Just as she reached young adulthood, BS Agriculture sophomore, Cristel Mae Esyang was met with a world-crushing decision, not for her but for her younger sibling— to stop schooling and help with the expenses.
However, seeing the dream and passion in her younger sister, she stepped up and took the responsibility instead by working as a house aide to somehow uplift the family’s financial situation without giving up her own dreams. "I chose to take responsibility because I love them," she said.
Born into a family of twelve, Cristel witnessed how responsibility involves sacrifices. Her mother, Emerita, a housewife, helps provide for their family and caters to the needs of her visually impaired aunt. Adding up to that is the need for maintenance for Cristel’s older brother, who was mentally challenged. Even her father’s salary as a coconut farmer cannot suffice their increasing expenditures. Knowing about their socioeconomic condition, she recognized that her finances for schooling added up to her parents’ shoulders.
Emerita knew it would only take two years at most for Cristel to earn her bachelor's degree. In two more years, she would be the first person in the family to finish college, providing a greater chance for her to alleviate their problems. This made Emerita decide to let Cristel’s younger sister work as a House aide.
Her sister sacrificing her dreams for her to finish is one thing Cristel cannot stand. As an ate, she wants to see her sister reach for her dreams. "Weak ako nga pagkatawo. Fragile ko, pero kay para man nila," (“I’m a weak person. I am fragile, but because it’s for them…”) she uttered. Esyang decided to leave her home in Baybay to work as a stay-in house aide in Candadam in October 2022. Cristel was committed to studying and working at the same time.
Cristel was aware of the consequences of being a working student. But no matter how one prepares for the worst, life always hits harder than one had expected. As most did, she also had difficulty adjusting to the new routine where she needed to wake up as early as 3 AM to prepare breakfast for the family she works with before leaving for school as early as 7. This often puts her in a daze during lectures. There were also times that she was either late for quizzes or totally missed them, causing a gradual decrease in her grades.
After school, she would do tasks according to her employee’s demands, such as cooking, cleaning, and even mundane ones. The only thing that she is exempt from is doing the laundry. As these tasks were given to her during times when she had a lot to do for school, Cristel could not complain or put them off because she was working for them. She can only hold tight to her faith and pray for guidance, as she cannot tap into or complain to her parents about how hard and exhausting it is to work and study at the same time. She was fragile and weak, but for her family, she toughened up.
With time management and her trust in the Lord, Cristel was able to slowly adjust. Though there are times that she wants to give up because of how hard it is to study and work at the same time, the dream of a better tomorrow makes things bearable. She has no material gains as a working student, but seeing her mother’s load lighten a bit and her sister continue her schooling was more than rewarding for her.
Cristel advises other working students to dedicate their hearts and minds to their goals and to why they decided to work, setting aside the difficulty and hardships. She also told them not to forget to trust the Lord and his plans, and it will all be worth it. Being a working student made Cristel stronger and more independent, made her more disciplined, and even strengthened her faith. It makes her focus more on her vision of a better life after graduation.
Women can transgress the social constructs imposed by society. Over the years, they have been deemed weak and dependent on men. And even now, misogyny is still present in society. However, various accounts prove that women are no less than men.
The truth is that they are naturally caring but sturdy, and they would sacrifice anything, especially for the betterment of their loved ones. They are not, in any way, less than anyone, and Cristel Mae Esyang is another living proof that women can forge their own paths and rise on their own toward success.