From Rags to Success

Growing up, my family was poor. When I was about 7 years old, I can clearly remember how difficult our life was. We lived in a dilapidated house in our province where water dripped from our roof every time it rained hard, giving us an instant shower 😂. Sometimes I went to school in slippers because my parents couldn’t afford shoes, carrying a ripped school bag where I had to put a plastic lining at the bottom so my school supplies wouldn’t fall out.  Most of the time, I had no baon even one peso. During recess, I would just watch my classmates eat, drooling over the “binignit or banana cue” they had.  At home, there were times when our dinner was just rice mixed with a little “toyo (soy sauce)” to make it taste better and help us survive the day. If there was anything more bitter than the “ampalaya”, that’s how I would describe my life back then.

Those were some of the hardships in life that I can remember, which inspired me to study better and work harder. Although we were poor, my dreams were RICH. One time, I recall my classmate in grade six asking me to fill out her slambook, which was popular then, and something only batang “90s” would truly understand. There was a portion in the slambook that asked, “What is your greatest dream?” Then I wrote, “To be successful and travel around the world”. I always gave the same answer whenever I was asked that question.   Even though that answer seemed impossible to achieve, I wrote it anyway. After all, it is “free to dream” as most typical Filipino people say.

As I look back and contemplate this week, I never thought that dream from my childhood would turn into reality. That dream that God planted in my heart, those simple words I wrote 30 years ago, have brought me to Canada, my first travel abroad. Not only did he fulfill my dreams of travelling, but he also helped me succeed in my studies as an international student, an additional blessing I never thought would happen to me.

Truly, success is not just about effort, it is about grace. The success I have attained now wouldn’t be possible without my partner in life – my Creator, my Father, my God. My journey indeed wasn’t easy because I faced trials, troubles, challenges, and struggles along the way, but there was never a moment I can remember that God left me alone. Throughout my life, he has been my strength during my weakness, my hope when I felt discouraged, and my guide whenever I felt lost.

Whatever I have now and what I am today is because of God.

From rags to success, all glory belongs to Him.

–Jen Li