“Mama oy, ayaw sa ko patrabaho-a bi! Naa koy assignment; magtuon pako, exam na namo!” It was a bright Monday morning when mom instructed my sister to buy a dozen of eggs at a nearby store for breakfast. Being a math wizard in class, my sister grumbles every time mom does that, especially in the middle of deciphering a problem, and believe me, she prefers not to be disturbed at all cost!
Some students nowadays hate and dread work, especially when teachers give diverse and rigorous curricular tasks. There are also those students who deem work as a punishment of not doing well at school. Or worst, condemn it as a total waste of time and energy.
In spite of these unenthusiastic viewpoints, there are students who do not have any option but to work in order to maintain and sustain their education. They allocate time for both work and schooling. They endure loads of work and hectic schedules. They are working students.
Working Students
Working students are partially, if not totally responsible in paying for education that they work to receive benefits or payments in exchange. Some may do office works like filing, or do technical works like shelving and packaging. Like so, their type or nature of work varies according to where they are assigned or employed.
Working students are employed students or scholars. The employed students work either at private or government-owned-and-controlled corporations. At certain time interval, they receive regular wages and use it to finance schooling. They usually work at Internet cafes, fast-food restaurants, malls, supermarkets, government offices, firms, and in some cases, here in the university. As for working scholars, the school guarantees them with contractual privileges--a full-free education and a stipend of P6 per duty hour. They are to comply a minimum of four hours a day at their assigned school department such as at offices, libraries, laboratories, faculties and the likes.
Furthermore, there are 315 working scholars and an indefinite sum of employed ones in the
God and Work
Every working student in the university has his or her own story to tell on why engage in work. Some of these stories impart experiences of in-depth needs and wants, tragedies and loss, as well as, regret and self-realization. Then somehow, from these stories, other students may be able to relate and realize, or be inspired.
Born fifth in a family of six, Ms Clarinda Mejares reveals the golden rule that guides her family even in times of great impediments: “Help one another and share blessings to those who have none and are in need.”
Fishing has always founded and funded the family of Ms Mejares. It feeds them. It brings them to school. It supplies them with their basic commodities. But when her father retired due to physical constraints at age 69, her so-called “financial oppression” period troubled her much that she stopped schooling for one semester for the sake of letting her 5th year Computer Engineering brother graduate. She spent her time working as cashier at her Aunt’s sari-sari store in Alegria,
Still in the mid of crisis, education and her family’s future drove her back in the lofty walls of this university. With a hint from friends, she applied for working scholar, and luckily, she passed.
It has been two years now that she works at the College Main Library. Though literally overwhelmed by books at the Technical Section, she met different people in different ways of life. She gained friends, not to mention a fondly called nickname--Cla-Cla.
With a gentle smile, she stressed that being a working student is “not a hindrance to academic life,” as others see it, for it is one way of lessening the family’s financial burdens. She added that it rounds her of valuable skills necessary for growth and development and an effective time management forged with discipline and responsibility is one skill to note.
“I consider it as a way to serve my fellow students. I know it’s hard. But kung heartily nimo gibuhat and you’re enjoying and having fun, wala gyu’y conflict sa imong academic og personal life.”
Raised in a religious family back then in Alegria, Cebu, she always finds time to go to Sto. Nińo and Birhen Sa Regla every weekends. This is also her way of spending time alone amid hustle and bustles. “Work is a blessing and a mission field. God puts me here for something. My family sees God first before anything else since we are spiritually motivated. God is my strength to go on.”
From these qualities, no wonder why Cla-Cla is the newly elected president of the Association of Working Scholars (AWS).
Paternal Motivation
“Pag-tinarong intawn mo sa pag-eskwela, at least naay usa maka-graduate.” This was a seaman’s word to his children before he was deceased by a malignant cancer. This words and the seaman inspired the most one of his children to persevere and go on.
Raised second eldest, Razel Abellana knew work since childhood. He reminisced those days in high school when he woke up early and prepared breakfast. As he packed his stomach, he also packed up for school. From home, he carried a table with his brother, put it by the University of San Carlos (USC) Girls High gate nearby, and set up a small food stall. After which, he left for school.
In college, earning P400 per month from Youth Zone -a youth oriented group- was not enough for Mr. Abellana to be able to support his family as the new breadwinner so he looked for a job. Later on, he Greenwich-Mango branch hired him. He received P100 for four hours a day.
Yet, the dilemmas and consequences muddled him for from his income, he has to allocate it to his brothers and sisters; his schooling; and all his family’s energy consumptions. He also grumbled of the distance between the school and Greenwich. He comes home at 12 midnight by walking from Ramos to USC girls high. He conveyed that working with Greenwich challenged him most even if he lived through meager conditions. “Niining panahona ra gyud ko nakasuway nga pan de sal ra ang pamahaw, paniudto og panihapon.”
After a month with Greenwich, he applied for working scholar. Fortunately, he passed and now works at the office of Dr. Alicia Tan, the Vice-President for Academic Affairs. He justified that by being working scholar he didn’t have to think of a long walking distance. Now a graduating English Major, he’s more than thankful that he got “the opportunity to work without any burden at school.”
It has been said that education learned from books and lectures while within four-cornered classrooms does equip a student for future applications. Consequently, this gained knowledge adds up to the intellectual quotient (IQ) of a student. However, Razel revealed that in actual applications, companies nowadays would prefer the emotional quotient (EQ) the most rather than the IQ of an applicant. In brief, emotions matter. “In that way, work teaches you to be more mature. Like in companies (Greenwich), it’s okay to be assertive but you still have to be submissive because you’re under their custody and supervision.”
The 22-year-old Razel divulged that work experience also teaches a student to be determined and unwavering in finishing studies. “It’s a privilege. Sa kadaghan’ng mi-apply, only few were chosen. It’s good to hear nga nahuman ka og pag-eskwela thru self-effort.”
Moreover, Razel submits and commemorates all things he made to his late father. He salutes him of his deeds that for without it, he would have not known more the real world and its imminent challenges.
Just Students, Too
The two working students possess qualities that may be common to others. What makes their qualities worth to relate and reflect on is the story that comes with it. Clarinda’s spiritual bearing inculcates the essence of submission to other’s needs which eventually gained her the respect she deserved. Humility and discipleship would best equate this pious and conservative Clarinda, then.
In loss, he gained inspiration. In experience, he valued emotion. Razel’s filial fervor guided his decisions that he learned discipline and perseverance no matter how tough the dilemmas were.
They have grown mature for they know what is it really like when working for one’s education. They also have a first-hand knowledge how it is to be in the work area. Aside form doing clerical and manual tasks, they got to meet other people and in the process, learned to improve their inter-personal skills. They are improving their personality through work exposure.
Be it typical or exceptional, the qualities as working students do double, intensify, and better their groundwork for their future. Despite the financial uncertainty shrouding their survival, these students are making both ends meet and are braving sacrifices to fulfill their ambition in life. That ambition includes a comfortable living in the future.
Furthermore, they believe that the attainment of quality education serves as a key to a bright future.
Some may take it hard to do what they did. Some may not be inspired of their experiences or may not imagine a life like theirs. Yet, life is unpredictable. We may experience the same through the choices we make as students. Besides, Clarinda and Razel are also students, students who chose a life being with work.
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