Chasing your dreams

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning.”

—Albert Einstein

When I was in grade school, I dreamed of becoming a lawyer. But during my high school years the course of events changed, and I then fell in love with science. I remember enjoying the lectures during my biology class and spending afternoons in the library reading on the natural sciences. My interest in science led me to pursue biology as my undergraduate major.

College life was not easy; it was dramatically different from high school and grade school. In college I spent hours in the laboratory, experimenting, dissecting animals, eagerly listening to lectures. It was extremely challenging; it taught me independence. I met many professors who inspired me to excel. It was in college that I encountered difficulties, but I’ve learned from them and I continue reaching for my dreams.

College life was my journey to maturity and discovery. It was where I gradually felt the harsh reality of life: You can’t have everything, but you can work hard to move forward. The span of four years was a worthwhile journey. I realized that I was right in choosing biology as my major because it is what I love.

After college I was really happy because I had overcome all the trials and emotional pressures of university life. Indeed, everything that I learned during my years of formal education was crucial in building a stronger, more resilient, and persistent version of myself.

I earned my degree in biology when I was only 19. Consequently, I began hunting for a job. I was so naive; it was as if I were entering a new world—quite daunting, but also exciting.

I remember my first call for a job interview. I had applied to a large manufacturer of an alcoholic beverage with offices in Ortigas. The person from its human resources department was really nice and sounded very professional, but because of my excitement I was stuttering during the conversation. Looking back, I found it absurd of me to even ask the HR person what specific position I had applied for (I had submitted my resumé online).

It felt like it was only yesterday that I was a student and now there I was, a job applicant taking chances in the heart of a busy business district, as if all the towering buildings were welcoming me to their workforce.

I prepared very well for exam day. Late in the afternoon, after I had taken the test, the HR person said he’d inform me of the next step. Days passed, but I received no call. It was my first-ever rejection, and I was really disappointed. The company has a good reputation and is one of my dream companies to work with.

But I moved on and sent applications for other job openings, until I got hired in a lab testing center. I did not give up; I held on to the idea that one day I would achieve my goals in life. There were times when I wanted to stop dreaming because of high expectations and disappointments, but I always kept my goals in mind and was thus inspired to continue. I said to myself that I needed to be patient, focused and hardworking, and that everything would fall into place in God’s perfect time.

Why am I sharing this with everyone? Because I want those who find themselves in the situation I was in to never stop trying. If you really have a clear goal in life, you have to work hard for it. This involves making sacrifices and swallowing your pride. To get to the top of the ladder, you have to start from the bottom and make your way up one step at a time. It doesn’t matter which school you came from. What’s important is how you are able to harness and make good use of your full potential.

Take every job interview and exam as an experience where you appreciate your strengths and learn from your mistakes. Prepare a well-written CV that matches the position that you are seeking. Remember that your CV is the first document to be examined in the initial screening, so you have to make an edge. Keep a notebook to keep track of all the job interviews and exams that you have hurdled. (It helped me to know the things that I need to improve on in the next job application.) Be prepared for every job interview or exam. This means doing research on the company profile and the position you are applying for. During the interview, be yourself. (Of course, particularly if it’s the first time, you’ll be excited and nervous. But you can get over it in due time.) Know your strengths and the areas that need improvement. You need to prove that you’re the one they’re looking for!

But don’t expect that when you finally find a job, it will be easier compared to the time when you were a student. You will be disappointed because you are expecting too much. Earning to live is not easy. Working to survive can be too complicated. When I started working, I realized that the learning process doesn’t stop and that the corporate world is something radically different from college.

In work you will encounter various kinds of people—some encouraging, some not; some very outspoken on how they hate the job or the company. Let me tell you: You don’t need to listen to them because satisfaction levels differ across individuals. There are people who will always complain about their job, and there are others who are satisfied with their career and happy with what they are doing.

The best experience in work is when you realize that there are still hidden potentials that you can unlock and develop. You will realize that you can do something that you did not think you were capable of doing. Sometimes you will be pressured and stressed, but that’s the reality of life. Just remember those days when you were a student and trying to cope with all the pressures of academic life. There’s no easy way. You have to experience hardship so that you can be stronger and smarter as you journey through life.

My advice is to never give up even if it seems difficult. Just think of every career opportunity as a stepping stone toward your dreams and aspirations. Find lessons in your mistakes. If you’re feeling tired because of work, think of it as a learning opportunity and one step forward in becoming the successful person that you want to be. Never ever forget your ambitions because they will drive you to succeed.

Our life is a long journey toward our dreams. On the path to success we will pass rough roads, but don’t falter, and don’t ever give up. In God’s time, we will be able to reach our goals. Everything will be balanced: If today you are pressured and tired, this episode will pass and eventually things will be fine. Just focus on achieving your goals. Persist. Work harder. Be patient. Keep the faith.

Maria Angenica F. Regilme, 21, is a 2011 biology graduate of the University of Santo Tomas. She now works as a quality assurance laboratory analyst in a pharmaceutical company.