Hold Onto You (Book 3 of You Trilogy)

Kabanata 36

Hindi kami nagtagal sa Cebu. Umuwi rin kami ni Joshua at nagpatuloy sa kanya-kanya naming buhay. He got back to work while I tried looking for a job. I was hired as a research assistant. Shortly after that, another opportunity came. Na-offeran akong maging childcare worker. I immediately grabbed the latter as I always have a soft spot for kids. Even though my initial plan was to work for mental health institutions... sa tingin ko ay maganda ring i-explore ang pagtuturo sa mga kabataan.

"Nakapagtapos ka pala?" tanong ni Jasmin, isa ring childcare worker na gaya ko.

We are currently attending a seminar at kasalukuyan kaming nakikinig sa speaker sa harap. Ang dumalo sa mga pagtitipong kagaya nito ang isa sa mga kailangan naming gawin bago pormal na makapagsimula sa trabaho.

"Oo. Psych graduate ako." I answered.

"Ay, talaga? Buti ka pa."

"How about you? Ano'ng course mo?"

"Educ pero hanggang second-year lang ako. Maagang na-juntis eh."

One thing about applying for the job I'm in right now is that it does not require qualifications like that of teachers and other professionals. Karamihan sa mga kasama ko ngayon sa seminar na ito ay hindi nakapagtapos ng kolehiyo. This is different from what I've known in the States.

"Hindi ka ba nag-apply ng ibang trabaho? I mean, nakapagtapos ka naman. For sure qualified ka sa mga trabahong may mas malaking sweldo."

Isa sa disadvantages ng trabahong napasukan ko ay ang kababaan ng sweldo. Minimum wage lang ang kikitain namin dito. Pero ayos lang naman iyon sa'kin. Sa rami ng kahirapang tinamo ko sa buhay, natutunan ko namang magtipid... kaya walang problema sa'kin.

"May ibang opportunities naman pero mas gusto kong magturo sa mga bata, eh."

I didn't realize this until I was introduced to the idea. Kahit na malapit at magaan ang loob ko sa mga bata noon pa, hindi kailanman dumaan sa utak ko ang pagtuturo. And for me, that is exactly how life works. It surprises you in many ways. It forces you to grow by presenting different opportunities. Although I'm not yet certain if I will love this job completely, I still want to give it a try. After all, the only way to learn and grow is to take risk and go out of our comfort zones.

"Sabagay. Wala ka namang pamilyang binubuhay at mukhang nakakaluwag-luwag ka naman kaya hindi ka tumitingin sa sweldo." nagkibit-balikat siya.

The seminar lasted for one whole day. It ended at around 4 p.m. Joshua texted me earlier that he's already on his way to pick me up so I immediately went out of the room as soon as the speaker finished talking.

"Miss Skyler!"

Napalingon ako nang marinig ang sariling pangalan. I saw a tall man slightly jogging his way to me.