NEVER TOO LATE FOR THE OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH

i have always been a believer that education is only the answer to poverty. unfortunately, many Filipinos, and other children around the world has been deprived from their right to be educated formally. the main reason? poverty. they have no other means to suffice the budget on education for their family. let me share you my story..

on my third year in highschool, our family had a financial crisis, causing my studies to suffer. so i had no choice but to stop going to school. i never opted to transfer in a public school because i dont want to experience any "culture shock". so i became an "out-of-school youth".

at 14, i experienced to work in a grocery store as a saleslady, bagger and a merchandiser at the same time. it was really a tough job for a teen like me during that time. but still i was happy because i was helping my family.

i was out of school for two long years, and just finished second year highschool then. it was really painful to me but i have to be resilient during tough times.

fortunately, a great opportunity came into me as i went to my previous highschool in alabang. when they learned that i didnt continue on my highshool, they referred me to the DECS Division Office in Alabang to take the PEPT or the Philippine Educational Placemet Test. it's an acceleration examination for people who has been out of school for a long time that will give them an opportunity to skip a certain level higher from what they have achieved. it depends on the capability of the examiner to where he can accelerate himself, based on stock knowledge and logical reasoning.

and gladly, i passed. i was accelerated from second year highschool to college level, skipping 2 years of third and fourth year in highschool. that's why i never experienced JS Prom ( very unfortunate, lol!). it was such a blessing because the years that i stopped from school just became an offset of what i missed in highschool. it's like i never stopped from school! i have saved a lot of time, energy and money from skipping the two-year highschool levels! and i consider that as one of my greatest achievements.

that was a major turning point in my life. so i entered college without any knowledge about chemistry and physics! i only have the urge and exitement to finally go back to school, and learn the academics! i had a tough first year in college so, i had to double the effort to learn. english and literature was never a problem to me back then, but when it comes to numbers? please spare me! (haha lol!) through the help of my friends, and my hard work, i was able to finish college in electronics engineering. then, had my work afterwards. there you go..

so to all the OSY's out there, take the next step. inquire the nearest DECS Division Office in your area about the process of registration and the whole examination procedure. they will give you guidelines on how to avail the opportunity and the documents they require. GOODLUCK!