From street child to Ateneo graduate: This student proves that dreams don't work unless you do
At the age of 12, Eugene Dela Cruz lived on the streets, begging for coin and cleaning himself at public restrooms. Years later, in 2025, he would graduate from Ateneo de Manila University.
His story, one of overcoming unimaginable adversity, has made the rounds on social media, with many celebrating Eugene's milestone with him.
Eugene didn't think he'd be able to go back to school with his situation, but he chose to continue his studies because he didn't want to go back to where he was before.
To sustain his needs, he choreographed dance routines and tutored strangers to afford rent and his next meal.
He may have been four years late, but Eugene graduated junior and senior high school with flying colors and even serve as student-body president.
Getting into Ateneo
Haunted by what-ifs and thinking he was "too far behind," Eugene pursued higher education at one of the country's top universities.
"When I applied to Ateneo, I knew I didn't have the same credentials as others. But I had a story. I told them the truth. I wrote from the heart. I didn't try to be impressive—I just wanted to be seen. And Ateneo saw me," he told PhilSTAR L!fe.
Through the Office of Admission and Aid and the Ateneo Alumni Scholars Association, he was granted a scholarship at ADMU and was able to take up Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a Minor in Decision Science and a Specialization in Financial Economics.
"Ateneo didn't ask me to be perfect. They asked me to be authentic. That acceptance was more than admission into a university, it was a redemption of the years I thought I had lost," he shared.
"I told myself, 'If I survive today, maybe tomorrow will be different.' And I just kept repeating that, until one day, tomorrow finally came."
Because of his situation growing up, Eugene saw his accedemics with the mindset that every opportunity is "sacred."
"I never saw a class as 'just another requirement.' [Being] in a classroom was a privilege I had fought tooth and nail to return to. I never skipped a reading, not because I loved them all, but because I remembered the years I wasn’t allowed inside a school gate," he continued.
Surviving college
College life, for Eugene, was a relenteless test of endurance, as he dealt with financial instability.
"Every year came with a new challenge. One year, it was not knowing how I'd pay rent. Another, it was choosing between buying food and printing a paper. There were nights I went to sleep hungry, and mornings I walked to school with holes in my shoes, pretending not to notice," he shared with L!fe.
The young dreamer would also feel the emotional toll as he grappled with impostor syndrome, being constantly surrounded by peers who came from worlds he had "only seen through the glass."
At first, he would compared himself to his blockmates, many of whom had stable homes, families cheering them on, and experiences he couldn't relate to. This scenario led him to often ask himself, "Do I really belong here?"
But over time, he learned to listen to the voices who reminded him that he was there for a reason.
"I leaned into the communities that embraced me—my fellow scholars, mentors, and professors who didn't treat me as someone to pity, but as someone with value. I reminded myself that my journey may have been different, but it was no less [worthy]," he underscored.
Ultimately, three powerful forces fueled his survival despite the pressure: "Resourcefulness, faith, and a deep sense of purpose."
"I continued tutoring, performing, and doing whatever work I could. I built a support system of fellow scholars, mentors, and friends who never made me feel like I was lesser."
He added, "Above all, I prayed—not always in churches, but on jeepneys, in stairwells, in moments of desperation. I asked God for just enough strength for the next step. He never failed to give it."
'There is only courage in continuing'
Over the weekend, Eugene graduated from ADMU with honorable mention. He also had the third best undergraduate thesis in Economics.
From his challenging journey to get an education, the graduate learned that he is not alone.
"You don't need to carry your pain in silence. Whatever you're going through—financial struggles, broken family, anxiety, self-doubt—your experience is valid. You don't have to wait until you've 'overcome' [it] to ask for help. And you don't need to be perfect to be loved," he advised.
"There were so many times I smiled in class but cried in the corners. If that's you now, I want you to know: you're not alone. There is no shame in struggling. There is only courage in continuing. Speak up. Reach out. Hold on. Even if it's just by a thread," he added.
Currently, Dela Cruz is considering an offer in the renewable energy sector and is also exploring part-time opportunities to supplement his income.
He shared that his goal is to begin saving early. Pursuing an MBA, here or abroad, is also part of his future plans.
At the same time, Eugene also would be "deeply fulfilled" to contribute socially impactful work in development economics and policy research, as well as to advocate for those still in the margins.
