06/08/2026
When I was choosing my college program, I didn't know what I truly wanted to become. I just wanted a future where my family would no longer have to worry about money.
That belief led me to apply to different universities with different college programs. I was lucky enough to pass in UP Manila, Ateneo, PLM, PUP, and other state universities. I even secured my slot in Accountancy at PLM and was already assigned to a block.
To many people, it seemed like I was already on the right path.
However, a week before classes began, I made what many believed was the biggest mistake of my life: I withdrew Accountancy and walked away from the Pamantasan.
It was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. When I looked back at the courses I had applied for—Accountancy, Biology, and Political Science—I realized that I hadn't chosen them because they reflected who I was. I had chosen them because I believed they would lead me to a secured future.
For the first time, I asked myself a simple question: "If I wouldn't care about money, what would I choose?"
The answer was clear.
For the first time in my life, I trusted myself.
I enrolled in a Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English at a local college in the City of Navotas. I thought that time: it was never about choosing one university over another; it was about choosing a program that reflected who I truly was.
But two weeks before the classes started, I received a phone call.
Ah! It was the Navotas Merit Scholarship.
After months of not hearing an update from them, I had already convinced myself that I wasn't chosen. However, I was wrong. That unexpected scholarship acceptance had greatly helped me survive my college journey.
Yet, as my first year ended, a quiet voice told me there was still room to grow. I wanted more. I wanted to further challenge myself outside my comfort zone. After long weeks of reflection, I made another difficult decision to leave my previous college school.
For the second time, I trusted myself.
I transferred to the National Teachers College. In this school, I poured my heart into my studies to eventually finish my degree. I was contented. I was happy. But deep inside, I knew there was still another dream waiting for me.
I remember back then, after long hours of online classes, schoolworks, and lectures, I had always opened the same game—Mobile Legends. It was only my entertainment game at the start, but slowly, it evolved into a burning passion. A simple hobby slowly became a dream.
For the third time, I trusted myself.
I decided to become Kiarma—a content creator and a live streamer.
By day, I was a student. During my internship, my mornings began at 4:00 AM, with classes from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM. By evening, I would stream live from around 6:00 PM until midnight.
Between those long days and sleepless nights, Kiarma was born. In fact, I edited most of my contents while commuting in jeepneys, waiting in the hallways of NTC, and sitting inside our classroom. There were days when I continuosly questioned the worth of my exhaustion. But somehow, I kept showing up for both dreams.
To the people who believed in me—especially Mama, Ate, Kuya, Nanays, Tatay, and Daddy—thank you for believing in me even before I fully believed in myself.
Looking back, I realize that my college journey was never about choosing the safest career—it was about understanding who I truly am.
Kiarma
422*****5
Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English
National Teachers College
Class of 2026
