MY OFFERING . . . What I can offer to the world, to humankind
I was born in Manila, Philippines and came to the US 18 years ago after the assassination of Benigno Aquino, a strong presidential candidate against the Marcos regime. We were under Marshall law there. One can become a prisoner without due process of law. At the same time my husband who is also Philippine/American invited me to come to US. It was perfect timing. But I was hesitant. I didn't want to leave and be uprooted. I was established and working on my master's degree and teaching at the University. I loved to teach. After coming to the US I wanted to teach. I wanted to share. I was told that I needed to go back to school to do that. Instead, I went to study data entry. I worked in an insurance brokerage firm for 7 years. I was laid off during the recession in the early 90s. I had to decide what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. . . going back to teaching . . to make a choice of teaching as a service. . . I wanted to have a career along that line . . . There was a piece in me missing. So my younger sister, who is an RN, said: "This is service!" I discovered about the LPN Program and I told myself I can do that. I got a contract paying my tuition in exchange for working for the VA full time for a year after I graduated.