I was born and raised in a tiny village in the Philippines, where life was simple and we didn’t have modern conveniences like electricity, television, or refrigerators. My father was a fisherman and farmer and my mother was a seamstress.

I spent almost nine wonderful years in Singapore, a city that will always hold a special place in my heart.

I don’t have siblings, But I’ve always wished for one.

As a child, my dreams evolved constantly. I wanted to be a saleslady in a big department store, then a nurse until I realized I was too scared of blood. I considered criminology but eventually chose to study Hospitality Management in college, hoping to become a flight attendant. After several attempts to join Qatar Airways and Emirates, I shifted my focus and ended up in Singapore for a six-month internship.

After college, I landed a job in sales, hotels, restaurants, and supermarket cashier. It was challenging, and I was never truly happy.

In 2012, I visited Singapore as a tourist and landed a six-month job contract. Through hard work and dedication, the six months eventually led to longer stays. Despite earning more than I had in the Philippines, I wasn’t truly happy in my sales job. I yearned for more—a different job, one with weekends and holiday offs-an office job.

While supporting my parents in the Philippines and trying to save up. In March 2016, I returned to the Philippines to pursue a Master’s degree in Business Administration at the University of San Carlos, Cebu.

Tragically, about 2 month after my arrival, my mother was diagnosed and passed away in November of the same year, altering my life’s course. It was never the same, and I knew I couldn’t stay in the Philippines anymore. I needed to go back to Singapore, where I felt more alive and my dreams felt closer.

I flew to Singapore in January 2017 and stayed for a month. So so thankful for the friends there who stayed with me all the way! Then, I flew back at the end of February again, only to be denied entry because I couldn’t frequently be in the country as a tourist. In the blink of an eye I found myself back in the Philippine Airport, at midnight, crying.

Deportation didn’t discourage me from pursuing and returning to the country I had called home for many years. After lots of hard work, thousands of job applications, sleepless nights, and prayers, I returned to Singapore in April 2017 with a job offer. It was surreal!

Two years ago, I moved to Denver and working in Accounts Payable with my amazing Espire Dental family!

My journey has taught me that good things are waiting for all of us, whether in wealth, career, or personal fulfillment. The key is to keep moving forward and never give up. “Dreams do come true for those who never give up.”