Kimberly Batucan’s college Fund

My name is Kimberly Batucan. I am 24 years old. I am from Bonifide resident of Tugbongan Consolacion Cebu city, Philippines. They are 8 of us in my family I’m the 2nd child of Mr. Joel A. Ngojo Sr. and Mrs. Marissa B. Ngojo (I’ve got my mother’s maiden name). I am not from a well off family. My father is a carpenter and my mother is a housewife. She sometimes does our neighbors laundry to earn a little money for food. My dad does not support us in the and I always wished one day he would help the family out but it just a dream. Growing up in a community were almost of the people doesn’t believe that you will excel on something. Were mockery is there from the clothes you wear to the house you where living in till to the foods you eat. All they can see in you is poverty. Being poor, being one of it is not a shameful thing. I’m being proud of it, because out from it I’ve learned a lot of things and how to stand up for myself. From being contented on what I had and more appreciative on the things. I have learned to prioritize my needs not my wants. And the most interesting part is every night of the day before going to bed I end up thanking the GOD Almighty for the life He has given me. I am proud to admit that yes, we're just poor. I can still remember that sometimes we eat kamoteng kahoy (cassava) only to last a day. Mama and me used to do our neighbor's laundries. My mama was once a battered wife, but despite all the hardships and pain, mama taught us to sacrifice little things for us to be whole. Yes we do lack material things but hey that doesn't what we were just born for. We we're taught to uphold our dignities and make our own names, for our own sake, for mama's sake, for the family's name. And yes, some envy us because we are who we are. A family that nobody can be little nor stepped on. We worked hard on everything we had. And we all know that someday, somehow we'll reach whatever we aspire for. I am a proud member.

Being a student is the best thing I have ever experienced and the best thing that has ever happened to me. Going to school everyday to learn new things, been excited about every class discussions. The hardest part is to study my notes on a little light coming from the lamp, we don’t have electricity, going to school during rainy season using a banana leaf or a plastic bag to cover my bag and also serves as an umbrella for me just not to get myself or my books wet. But it didn’t stop me from doing what I love. In order to buy my school materials I do a lot of jobs in the community like washing clothes for the neighbors, fetching water, selling fish at the market place, being a dishwasher on a carenderia and going to other places to sell herbal liniment just to take care of school stuffs. During my High School Days my family struggled a lot mostly with financial aid problems. I had to stop going to high school for 4 years so I can raise a little money to go back to school. I started to work as a domestic helper in our neighbors’ house to save towards my education. From that moment I told myself that no matter what happened I would try to finish my High School studies. After 2 years of staying home and working I went back to school but I study during the day and work as a domestic helper in the evening. I was able to accomplish goal towards my High School studies. I was one the top students in my class. I have upload medals earn by my siblings and me during our school years.

After my high school studies, I started working at a near by town and got paid at 255 peso per day with no benefits. I need to set aside my plan to go to college. I need to help my family first. In order to sustain our daily needs but I never stopped dreaming, instead I help my brother with his college studies. I had the capacity or capable of helping someone and I always do it. And with God’s help he finished his college studies with good grades. Graduate from the course of Electro mechanics. My contract in the company were I used to work as a production work has come to an ended so I really would love to continue with my studies and my dreams of studying in college. I took that job so I can help my siblings wither studies and now I am hoping to take a 2 or 4 years to study in college as a computer secretarial. After my course I will get a good paying job so I can help my family rebuild our house, buy our needs, and help other people and also to help my little siblings with their education. It is really hard to find a good paying job when am only a High School graduate.

I always have this dream inside my heart that someday I will accomplished what I always aimed for. That hopes didn’t fade, the ambitions I had for my family, from the old bag, old shoes with stitches in front of it. I am going to make that dream come through one day. To prove those people wrongly on what their impressions on my family and me. I am going to make it a successful one. Every step I make is for my family, seeing them happy is what my real happiness in life. I’m knocking to your heart for help. Thank you very much for helping me towards a better future.