Living the DREAM for low-income Grade 6 Students

I was there. I was almost there. And then, suddenly, I'm here. We are here.

It was six long years of high school but felt short because of magic. But what magic? Before you get to know that "magic", let me tell you a story.

Once, I had a dream. A dream bigger than the whole sky, as realistic as the ocean’s blue waters and green grass, louder than the beat of a heart, shinier than my medals, and heavier than my trophies. But sadly, I woke up. I woke up to a realization. It was just imagination.

The moment I opened my eyes; I can still vividly remember the ringtone that rang on my phone. It wasn’t my alarm. It was a call -a calling. And there, I saw hope. After I departed from the portal of Elementary hood, I carried a bunch of awards, trophies, and ribbons. But along with that, also, sadness. Sadly, I think that I might not be able to go to high school yet, because of financial problems. 

My mom was pregnant that year, and we were three back then—I was the eldest. And now, there are four of us. But I didn’t let that affect me. There would be no success if I didn’t make progress. I still decided I wanted to study, even if there was a financial burden.

While we were on a school break, I decided to apply for the qualifying exam of the Special Science Class for high school. And yes, I was excited to tell my parents. But then, they seemed uninterested.

But I opened my piggy bank and quickly pulled out the 20-peso bill from its small hole. I went to take the exam alone, hoping for the best. Unbeknownst to me, I would rank #1. But that didn’t matter to me—what mattered was that I passed.

After the exam, a teacher spoke in the middle of the classroom telling us about a Scholarship Program. I was flooded with hope. I was smiling. I didn’t waste time and joined the others fill up the application form.

Yes, application. They were hope and blessing. That’s when I first learned about Gawad Pangarap Foundation. They asked us to write a story of our lives and why we deserved to be one of their scholars. And of course, I wrote and wrote until there was no space left on the paper. That was the first and longest essay I had ever written.

After that, I was about to go home. But then, there weren’t enough coins left for my tricycle fare. So, with no choice, I ran—ran as fast as the summer sun burned my skin. But I didn’t feel tired. What I felt was the excitement of telling my parents that I passed, and yes, they are very proud. I also told them about Gawad Pangarap.

And there, I was constantly thinking about the scholarship. I kept praying every night and waited for their call. And yes, God answered my prayer. They called back, making me one of their scholars. That was the first MAGIC I witnessed.

My family was so happy. We weren’t financially stable. My mother is a housewife, and my dad repairs watches. Their income is just enough for us to live. But in my life, I was never ashamed of their jobs. I was the proudest.

Fast forward—it was the week before the first day of school. Gawad Pangarap Foundation gave us supplies for school. Uniform shirts and pants, shoes, pens, notebooks, bags, and many more.

My first year in high school was great. They supported us financially every month, as well as my co-scholars. Then, the dark clouds covered my entire path. The pandemic came. It was our downfall. Closed infrastructures. No job. No work. No money. My parents were jobless. Luckily, they also paused the classes. Because if they hadn’t, I don’t know what would’ve happened. I thought the world had turned its back on us. But I was never hopeless. I saw MAGIC again. GAWAD PANGARAP was there to guide us.

 After some months, classes started again, but with a different mode of instruction. Gawad Pangarap Foundation, Inc really helped us during that time. They helped us study despite the pandemic. They provided what we needed to keep our academics alive.

 After the pandemic, I started to rise. Step by step, until I reach my goal. I started going out of my comfort zone. I joined extracurricular activities. I excelled in class. I became a student leader. I was happy because I was carrying not just my name, my school, but also the GAWAD PANGARAP FOUNDATION. They continued to support us scholars and wanted us to be successful in life.

But then, during my last year of high school, I felt so low. That was the moment I started to doubt myself, which I never did before. I got low scores. I lost the urge to study well. And I asked for help.

Then, I saw MAGIC. AGAIN. GAWAD PANGARAP was there. I was so grateful. They were one of the best gifts in my life. They helped me stand up. They were my backbone.

 I started to be myself again. They showed me the path. They helped me build my confidence and reminded me of who I really am. They believed in me.  I became a student leader. Became the president of an organization in the whole Division of Ilocos Sur. That was because of GAWAD PANGARAP. I competed and won competitions outside school. I even attended national events like Learners Convergence Philippines held in Cebu, and the Rizal Competition held in Baguio. Again, because of Gawad Pangarap. They helped me cover my fees to be at those conventions. My school expenses—Gawad Pangarap was there.

The yummy, sweet ham and saucy spaghetti every Christmas—they were there.

And most importantly, I started to see and be proud of myself. That was because of Gawad Pangarap.

My high school life was a roller coaster. Full of excitement and falls. But every time, I wasn’t alone. I had Gawad Pangarap. They didn’t just support me financially—they supported me mentally and emotionally.

I may not be the class valedictorian, as we all hoped, but the best part was discovering and showing my true self.

After we wrote that chapter of our book, I actually never believed in their magic—which there really wasn’t. I just believed in their kindness. It was all faith, love, and kindness.

I was just a hopeful child back then. How did I know?

Because, I was there, I was almost there, and then suddenly, I’m here.

We are here - proud to be products of Gawad Pangarap Foundation Inc

Thank you so much, Gawad Pangarap Foundation Inc. and to all the donors and supporters of this Foundation.

God Bless us all .

Here is another inspiring story of one of our HS graduate Scholar. Hope you continue to support us with achieving their DREAMS. Here is the link to donate: http://goto.gg/38937.  Thank you to our Donors and Supporters for the continuous financial assistance and believing in our endeavor. 

Respectfully,

Grace Apusen and the Gawad Pangarap Team