Pinatunayan ni Simone Gabrielle Balaba, 18, ng Lapu-Lapu City sa Cebu na hindi kailangang maging valedictorian o galing sa prestihiyosong eskuwelahan para makakuha ng scholarships sa U.S. universities.
Si Simone na nag-aaral sa isang public school sa Brgy. Basak ay nag-apply sa 10 universities and colleges sa U.S.
Pumasa siya sa lahat, at nakakuha ng scholarship grants na tinatayang aabot ng PHP55 million.
Bawat isa sa sampung paaralan ay may alok na yearly scholarship kay Simone na renewable sa loob ng apat na taon.
ISLAND GIRL FROM LAPU-LAPU
Sa Facebook post ni Simone noong April, binigyang-diin niya ang pagiging island girl, mula sa small public school, at hindi pagiging top student.
Pero paglilinaw ni Simone, hindi niya ibinababa ang kanyang sarili.
Paliwanag niya sa PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal): “The term ‘island girl’ was just something I used to describe myself, as I resided in Lapu-Lapu City which was a small island in Cebu.
“Perhaps that term has shown how anyone can accomplish anything no matter where you are.”
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Binanggit din ng dalaga sa kanyang post na ang kanyang school ay “not in a STEM-centered and business class but was neither too involved in Science and Mathematics.”
Karamihan daw kasi sa mga nakakapasok sa U.S. universities ay STEM (science and technology, engineering, mathematics)-based ang pinanggalingang school dito sa bansa.
Si Simone ay nag-aaral sa Science and Technology Education Center - Junior High School sa Barangay Basak, at isang Humanities and Social Sciences Strand student.
Ang kuwento pa ni Simone sa PEP.ph, “It did seem quite impossible for me to get scholarships, let alone get admitted abroad.
“I’ve always seen stories and articles of students getting admitted.
“However, the majority of those students were those with a business or STEM background or valedictorians.
“I wasn't too inclined toward business, math, or science and I wasn't at the top of my class.
“I told my mother that perhaps I could get admitted into at least one (1) school.
“Fortunately, I proved myself wrong. Getting admitted into ten (10) universities and colleges with scholarships was a dream come true for me, but I didn’t see it coming.”
Narito ang sampung U.S. school na nag-offer ng scholarship grants kay Simone:
Augustana College (Illinois), University of La Verne (California), Fisher College (Massachusetts), The University of Akron (Ohio), Hawai’i Pacific University (Hawaii), Whitworth University (Washington), Hollins University (Virginia), DePaul University (Illinois), Xavier University (Ohio), at Knox College (Illinois).
INSPIRATION TO OTHERS
Sa pakikipagpalitan ng mensahe, binigyang-diin ni Simone ang pagkakaroon ng tiwala sa sarili.
Sabi niya, “Opportunities are endless and believing in yourself is key to successfully getting those opportunities.
“I have learned to stop looking down on myself or jumping to conclusions.
“Seeing my potential was what I lacked and that’s something that I have learned after getting into this point of my life.
“Of course, I wouldn’t have gotten all these blessings if it weren’t for the support I got from my family, my friends, and my teachers.”
Umaasa rin siya na paghuhugutan ng inspirasyon ng ibang estudyante ang kanyang kuwento.
Aniya, “Perhaps my story could be a stepping stone for other students to realize that they too, have the chance to get admitted to universities and colleges abroad.
“The first step to achieving your goals is to, of course, give ourselves a chance.”
Samantala, nagbigay ng update si Simone sa napili niyang eskuwelahan: ang Augustana College sa Illinois.
Nais niyang kumuha ng Double Major in Creative Writing and Asian Studies and Minor in Japanese, aniya sa "Bawal Judgmental" episode ng Eat Bulaga! nitong May 5, 2023.
Malapit din daw ito sa kanyang ate na second year sa kursong Accounting at may double minor in Political Science and Data Science sa Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois.
Sa kabuuan daw, 70 percent ng total scholarship—kasama ang boarding—ang makukuha ni Simone mula sa Augustana College.
Sa ngayon ay naghahanap ng sponsor si Simone bago ang kanyang nakatakdang flight sa Illinois sa darating na Agosto.