At the age of 13, I had been bullied, depressed and was sick. By the end of 2010, my days as a regular student ended. My high school teachers me going to school to get modules for my lessons with plasters on my hands. Whenever I was about to be discharged from the hospital. I didn’t want anyone to pity me. Even in just appearance alone, I could hide my illnesses. The nurses at LODIFI, a private hospital in my hometown of Sagay City would joke with me saying “You’re here again?” I’d respond “Yeah, it’s me again.”

When I was informed that I couldn’t go back to regular school due to my situation, at first I laughed then seconds later I cried because I knew from that moment on, my life would change forever and it did.

I hid my weakness so I could assure my parents that I was strong. Every time I had a seizure, I could see my father who was about to cry in front of me, my sister holding my hand because I fell asleep after being injected with diazepam. I knew it was agonizing for them but it was more painful for me. No matter how hard I would try, I couldn’t bring back time. All I could do was to accept what God had given me.

I stumbled into a deep, dark hole. I was wounded and it was only me who could heal me. So despite everything, I would no longer view my illnesses as suffering nor would deter me from achieving my goals.

By March 2013. I had graduated from high school. I approached nearly every University in Visayas to inquire if they offered homeschool. I was rejected by all institutions I had reached out to. I then believed God guided me to La Consolacion College, Bacolod. My sister’s alma mater. It was the last day of the free entrance exam. Ms. Rhea Santero was the one who we first talked to regarding my case. She didn’t refuse our request and suggested that I should take the entrance exam. Everything went well. I then met with Dr. Nenette Padilla a week later. I was told by Ms. Rhea that I should wait for the Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Mercedes Joson.

I waited for nearly a month, and I finally got the chance to meet Dr. Joson and I discussed my current situation. After talking for several minutes, she uttered some words, words that I will never forget for they changed my life; “Mercy, you have a lot of potentials that must not be wasted. La Consolacion will gladly accept you” A miracle indeed took place on that day.

Nine years have passed since then. I have grown from a frail, lost 13-year old to the person that I am today. I thank God for everything that I have. I am blessed and loved. I was once lost, now I am found. I graduated from college this year which was one of my accomplishments. Currently, I’ve been working on establishing an E-commerce company. Becoming a Chief Executive Officer is a position I’ve always dreamed of and now I am steps closer to achieving it.

If I haven’t experienced pain and only felt joy, maybe I wouldn’t have appreciated all that I have in my hands. My past made me who I am today. Everything happens for a reason. I have seen the beauty of being alive. I thank God for giving me his most precious gift, life. As a new chapter of my life unfolds, another journey is about to begin.