new normal" because of pandemic restrictions, many of them embraced the digital phenomenon of jump-starting their online selling and business activities.
For klasmeyt Josephine Asucro, online selling is an excellent opportunity to help her parents lessen their family needs and to have her own pocket money. She also sees this as a character development, improving her patience through making transactions with her customers and making her quarantine period worthwhile.
“I do online selling during quarantine to [ease] my boredom and make myself more productive every day," says Asucro.
Online selling may be a way to be more productive while earning, but we cannot deny that it also has its disadvantages. Klasmeyt Andrea Buñag testifies to this as she shares that online selling is hard to do even during this time.
“Akala ng iba pag nagbubusiness ka or nagbebenta ka malaki ang kita. Hindi totoo yun. Kung madalas nasa 10-20 pesos lang naman tubo namin kasi pag tinaasan namin, kami naman walang benta.”
(Other people think that you earn a lot if you sell something. That's not true. Oftentimes, we only have 10-20 pesos profit because if we raise the price, we won't be able to sell anything.)
She also shared how they strive to budget their expenses this quarantine. “Pilit namin iniipon yung pera para makatulong din sa pambayad ng tuition syempre kahit sa bahay eh mas malaki ang gastos,” said Buñag.
(We strive to budget the money to help pay tuition fees, and of course, our expenses at home are quite big.)
It is indisputable that the financial crisis is still the primary reason students take part-time (or full-time) jobs. Their ongoing struggle, juggling academic requirements and side-lines for their family is a genuinely strenuous task.
Still, by these students' creativity, passion, optimism, and the way they quickly adapt to the situation, we are reminded to keep moving forward—that there is a blessing and hope amid the pandemic.
In the end, students are among the ones who are overlooked during this pandemic. They must remember that they are not alone in their academic struggles and that they can reach out when they need support. We’re all in this together and no student should be left behind.
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