Trina’s Journey: Between Expectations and Survival
I am Trina, a 21-year-old navigating life in the city, where I’ve been staying in a boarding house for five years—a place that has become more than just a temporary stay. It is my home.
Back in my student years, my parents sent monthly allowances to cover my needs, but that support vanished the moment I graduated. Now, when I ask for help, I receive barely 10% of what I used to—a stark reminder that I am expected to stand on my own.
The weight of expectations presses down on me. My parents dreamed of a future where I would rise beyond their struggles, where my education would open doors they never had access to. But reality has proven merciless.
I’ve walked through the doors of countless big companies, hoping someone would see my worth, hoping to secure a job that aligns with my degree. Yet, with each rejection, I lose a piece of hope, realizing how fierce the competition is.
In this boarding house, I have a friend—an out-of-school youth who never attended college, only completed high school—yet she thrives. She works as a hotel cleaner, receiving generous tips, ensuring she never goes hungry. She has become my guardian in this place, offering me meals when I have none, lifting me up when despair weighs me down.
And here I stand—a college graduate, yet hopeless. She, a high school graduate, is a good provider.
One day, she said to me: "If it’s hard to find a job related to your degree, apply for something low-key. Survival comes first."
Her words resonate deeply. And for the first time, I consider it. I mention it to my parents, hoping they’ll understand. But instead, they become angry.
"We didn’t send you to school just for you to end up in the same struggles as us!"
Their disappointment cuts deep. Their sacrifices, their faith in my education—it all feels wasted in their eyes. But I can’t ignore reality. Disappointment is real. Survival is real.
And so I find myself standing at a crossroads. Do I chase a career that isn’t welcoming me, or do I take any job to ensure I don’t go hungry another night?
Maybe the dream doesn’t have to look perfect right now. Maybe the path doesn’t have to be the one they envisioned. Maybe survival is the first step toward something greater.
From Struggles to Success: Trina’s Journey
I was angry when my parents scolded me for taking a cleaning job. To them, I was supposed to pursue a career that wasn’t even knocking on my door.
I was stressed, broke, and desperate for a way forward. I asked my friend Mina, who worked as a cleaner, to help me find a job. Luckily, there was an opening.
When I sent my application, the managers were shocked. "Why would someone with your credentials apply as a cleaner?" they asked.
I told them the truth— Having food on my table, paying my bills, and surviving meant more than titles and prestige. I needed a job, any job.
The first week was exhausting, but for the first time in a long while, I was happy. I had a salary coming, and daily tips from kind customers helped cover my meals.
Despite their disappointment, I told my parents about my new job. They were furious.
"We sent you to school so you wouldn’t end up like us!" they said, refusing to send me money.
But for me, that was okay—because now, I was earning. Now, I was standing on my own feet.
When I received my first salary, I took Mina out for a buffet. That night, I ate until I was too full, because this was proof that my hard work was finally paying off.
I sent money to my parents, and they were surprised at how much I was able to give. "Are you sure this is a cleaner’s salary?" they asked.
They didn’t know how much generous customers tipped me, how much I had saved, and how much I was learning every day.
And slowly, I started seeing something more in myself—a talent, a purpose, a vision.
I began to dream of starting my own manpower agency—a business that would help people like me, people who were searching for their strength and path in life.
Months passed, and I saved every bit I could.
Then, an opportunity came to work abroad. Now that I had money to invest in myself, I applied without hesitation. I was finally ready to step into the world.
That decision changed everything.
Working overseas opened my heart and mind to new beginnings, opportunities, and dreams. Mina and I found positions in prestigious hotels, earning higher salaries.
Years passed.
I climbed the ranks. I was promoted. I loved my work—but something inside me kept reminding me of my true dream.
After ten years of hard work, I did it.
I became the owner of my own manpower agency.
I am still single, but I am not alone.
Mina is my business partner, and together, we strived, struggled, and succeeded. My parents, once disappointed, are now proud of me. My little brother works at my company, alongside my parents.
This agency exists not just for profit, but to help people like me— Dreamers, workers, and individuals who need to find their strength in this world.
Because we all deserve a chance to create the life we dream of.
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