Childhood Dreams of Space
The sky has always felt like home to me. As a child, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut, enchanted by the mysteries beyond the clouds. I spent countless nights staring at the stars, imagining what lay beyond our atmosphere. However, I soon realized that pursuing this dream was not feasible in my country due to the lack of educational opportunities in aerospace. Instead of losing hope, I embraced a new path, believing that God had a better plan for me. I believed that sometimes, the paths we are meant to take are different from the ones we initially envision.
Discovering a Passion for Flight
Growing up, I discovered that my true passion lay in flying, but as a flight attendant, not an astronaut. This journey was anything but easy. I faced numerous challenges, including bullying, self-doubt, and academic struggles. People told me I wasn’t tall enough, smart enough, or qualified enough to become a flight attendant. Despite these setbacks, I chose to believe in myself and use the negativity as fuel to ignite the fire within me. The more they doubted me, the more determined I became.
Overcoming Rejections and Setbacks
I worked tirelessly to improve myself, aligning every effort towards my goal of becoming a flight attendant with Philippine Airlines. Rejected four times and facing additional obstacles like height insecurities and a false color blindness diagnosis, I was devastated. Yet, I persisted, rejecting other lucrative job offers because my heart was set on Philippine Airlines. My determination was fueled by the inspiration I drew from the flight attendants I admired as a passenger. I vividly remember my first flight and how the crew’s professionalism and grace left a lasting impression on me.
Making Tough Choices for a Dream
When I finally got accepted, I faced another difficult choice: attend my graduation or complete my training with Philippine Airlines. I chose the latter, sacrificing a once-in-a-lifetime event for my dream. This decision marked the beginning of a fulfilling career that has brought me immense joy and pride. Missing my graduation was hard, but it was a testament to my commitment to my dream.
The Nobility of Being a Flight Attendant
As a flight attendant, I am constantly reminded of the nobility and honor of this profession. We are not just serving passengers; we are trained to save lives and ensure safety. It’s a role that requires passion, faith, and a positive attitude. To aspiring flight attendants, I say: believe in yourself, embrace your passion, and never forget to pray. Your journey may be challenging, but it will be worth it. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow and prove your resilience.
Gratitude for the Journey
Standing here today, I am filled with gratitude. My success is a testament to the love, support, and sacrifices of my family, friends, mentors, and Philippine Airlines. To my parents, who are miles away, I dedicate this achievement to you. Your hard work as overseas Filipino workers has made my dreams possible. To my friends and relatives, thank you for your unwavering support. To my batchmates, we did it together, and I am proud to be your president. To my alma mater and instructors, thank you for honing my skills and encouraging me to embrace failure as a stepping stone to success. And to Philippine Airlines, thank you for believing in me and allowing me to be part of your esteemed team.
Lessons Learned As A Flight Attendant and Moving Forward
My journey as a flight attendant has taught me invaluable lessons. I’ve learned that success is not just about reaching your goals but also about the person you become in the process. The resilience, dedication, and perseverance I’ve developed have shaped me into a stronger individual. Each flight brings new experiences, and each passenger interaction is an opportunity to make a difference.
To anyone with a dream, remember: you already have the wings; all you need to do is spread them and fly. The path may be fraught with challenges, but with determination and faith, you can soar to great heights. Don’t let setbacks deter you. Instead, use them as stepping stones to propel you forward.
Final Words of Gratitude and Encouragement
I am eternally grateful to every one of you because my story of success wouldn’t be possible without you. First, thank you to our almighty God, for giving me the strength and wisdom to overcome the challenges that I faced. I cannot do it alone without him. I offer my success to our Father God. To my parents, Tita’s, Tito’s, and cousins, thank you so much. Ma, Pa, you are a thousand miles away from me. I miss the both of you so much, and God knows what I would give just for the both of you to see me here right now and witness this moment in my life. This is the fruit of your hard work and sacrifices of being an overseas Filipino worker. I promise to work hard so you won’t have to work away from home anymore, and so we could be together again. You are all the reason why I became successful, and I will continue to make you proud of me. I am forever indebted to the unconditional love and sacrifices that you gave to me. I love you, Mama and Papa, and this is all for you.
To my friends and relatives who have been there with me through my ups and downs, thank you for being the shoulders that I could lean on in times of melancholy and confusion. It doesn’t matter if sometimes I fail because you always made me feel like a winner. Thank you for all the support. To my batchmates, as your president, I thank you for the trust that you gave me, even though I am one of the youngest in our batch, and for all the memories that we shared throughout the hard times during the training. All those sleepless nights and stressful studying and memorizing loads of lessons have finally paid off. We did it, guys! I am so glad that we are already here, together as graduates of batch 92, and I am so proud of you, my batchmates.
There is always a universal truth that all things come to an end, whether we like it or not, but I would like to look at this event in our lives as a new chapter to explore. Yes, we may not be classmates anymore, but we will be flying partners, together in the sky. To my alma mater, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Golden Success Flight Attendant school, and all of my professors and instructors, you gave me the ability to look forward, be courageous, and bold to take the opportunities when they arose. You didn’t let me hold myself back for fear of failure, and with that, I thank you. I have experienced my fair share of failure with you in my time. Now I understand that failure is not something to be ashamed of but should be celebrated because it means that I tried, and I would already know how to improve next time. And you all honed my skills and brought out the best in me. I am the best because my teachers are the best.
Lastly, to my beloved dream airline, the flag carrier of the Philippines, Asia’s first airline, Philippine Airlines, to say that I am happy is an understatement. I am elated and overjoyed to become a part of your team. You have been the very inspiration and destination of my goals since day one. Thank you for seeing the potential that I have and for giving me the exceptional chance to showcase it as one of your cabin crew. To be a part of Philippine Airlines is truly a dream come true, and I am genuinely humbled and fortunate to become one with you. Thank you, and God bless.
