at a crossroad I think that each and any of us here today could reflect back at
of us here today could reflect back at
of us here today could reflect back at times of our lives when we have to pass
times of our lives when we have to pass
times of our lives when we have to pass through a crossroad a crossroad for me
through a crossroad a crossroad for me
through a crossroad a crossroad for me at least would mean times when we have
at least would mean times when we have
at least would mean times when we have to choose between multiple things times
to choose between multiple things times
to choose between multiple things times when we have to get through obstacles
when we have to get through obstacles
when we have to get through obstacles and hardships times when we have to
and hardships times when we have to
and hardships times when we have to choose a certain path even though we’re
choose a certain path even though we’re
choose a certain path even though we’re not even sure where it might take us
not even sure where it might take us
not even sure where it might take us I am zarina Nikko Thomas castle and I
I am zarina Nikko Thomas castle and I
I am zarina Nikko Thomas castle and I came from a small town called Bambang in
came from a small town called Bambang in
came from a small town called Bambang in the Philippines and I’m 18 years old and
the Philippines and I’m 18 years old and
the Philippines and I’m 18 years old and so far I have stood on many crossroads
so far I have stood on many crossroads
so far I have stood on many crossroads in my life already my journey was not
in my life already my journey was not
in my life already my journey was not easy but despite all the ups and downs I
easy but despite all the ups and downs I
easy but despite all the ups and downs I have always been a dreamer and a
have always been a dreamer and a
have always been a dreamer and a risk-taker my parents separated when I
risk-taker my parents separated when I
risk-taker my parents separated when I was seven years old and I remember that
was seven years old and I remember that
was seven years old and I remember that day the first time my parents fought it
day the first time my parents fought it
day the first time my parents fought it was my mom’s birthday
was my mom’s birthday
was my mom’s birthday I witnessed all the hurtful actions and
I witnessed all the hurtful actions and
I witnessed all the hurtful actions and words and I was crying in despair the
words and I was crying in despair the
words and I was crying in despair the next hour my father had to leave the
next hour my father had to leave the
next hour my father had to leave the house and then my mom started packing
house and then my mom started packing
house and then my mom started packing all her clothes I was on my knees as I
all her clothes I was on my knees as I
all her clothes I was on my knees as I was begging my mom mom please don’t
was begging my mom mom please don’t
was begging my mom mom please don’t leave me I was seven years old back then
leave me I was seven years old back then
leave me I was seven years old back then so then I had no power to reverse my
so then I had no power to reverse my
so then I had no power to reverse my parents decisions that night my mom
parents decisions that night my mom
parents decisions that night my mom decided to take me with her sad and hurt
decided to take me with her sad and hurt
decided to take me with her sad and hurt we carried all our things with us it was
we carried all our things with us it was
we carried all our things with us it was midnight then so there was no
midnight then so there was no
midnight then so there was no transportation and we had to carry all
transportation and we had to carry all
transportation and we had to carry all our stuff with us we didn’t even have
our stuff with us we didn’t even have
our stuff with us we didn’t even have money to afford to stay in a hotel so we
money to afford to stay in a hotel so we
money to afford to stay in a hotel so we had to stay in a park nearby our house
had to stay in a park nearby our house
had to stay in a park nearby our house at 1:00 a.m.
at 1:00 a.m.
at 1:00 a.m. feeling cold and unsafe those were the
feeling cold and unsafe those were the
feeling cold and unsafe those were the early memories I had during my childhood
early memories I had during my childhood
early memories I had during my childhood and for four years until I was 12 years
and for four years until I was 12 years
and for four years until I was 12 years old I grew up transferring to schools
old I grew up transferring to schools
old I grew up transferring to schools and places and since then I had to
and places and since then I had to
and places and since then I had to settle with my grandmother who is 85
settle with my grandmother who is 85
settle with my grandmother who is 85 years old at such a young age I was
years old at such a young age I was
years old at such a young age I was trained to being self-reliant to do
trained to being self-reliant to do
trained to being self-reliant to do household chores to take good care of my
household chores to take good care of my
household chores to take good care of my grandmother and to be a good student at
grandmother and to be a good student at
grandmother and to be a good student at school as well at that time my mom had
school as well at that time my mom had
school as well at that time my mom had to work abroad to financially sustain me
to work abroad to financially sustain me
to work abroad to financially sustain me and my education and even though my
and my education and even though my
and my education and even though my parents have separated when I was really
parents have separated when I was really
parents have separated when I was really young they never really failed to
young they never really failed to
young they never really failed to support me and my studies I thought that
support me and my studies I thought that
support me and my studies I thought that after my parents separation I have
after my parents separation I have
after my parents separation I have surpassed the toughest crossroad of my
surpassed the toughest crossroad of my
surpassed the toughest crossroad of my journey but it turns out that life’s
journey but it turns out that life’s
journey but it turns out that life’s obstacles are never predictable as I
obstacles are never predictable as I
obstacles are never predictable as I turned 13 I received the phone call from
turned 13 I received the phone call from
turned 13 I received the phone call from my cousin she said in an obviously
my cousin she said in an obviously
my cousin she said in an obviously worrying tone in Filipino Nico I have a
worrying tone in Filipino Nico I have a
worrying tone in Filipino Nico I have a bad news for you but please don’t be
bad news for you but please don’t be
bad news for you but please don’t be shocked and I replied why what happened
shocked and I replied why what happened
shocked and I replied why what happened and then she said your father has not
and then she said your father has not
and then she said your father has not been acting normal lately we suspect
been acting normal lately we suspect
been acting normal lately we suspect that he is under severe depression in
that he is under severe depression in
that he is under severe depression in this belief as I heard what she said
this belief as I heard what she said
this belief as I heard what she said I hurried over to my father’s house
I hurried over to my father’s house
I hurried over to my father’s house which is a town away from where I was
which is a town away from where I was
which is a town away from where I was staying and I went over and I saw my
staying and I went over and I saw my
staying and I went over and I saw my father somehow turn into this aggressive
father somehow turn into this aggressive
father somehow turn into this aggressive easily irritated and angry man he
easily irritated and angry man he
easily irritated and angry man he doesn’t seem like the father I used to
doesn’t seem like the father I used to
doesn’t seem like the father I used to know the father who dances while cooking
know the father who dances while cooking
know the father who dances while cooking the father who brings left
the father who brings left
the father who brings left and joys after a busy and tough day the
and joys after a busy and tough day the
and joys after a busy and tough day the father who have cherished me as his one
father who have cherished me as his one
father who have cherished me as his one and only child I knew at that time he
and only child I knew at that time he
and only child I knew at that time he wasn’t my father he became someone
wasn’t my father he became someone
wasn’t my father he became someone completely different but I remember
completely different but I remember
completely different but I remember there was one split second where and I
there was one split second where and I
there was one split second where and I was crying as I faced him with courage
was crying as I faced him with courage
was crying as I faced him with courage he was wiping my tears but then as fast
he was wiping my tears but then as fast
he was wiping my tears but then as fast as those few seconds passed he turned
as those few seconds passed he turned
as those few seconds passed he turned back into a raging person again and
back into a raging person again and
back into a raging person again and really that day he sent me home I was
really that day he sent me home I was
really that day he sent me home I was worried sick for a few days and later
worried sick for a few days and later
worried sick for a few days and later that week I have received another phone
that week I have received another phone
that week I have received another phone call but this time it was from the jail
the jail officers told me that my father
the jail officers told me that my father needs to get into rehabilitation as fast
needs to get into rehabilitation as fast
needs to get into rehabilitation as fast as possible due to severe depress
as possible due to severe depress
as possible due to severe depress depression and hallucination I visited
depression and hallucination I visited
depression and hallucination I visited my father for the first time inside the
my father for the first time inside the
my father for the first time inside the rehab he was wearing handcuffs with
rehab he was wearing handcuffs with
rehab he was wearing handcuffs with bruises on his face and contusion on his
bruises on his face and contusion on his
bruises on his face and contusion on his left eye obviously showing that he’s
left eye obviously showing that he’s
left eye obviously showing that he’s been physically abused by other
been physically abused by other
been physically abused by other prisoners in the rehab at that time it
prisoners in the rehab at that time it
prisoners in the rehab at that time it was one of those moments when I felt
was one of those moments when I felt
was one of those moments when I felt very angry when I felt very sad and
very angry when I felt very sad and
very angry when I felt very sad and guilty all at the same time because I
guilty all at the same time because I
guilty all at the same time because I thought that I haven’t done anything to
thought that I haven’t done anything to
thought that I haven’t done anything to help my father so we sat on one of the
help my father so we sat on one of the
help my father so we sat on one of the tables in the visiting corner of the
tables in the visiting corner of the
tables in the visiting corner of the rehab center and then my father could
rehab center and then my father could
rehab center and then my father could not recognize me anymore my father could
not recognize me anymore my father could
not recognize me anymore my father could not recognize his one and only daughter
he kept on referring to me as an angel
he kept on referring to me as an angel just because I was wearing white that
just because I was wearing white that
just because I was wearing white that day I brought snacks for him and then as
day I brought snacks for him and then as
day I brought snacks for him and then as fast as I gave it to him he grabbed it
fast as I gave it to him he grabbed it
fast as I gave it to him he grabbed it quickly and wiped it all over the table
quickly and wiped it all over the table
quickly and wiped it all over the table I know at that time it was impossible
I know at that time it was impossible
I know at that time it was impossible for me to have a normal conversation
for me to have a normal conversation
for me to have a normal conversation with my father anymore I was full of
with my father anymore I was full of
with my father anymore I was full of tears
tears
tears I was definitely eager to move him out
I was definitely eager to move him out
I was definitely eager to move him out of there as fast as I as soon as he gets
of there as fast as I as soon as he gets
of there as fast as I as soon as he gets his treatments and medications over I
remember there was also a time when I
remember there was also a time when I had to defend my father in front of the
had to defend my father in front of the
had to defend my father in front of the court in front of lawyers and judges I
court in front of lawyers and judges I
court in front of lawyers and judges I was 14 years old then my father was
was 14 years old then my father was
was 14 years old then my father was sitting in front of me he was wearing
sitting in front of me he was wearing
sitting in front of me he was wearing handcuffs I couldn’t help but to cry I
handcuffs I couldn’t help but to cry I
handcuffs I couldn’t help but to cry I was begging the lawyers and my father
was begging the lawyers and my father
was begging the lawyers and my father cried with me as I held onto his hands
cried with me as I held onto his hands
cried with me as I held onto his hands that time I realized how much I love my
that time I realized how much I love my
that time I realized how much I love my father and that I could never keep
father and that I could never keep
father and that I could never keep silent of his suffering and that I will
silent of his suffering and that I will
silent of his suffering and that I will do everything that I can to possibly
do everything that I can to possibly
do everything that I can to possibly help him after several months broken
help him after several months broken
help him after several months broken bits and pieces of my life have started
bits and pieces of my life have started
bits and pieces of my life have started mending over again my father started to
mending over again my father started to
mending over again my father started to get better although I admit that it was
get better although I admit that it was
get better although I admit that it was tough to act independently and mature
tough to act independently and mature
tough to act independently and mature enough at such a young age
enough at such a young age
enough at such a young age I still feel grateful because of those
I still feel grateful because of those
I still feel grateful because of those things that have challenged yet inspired
things that have challenged yet inspired
things that have challenged yet inspired me to be Who I am today
coming from an ordinary rural family
coming from an ordinary rural family with no affluent background
with no affluent background
with no affluent background studying hard has been my only way to
studying hard has been my only way to
studying hard has been my only way to obtain my education through scholarships
obtain my education through scholarships
obtain my education through scholarships I grew up in a small province when the
I grew up in a small province when the
I grew up in a small province when the most prominent job is farming and as
most prominent job is farming and as
most prominent job is farming and as farmers in the context of the developing
farmers in the context of the developing
farmers in the context of the developing countries would mean that you belong in
countries would mean that you belong in
countries would mean that you belong in the substandard class the previous
the substandard class the previous
the substandard class the previous generations of most families including
generations of most families including
generations of most families including mine have been raised with the idea that
mine have been raised with the idea that
mine have been raised with the idea that education is never a priority the
education is never a priority the
education is never a priority the tendency of this mindset is that
tendency of this mindset is that
tendency of this mindset is that children are being put into boxes that
children are being put into boxes that
children are being put into boxes that limit their capacity their potential to
limit their capacity their potential to
limit their capacity their potential to dream and to inspire and to learn many
dream and to inspire and to learn many
dream and to inspire and to learn many things it is why those people back home
things it is why those people back home
things it is why those people back home including my family have been that have
including my family have been that have
including my family have been that have been raised with this mindset they have
been raised with this mindset they have
been raised with this mindset they have not finished their education my parents
not finished their education my parents
not finished their education my parents used to tell me stories of their
used to tell me stories of their
used to tell me stories of their childhood there right after school
childhood there right after school
childhood there right after school instead of they would go straight to the
instead of they would go straight to the
instead of they would go straight to the fields not to play but to get trained on
fields not to play but to get trained on
fields not to play but to get trained on basic gardening instead this pressing
basic gardening instead this pressing
basic gardening instead this pressing issue of poverty and lack of education
issue of poverty and lack of education
issue of poverty and lack of education is still very relevant in my country and
is still very relevant in my country and
is still very relevant in my country and in different corners of the world and
breaking the barrier of this issue for
breaking the barrier of this issue for me was not easy however I’m lucky enough
me was not easy however I’m lucky enough
me was not easy however I’m lucky enough that my parents are both supportive of
that my parents are both supportive of
that my parents are both supportive of me and my education even though they
me and my education even though they
me and my education even though they have not finished their college degree
have not finished their college degree
have not finished their college degree they have sustained the hope of marching
they have sustained the hope of marching
they have sustained the hope of marching me up that stage some day while getting
me up that stage some day while getting
me up that stage some day while getting my diploma soon as my father started to
my diploma soon as my father started to
my diploma soon as my father started to get better I have applied for UWC
get better I have applied for UWC
get better I have applied for UWC however I was only given to 75%
however I was only given to 75%
however I was only given to 75% scholarship which meant that I have to
scholarship which meant that I have to
scholarship which meant that I have to provide the remaining 25% which is
provide the remaining 25% which is
provide the remaining 25% which is equivalent to
equivalent to
equivalent to half a million Philippine pesos
half a million Philippine pesos
half a million Philippine pesos incredibly huge amount of money
incredibly huge amount of money
incredibly huge amount of money seemingly impossible for me and my
seemingly impossible for me and my
seemingly impossible for me and my parents to provide however it is of
parents to provide however it is of
parents to provide however it is of great blessing as I consider that the
great blessing as I consider that the
great blessing as I consider that the uawc Philippines National Committee have
uawc Philippines National Committee have
uawc Philippines National Committee have helped me through all these soon I was
helped me through all these soon I was
helped me through all these soon I was interviewed by a journalist from Rattler
interviewed by a journalist from Rattler
interviewed by a journalist from Rattler calm which is which is an Indonesian
calm which is which is an Indonesian
calm which is which is an Indonesian Philippine based news website then my
Philippine based news website then my
Philippine based news website then my life story has been published also
life story has been published also
life story has been published also announced in a local broadcasting
announced in a local broadcasting
announced in a local broadcasting station and was featured in several
station and was featured in several
station and was featured in several articles of the university after my life
articles of the university after my life
articles of the university after my life story was published I have received
story was published I have received
story was published I have received numerous donations from companies and
numerous donations from companies and
numerous donations from companies and the local government and even from
the local government and even from
the local government and even from people I didn’t know
people I didn’t know
people I didn’t know only through fundraising campaign
only through fundraising campaign
only through fundraising campaign I received an amount of money enough to
I received an amount of money enough to
I received an amount of money enough to send me to for my first year in uwc I
send me to for my first year in uwc I
send me to for my first year in uwc I have felt very blessed that I promised
have felt very blessed that I promised
have felt very blessed that I promised myself that I’m going to give back as
myself that I’m going to give back as
myself that I’m going to give back as much as I can to others someday and
much as I can to others someday and
much as I can to others someday and coming to you WC have given me that
coming to you WC have given me that
coming to you WC have given me that platform to partake in educational
platform to partake in educational
platform to partake in educational movements and to pursue educational and
movements and to pursue educational and
movements and to pursue educational and inspirational projects during my first
inspirational projects during my first
inspirational projects during my first year of International Baccalaureate I
year of International Baccalaureate I
year of International Baccalaureate I have participated in four project weeks
have participated in four project weeks
have participated in four project weeks already two of which I have organized
already two of which I have organized
already two of which I have organized myself on giving back I have organized
myself on giving back I have organized
myself on giving back I have organized an extension project during the summer
an extension project during the summer
an extension project during the summer in the Philippines to a far-flung
in the Philippines to a far-flung
in the Philippines to a far-flung elementary school called Akasha coyopa
elementary school called Akasha coyopa
elementary school called Akasha coyopa elementary school with a total of 80
elementary school with a total of 80
elementary school with a total of 80 students from kindergarten to grade 6
students from kindergarten to grade 6
students from kindergarten to grade 6 along with a team of volunteers we have
along with a team of volunteers we have
along with a team of volunteers we have conducted a dreaming workshop which aims
conducted a dreaming workshop which aims
conducted a dreaming workshop which aims to provide a safe space for children to
to provide a safe space for children to
to provide a safe space for children to dare to dream despite of poverty and any
dare to dream despite of poverty and any
dare to dream despite of poverty and any challenges in life we have also donated
challenges in life we have also donated
challenges in life we have also donated school supplies and shoes to the
school supplies and shoes to the
school supplies and shoes to the children I remember on one of the
children I remember on one of the
children I remember on one of the workshop sessions I became pretty
workshop sessions I became pretty
workshop sessions I became pretty emotional as I saw myself in one and the
emotional as I saw myself in one and the
emotional as I saw myself in one and the position of those kids on their seats
position of those kids on their seats
position of those kids on their seats studying as hard as they can some of
studying as hard as they can some of
studying as hard as they can some of them even were walk for three hours
them even were walk for three hours
them even were walk for three hours through steep hills and rocky paths just
through steep hills and rocky paths just
through steep hills and rocky paths just to get to school I remember there was
to get to school I remember there was
to get to school I remember there was also this one kid named AJ and he was
also this one kid named AJ and he was
also this one kid named AJ and he was bragging about his one world sweet
bragging about his one world sweet
bragging about his one world sweet potato he has packed for lunch as to how
potato he has packed for lunch as to how
potato he has packed for lunch as to how simple life is for them I have realized
simple life is for them I have realized
simple life is for them I have realized I have seen happiness and contentment
I have seen happiness and contentment
I have seen happiness and contentment through hard work these memories have
through hard work these memories have
through hard work these memories have had during the summer have walked with
had during the summer have walked with
had during the summer have walked with me since then memories I shall cherish
me since then memories I shall cherish
me since then memories I shall cherish and I will never forget here is a video
and I will never forget here is a video
and I will never forget here is a video of the previous project so please
[Music]
[Music] me
so this year to enlarge the impact of
so this year to enlarge the impact of the previous project I have designed a
the previous project I have designed a
the previous project I have designed a bigger project and I have proposed a
bigger project and I have proposed a
bigger project and I have proposed a month-long program to the school and it
month-long program to the school and it
month-long program to the school and it was given extensive funding it’s called
was given extensive funding it’s called
was given extensive funding it’s called dreams and inspirations this project is
dreams and inspirations this project is
dreams and inspirations this project is built around the mission of providing
built around the mission of providing
built around the mission of providing safe space for youths to create and
safe space for youths to create and
safe space for youths to create and spread inspirations to realize their
spread inspirations to realize their
spread inspirations to realize their potentials and to pursue their dreams it
potentials and to pursue their dreams it
potentials and to pursue their dreams it will be conducted during the month of
will be conducted during the month of
will be conducted during the month of July the summer 2017 within eleven
July the summer 2017 within eleven
July the summer 2017 within eleven Prospekt public high schools in the
Prospekt public high schools in the
Prospekt public high schools in the Philippines in which along with a team
Philippines in which along with a team
Philippines in which along with a team of volunteers we will be conducting
of volunteers we will be conducting
of volunteers we will be conducting workshops and we will be donating school
workshops and we will be donating school
workshops and we will be donating school supplies and shoes inspired by the
supplies and shoes inspired by the
supplies and shoes inspired by the previous project this project will
previous project this project will
previous project this project will hopefully serve as a kick starter of an
hopefully serve as a kick starter of an
hopefully serve as a kick starter of an NGO foundation which will be based in
NGO foundation which will be based in
NGO foundation which will be based in the Philippines soon looking back I have
the Philippines soon looking back I have
the Philippines soon looking back I have realized that in the early years of my
realized that in the early years of my
realized that in the early years of my life I have walked on a bumpy road
however I have learned one thing that
however I have learned one thing that the path that led me to where I am today
the path that led me to where I am today
the path that led me to where I am today was never actually given to me some of
was never actually given to me some of
was never actually given to me some of them I have to choose and some of them I
them I have to choose and some of them I
them I have to choose and some of them I rather have to build myself thank you
”
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