DREAMS ARE FREE AND DEFINITELY FOR EVERYBODY

Do you still have dreams left unfulfilled? Why not start realizing those dreams that you want to achieve from now on? I myself have mistakenly thought to just kept away those dreams that I had back when I was still a kid. That dream was to travel to far away land where you can see those snow-capped mountains. One day I woke up and realized I could still fulfill those dreams. All I need is to start anew and start working for it to come true. I knew that there is no perfect job nor perfect life. What we have is a perfect God who is able to lead us through this imperfect life with unfailing strength, incomparable wisdom and infinite love.

I have been a public servant as a public school teacher for fifteen long years. This profession has been the primary source of income for the family. Sad to say, being a public school teacher in my home country, with a big family like ours, is still not enough to provide a decent life for the members of the family.

I am a mother of six polite, courteous and disciplined children. They are the precious treasures that life has offered me. But life has been very hard for us for these past years. We have been struggling financially that at times we couldn’t even get enough food to eat on our table and enough family income to live a decent life.

One thing that didn’t go so well was we kept on repeating the same pattern of our life’s situation every year. For a long time, we were not able to think of any other solution to our distressing situation. It was very hard for me as a mother and an educator to see my children struggling in their lives. I can only provide them of their basic needs but not anymore to their simplest wants as teenagers.

To make things worst, one day I got a letter from the bank stating that I had to fully pay my emergency loan immediately since it has been due and compounded interests had been applied. I only had a small net pay as public school teacher so I had no other option to try other lending institution to borrow money to pay off the said overdue loan that very instant. I thought that was rock bottom already. But it was not. My co-teacher who was my co-maker became outrageous about the status of my loan with her name on it. She had come to me a few times angry and yelling that I should pay off my bank debt by selling my properties like our small farm so that her name would no longer be involved as my co-maker. She even came to a point of humiliating me in front of my colleagues about my bank debt.

Experiencing such kind of humiliation made my tears rolled down my cheeks and all I could say to myself was this prayer: “Lord, I knew that you can see what is happening, please save me from the pit that I am in right now.” In that instant, a cousin of mine, reached out to me in FB messenger and we started chatting. My cousin was convincing me to leave the teaching job I had for 15 long years and find a better paying teaching job someplace else. She added that my job at my home county won’t suffice to support the college years of my children no matter how hard I work. My cousin reminded me of how I just kept on repeating the cycle of applying a loan and repaying the loan for the rest my life until I don’t have anything left for my retirement years.

Having heard that, I pondered on it over and over again. Then, I made a decision - not just any decision but the bravest decision I have ever made; a firm and determined one. I said to myself: ”I will resign, apply for a new job, take the risk whatever it may cost me.”

The humiliation I experienced and the feeling that people belittle me because of my financial status in life became the main source of my motivation. I started proving to myself and to these people that I can change the course of my life. I realized that all I needed to do is unleash the skills and potentials God has given to me. As the statement says, ”Dreams don’t work unless you do.” We must kept on working for our dreams as long as it will be in accordance to God’s plan.

God’s plan included redirecting me to good people to achieve my goals. So iTeach America, LLC came towards my direction. This is not your usual agency that is only there for you to merely earn profit as a business institution. iTeach America works closely with their teachers to help them change their lives.

Looking back, with the help and guidance of my cousin Hazel and Ms.Julie of iTeach America, I was able to start the application process to join the Teacher Exchange Program. The process was long and time consuming. I had to send my applications to many different schools in the USA and had to go through a couple of job interviews. The process was indeed never easy. Many times I couldn’t sleep so well since I had to stay awake very late at night anticipating to get responses from schools. I stayed hopeful that one day, one of them would respond to my emails and would invite me for interviews. Few months passed by, I kept on holding on to my goal with a whole lot of optimism - hoping that one day my efforts and prayers will be answered.

April 16, 2021, on my 40th Birthday, I received an email from Chevak School in Alaska,USA. The Superintendent was inviting me for a virtual panel job interview. Within that very moment I knew exactly that it was an answered prayer - felt it deep inside my heart. It was God’s answer to me saying “YES, and there’s more for your prayers.”

April 23,2021 at 7:00 in the morning, I was interviewed, and 3 hours after, the school sent me the job offer letter to sign. I finally found Chevak, Alaska as my new institution to continue my career as teacher.

Does this mean new life really begins at 40 for me? Having that in mind, I soon realized that the journey to fulfilling my dream had just began. I still have to climb over jagged hills and mountains, cross the vast oceans of hardships and trials before I can really be triumphant.

As teacher in the Department of Education-Philippines, getting our clearance to resign from our Department was never easy. I had to face some resistance from school admins. I was discouraged about leaving my work as permanent teacher. The what if’s were thrown at me to scare me like what if my application will not go so well and I am already on the way of leaving my permanent job to take on another job in a faraway land that I have never been to.

To add salt to injury, on the day I personally filed my resignation, the admin only offered me insulting words and unimaginable humiliation in front of other teachers who happened to be in that office that day doing other official business.

I could clearly remember his words, it still lingered in my head. I can still feel how those piercing words wounded my heart and touched my pride. The admin said: “Are you sure that job offer is for you? How come you were chosen as participant of the Exchange Visitor Program of the United States of America? How did you know about it? I don’t even know that program myself? Is your agency legal? There are other teachers in our District who are more qualified than you! I will not sign your clearance unless you can prove to me that you’re one of the most outstanding teacher in my District. I should be sending the most qualified teacher to represent my District. I don’t care if that would mean a delay in your paperwork. If you will not be hired anymore because you got delayed, then that is not my problem anymore. I may not sign your papers so you’ll get stuck here. If I’m going to allow you to go, all other teachers will follow you.”

Hearing those words from my superior was hurtful and I could not find any single word to say at that very moment. I went out of his office to compose myself, and finally find myself saying,”Lord you knew what I went through just to get this job offer in the USA. I entrust to you my plans, thy will be done.”

Several weeks passed, my papers for resignation were still not processed and signed. I just kept my fingers crossed- praying that one day my prayers will be heard. That one day came. God sent to me an angel on earth in the person of my previous school principal Sir Teddy. He had already retired from government service but we still kept in touched especially that he and my husband have been good friends. He offered to help, and went to the Division Office and advocated for me. He made it clear to the office that my papers should not be delayed since it was urgent and needed immediate action. He knows the law since he had worked in the Regional Trial Court as Mediator. Because of Sir Teddy, my papers were signed after a month of waiting. That was a long wait, but it did not matter anymore because God finally sent an angel to help me and His timing is always right.

Blessings continue to pour down from heaven. People who didn’t know me personally offered financial assistance like Ms. Clemen and Ms. Mercy- sister’s with the same heart of gold.

I can’t really imagine my journey in achieving this American dream without these people. It was a roller coaster ride, full of surprises; but in the end, what really matters is I finally reached and fulfilled my dream. It helped a lot that I have a positive outlook in life.

I am now presently teaching as MS/HS PE Teacher and MS/HS Social Studies Teacher at Chevak School in Alaska and earning a monthly salary which can now give me and my family a more decent life, more than enough food in our table and have some personal savings in the bank for the future of my children.

Comparison is odious but I can’t blame myself comparing the financial status that I have right now and the fifteen years that I was working with my previous job.

Yes! I took a very risky decision but I am glad I got the courage and faith to do so.I always believe that “miracles happen every day for those who truly believes in it.”

Sometimes, we may felt afraid to leave our jobs that do not make us happy anymore because we aren’t sure that we may be able to find a much better one. One thing for certain is that even before asking anything, God already knows what we exactly need and what really is inside our hearts and minds. There are always a lot of new things life can offer you. All that is required is to have bundle of courage and determination, as well as a truck load of hope and faith. Let us continue dreaming. Dreams are for free and definitely for everybody.