At some point of our lives, there are those people that inspired us to do better and great. I’d bet that you’d heard thousand of stories and you’d forgotten most of them already. But there are certain stories that stays, especially those that narrate human struggles in the most extreme way possible. Stories that are more challenging than what you have right now. This is a summary of my story and I hope that it will inspire you.

As a single child from a hard working family, things were mostly fun and great during my childhood. It took place in a provincial setting – scenes like the stories of your relatives who pick vegetables and fruits in their farm happened all the time. I never asked for more. But I got curious person as time passed, so I tried everything I could get my hands on until I stumbled upon my first brush. I enjoyed the feeling of every stroke in the canvas and dip in the colors. I painted and practiced with it. I brushed with any canvas I could find. I had gotten good with it and used that talent to earn whatever amount I could get.

Grade school and high school went by fast because my father would pamper me with all his support as I am his unico hijo. I promised myself that I will give back to my father with the usual stuff—great house, sustainable lifestyle, and maintainable business. I continued my painting job to finish college studies. Most of the time I’d paint until midnight to earn enough for my education. My sight declined because of that lifestyle. I’d get my first eyeglass and move on with it. Until the day that I stopped painting as vision became more blurry and I cannot afford to buy a new set of lens for my eyes. Besides, I needed my eyes with all the sketching I was doing for my Civil Engineering degree while I was in Manila.

It was my third year in college when the news that would change my life forever was delivered to me. It was from my godfather and he invited me to work abroad. He’s currently an accountant in a corporate bank. I’d be doing janitorial work for that bank. With my father in mind, I took that leap of faith. The greatest leap of my life as it would mean that I’ll be sacrificing my education.

A great chunk of my life was cleaning bathrooms, offices, and staircases compensated with a very low pay. It was a 30-floor building. I was assigned to 10 floors, working more than 9 hours a day to get the overtime pay. I’d do odd jobs in between to earn extra—house cleaning, laundry, ironing, etc. Yelling became frequent because of unsatisfied clients but more because of the fact that I was in a foreign land. Day in and day out was tiring but I was faithful to what I want to accomplish and that this will be worth it someday.

It was around 15 years with those odd jobs and cleaning work. There came a point in my life that I was about to give up; get a plane ticket back home with nothing remarkable to brag about except for sturdy hands. What would life be if I stayed in college?

Then one fateful night, as I was tidying dried clothes for one my clients, his medical solutions fell down. I immediately apologized, of course. Then he asked me, “I was thinking, as I’ve seen that you’re working hard everyday, what do you think about opening up a pharmaceutical company with me?” That day was the day when I gained the hope that was lost with my future business partner and my best friend.

Another 10 years passed, all filled with bankruptcy issues and lack of manpower came next. But will all those hard years, we were able to expand our company with more than 100 employees and 3 offices. My business partner died early but I am still here fulfilling his legacy, strong and firm.

What have I learned all those years? With a failed degree, forgotten talent, and low-paying jobs, what do I want to prove? The whole point of everything you’ve read so far is to make you realize that maybe there’s a different angle into viewing your problems. This is a story of several failed attempts then concluding to the finale that all this will work out sooner or later; that it will all be worth it no matter how painful and tiring things are.

I have spoken with various people. Most of us would over think what others think of our actions. We would unknowingly allow people to control our walls and break us if they want, too. But never forget that this is your journey. There will always be tests, but with proper vision on what’s important, the impossible will be achievable. Bad circumstances will only make you stronger because you know better; because you know what pain and stress feel like. I will never be able to say that my life was easy and carefree. But Iwould have never realized my maximum potential and that I was strong enough to reach for the stars.

We are not designed as perfect but that makes it a little bit better. Even with all these faults, you are able to get through your day, and live for another yesterday because you know, deep inside, that you are capable of accomplishing your aspirations. That even with the least of resources, with good faith and perseverance, dreams will get closer. Maybe not now, but someday.

That, I think, is priceless.