The universe is listening.

There are only three things that I want in life. One, I want to become successful. Two, I want to experience as much of life as possible. And three, I want to be myself. It took me my entire life to figure these out. I had goals and ideas before but they weren?t clear. When I decided to sit down and sort things out, my goals turned out to be surprisingly simple.

I read somewhere that in order to get what you want, you have to say it. You have to shout, to speak out loud! Your voice must have clarity and conviction to convince the entire universe that you want it because it is listening and waiting to give it.

?When you want something, the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it,? Paulo Coelho wrote in ?The Alchemist.? I believe it.

When I said I want to be successful, I meant it. I?ve always wanted to be a writer. Ever since I was a little girl, I knew it. But it?s terribly hard to become one these days. So I surveyed other fields. I?m glad that I live in an era when careers overlap one another and new opportunities are born every minute. I?m also grateful that I am gifted with flexibility, creativity and openness for such endeavors. Multitasking is like breathing to me. So I need a job that will allow me to maximize my resources.

Choosing a career is always a serious business. That?s why I made use of my strengths by choosing mass communications. In cultivating my appetite for the new and exciting, I prepared myself to choose from among careers that veered away from the norm. Fashion, media, music and writing were a few of the many options that I had. I can?t be a writer right now but I can be many things instead.

I don?t believe success can be measured by material possessions like a big house in a nice neighborhood, two cars and membership in an exclusive country club. Some people might think so and I respect that. But I prefer to measure my own success by how much I give back and how much I learn. Nice things are great. Weekly shopping trips are terrific. I love money but it?s not my god. I believe money can be used to improve my life, to help me get out there and to give back to my community.

By putting myself out there, I can accomplish my goal of experiencing life to the fullest. Experience is the best teacher. I want to do so many things. My generation loves the fast and the furious. No wonder that we are the smartest, most fearless and most successful people in the world. The confidence and poise to take on challenges are inborn. I am blessed to belong to this generation whose members can willingly throw themselves into anything. What I?ve learned is that you can defy stereotypes, you can fight, you can learn and you can live your life.

I am fortunate to have a supportive and encouraging family who understand this need, this fervor. They are always there to tell me that I can do it, I should do it. My mother is my rock and my inspiration. With her guidance and encouragement, I have realized what I want. If it wasn?t for my family I won?t take any risks.

Our financial situation leaves a lot to be desired. My father recently retired so money is tight. When I had work, life was easier. It was good for the family because I could help my mother with the household budget. But they assured me it would be fine if I went back to school. That was then. But now that my father is not earning anymore, our financial situation needs shoring up. It is time for me to give back what I got.

It is not that I don?t value a college education. I prize it quite highly. I truly believe that to succeed in life, I need a college diploma. It opens doors and opportunities. It was the beacon of hope that spurred me on through four long years of working hard. But the quest is taxing and expensive.

I love studying and school. I enjoy learning. But I am forced to take an unconventional route to finish my course. It might take a longer time to finish, but I do not mind. I do not care if I don?t get my diploma on time. I?m only 19, and that is an advantage. When the next semester comes, I will be working in another job. But I will also be enrolled, if only in a few subjects. I have been told I cannot serve two masters at the same time, but I?m willing to risk it.

I look at my short-term plans with optimism, it involves some sacrifice and I am willing to make it. My family needs me at this point.

I enjoyed work. I took it like fish to water. I do not mind balancing work and school. I am able to do multitasking, remember? By putting myself under daily stress and pressure, I grow. I push myself to develop. I become a better person after every lesson learned. It was not easy to work but no work is easy. I made use of my skills in communication, writing and fluency in English. When I made mistakes, I was given constructive criticism and I grew and improved. It made me feel alive.

Being me will be hard work. I have so many different layers in my personality. But every day, I discover more and more about myself. I realize that I love serving my community and my fellowmen. I love to shop, to read and to write. I want to be a part of a magazine or a newspaper someday. I am a great girlfriend and a good friend. I can be a loving and understanding sister and cousin. I have a lot of things to offer.

It will take a lot more courage to be true to myself. It will be hard work but it will be worth it. I want to take risks, revel in them and live without regret.

The first step is always the hardest. But by writing it all down, by shouting it to the heavens, in the Internet and in print, I make it known to the universe. I hope that God will weave the tangled threads of destiny to give me what I want. After all, without His guidance, I wouldn?t have the courage to speak up. The universe is listening, even to the softest whisper.

Camille Tumesa, 19, is a third-year student at Batangas State University.