Joy Ann C.

Palado
BSSW 4-1

February 15, 1998 is the day when the beautiful princess was born, and its me! My mother
suffered when she gave me birth because I am so big. She said to me that I am healthy and a happy
baby. Thats why my father named me Joy Ann Things became different when I reached my
toddler stage because I became sickly. I look like healthy as vegetables but its contrary. When I
was 3 years old, I was confined in the hospital because I had pneumonia. My parents are so worried
on my condition. But, God is Good. He never wants His princess to feel sick but healthy. After
that confinement, I have been recovered and my strength also restored like nothing happens.

I started to go to school when I was four years old. I finished my nursery and kindergarten
at Holy Cross Family Kindergarten. I have a lot of beautiful memories there. It was the time when
I learned how to count, write my name and recite ABC song. At that age, I started to have a crush
with my classmate. As I reminisced those memories I feel so nostalgic. On the other hand, my
elementary days is I must say very unforgettable. I have a lot of terrible experiences on my
teachers. I was always scolded because I am so talkative, stubborn, and naughty. There was a point
when my hands being beaten by a wooden stick and facing the wall until 30 minutes. For that, I
believe that in every mistake there is learnings. I also admit that I am a bully person but it is not
harsh as you think. It is just a simple teasing. Above all that stubbornness, I was a consistent honor
student in our class. Even though I am just like that, I know my limitations and priorities. I used
to just be real to myself and be friendly to everyone.

Moreover, my high school life is a memory that I will never ever forget. Memories that is
for keeps and must be treasured. Being a high school student is a tough job. It requires a lot of
efforts and time management in everything you do. In this stage, I learned how to manage my time
and be disciplined always. There is a lot of projects, activities, assignments and paper works that
I must face with. It is not easy because I am also active in some extracurricular activities in our
school just to get high grades. Ive been grade conscious that time because Im on the top section
and I didnt what to see my name on the lowest rank. So, I push myself to study. But, you know
what, its hard to deceive yourself that you can do anything by your own effort because as I keep
striving, I feel tired. Good thing that I have friends that I can truly and surely say my true friends
but, they are not just my true friends, they are my sister in Christ forever. They encouraged me to
know God deeply and His grace. I am a type of a person that is religious because that is how I
raised by my parents. But, the thing is, I didnt know God much. Every Sunday my family went to
church, pray, confess and thats it. Its an obligation on our belief. Then, things go differently when
I know God more and His finished work on the cross. My life really blows out when I got a chance
to know God deeply. It is an amazing and wondrous experience to be in His presence. My life
really changed by His grace. It was totally change. I can strongly say that I am a new creation in
Christ, the old has gone and the new has come. I believe that right believing leads to right living
I also believe that worship isn't something we do out of obligation, but in response to who God
is and what He has done for us! Thats why my high school life was an extraordinary moment for
me because God gave me this amazing people my true friends to make me feel how loved I am
by Him.

Furthermore, though my high school life had ended, I thank God for another chapter that
He gave me which is the college life. At first, when I found out that I placed on the other course -
not in education, I feel so bad. Because since then, I really love to teach especially nursery and
kindergarten pupils because my heart is very close to them. But, as a believer I trust God for His
greatest plans for my life. My plans to my life may not fulfilled but the plans of the Lord may
prevail. My professors also help me to pursue the course Social Work and through their
experiences in this profession Im so amazed and delighted on what the course really imply. I am
also a people person and since I was young I loved to help other people especially the poor
children. That is why my heart shouted that this profession is for me. When I am watching some
documentaries related to the children who cant go to school and at their age they are working, it
breaks my heart. On the back of my mind, If I had that million pesos I will give them scholarship
grant until they graduated in college. I realized that these vulnerable and marginalized children
need me.