SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES: EXPLORING 'THE WAY WE SEE THINGS' KIM JEREMY B. YUMUL
7hroughout m\ life ,Ye had the priYilege of meeting remarkable indiYiduals from Yarious walks of life each teaching me inYaluable lessons in their uniTue wa\ +oweYer there s one classmate from m\ education da\s whose stor\ has left an indelible mark on both m\ heart and mind 6teph the daughter of a garbage collector and a laundr\ woman embodies the essence of hard work and determination 'espite the lack of electricit\ in her home she neYer fails to be punctual for school armed onl\ with a gas lamp to light her wa\ $rriYing earl\ eYer\ morning she takes it upon herself to tid\ up our classroom demonstrating her natural diligence and care ,t s no surprise that she has neYer faltered academicall\ consis tentl\ excelling in our classes 6ome ma\ speculate that , faYor 6teph because , see reflec tions of m\ struggles in her Mourne\ ,ndeed we share similar backgrounds both hailing from humble beginnings and possessing an un\ielding driYe to oYercome adYersit\ , recog ni]e the fire in her e\es the same fire that fueled m\ determination 'espite the challenges we face²be it limited resources or cramped liYing conditions²we refuse to be held back 2ne afternoon after class m\ admiration for 6teph grew eYen deeper as she spoke can didl\ about her life s challenges with a maturit\ be\ond her \ears 'espite her hardships she exuded an aura of peace and contentment her e\es radiating with resilience and her smiles reflecting the goodness of her soul 6he spoke of her father s tireless efforts to proYide for their famil\ finding treasure amidst what others discard 0a\ ginto po sa basura she remarked reYealing her fathers resourcefulness in turning trash into sustenance ,t struck me then amidst 6teph s humilit\ and gratitude that there s a profound richness to be found in life s most unexpected places +er parents particularl\ her father epitomi]e the unwaYering dedication of caregiYers striYing to secure a better future for their children $s , reflect on 6teph s Mourne\ , m reminded of the profound impact that indiYiduals like her haYe on shaping our world 7heir resilience and tenacit\ inspire us to confront our challenges with courage and grace 6teph s stor\ serYes as a beacon of hope reminding us that no obstacle is insurmountable in the pursuit of our dreams ,n closing let us celebrate the unsung heroes like 6teph and her famil\ whose unwaYering spirit and resilience illuminate the path to a brighter tomorrow 7heir stories remind us that greatness knows no bounds transcending socio economic barriers to inspire us all