To start, let me share you a quick glimpse on how I bacame one of the many beneficiaries of AMY foundation. It started when I was only a 14-year old girl who was grieving on the sudden loss of a father. The unforeseen event of losing a padre de pamilya, who at that time was the only one sustaining the living for our family, had given us a hard time coping. As a young girl back then and being the second of five children, one thing I believed in order to augment the needs of my family was to finish my studies and get a degree.
As a sophomore high school, it was still a very long way to go to reach the finish line. Considering the status of my family after the death of my father have given me a strong urge to meet the reality of my dreams. Neglecting the time, it would still take to be a degree holder, I pursued my studies. But reaching my goal will never be as easy as 1, 2, 3. Coming from a financially challenged family, money became one of our major problem for we all know that not everything is free when it comes to studying. I had come to the point when I was slowly losing my hope of achieving my goal due to financial incapability. Fortunately, through ARC Cola Company, the company from which my late father rendered his work, offered us a scholarship from AMY Foundation. When I heard of the news, I felt so relieved and thankful that we would be receiving an aid from the organization.
So from then on, I became a scholar of AMY foundation. The grants that I have been receiving from the foundation not only helped me but also aided the needs of my family. Moreover, it also implicitly taught me on budgeting. In my entire college years, I only have a hundred peso in my pocket daily and that 100-peso includes my back and forth fare from Laguna to Batangas, lunch and if there would be an excess, it would be saved for the unplanned expenses.
When I was still studying, I was always asked on how I survived with only a 100-peso allowance considering the distance of my home to my school. The secret is the will to achieve your dreams. If you have a dream, you have to make a way to make it happen. You don’t only sit on one side and wait for a miracle to happen. Nowadays, poverty is not n excuse for not reaching your goals, for not sending yourself to school, for not being educated. Because ladies and gentlemen, there are people and organizations like AMY foundation who are there to help youths achieve their dreams.
To my co-scholars, always remember that the roads may be rough at times but do not forget the reason why you are there. And if you think you can’t make it, please be reminded that you are not alone in your journey. There are always been people who are willing to aid us and give a helping hand.
To AMY foundation family, I am beyond grateful for the assistance I have received from you since junior high school until my fifth year in college. And to Mr. Alfredo M. Yao, thank you for building AMY foundation. Words can’t express how grateful I am to all the help you have given me for 7 years. Without you, without the foundation, I wouldn’t be who I am today. Thank you for playing a big role in my success.
Above all, I am sending my gratitude to our Almighty Father for blessing us with people like you. May He continue showering your abundant blessings.
Once again, I am Arriane Grace Urbina, a Certified Industrial Engineer, a proud PUPian, a proud Alfredo M. Yao scholar.
