47-year-old mom returns to school after postponing her dream to finish college for over a decade
Being a mom is not easy, more so juggling the challenges, joys, and everything in between of motherhood with the responsibilites of being a full-time student.
Elena Agualada went viral in 2020 after she graduated from senior high school at the age of 44—all while being a full-time mom to her five children and working as a housekeeper and laundress.
Now studying as a third-year college majoring in Home Economics at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Elena admitted that she still faces difficulties as a student nearing her golden age.
In an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, the student mom shared that her decision to return to studying was over a decade in the making since she stopped schooling when she became pregnant with her first child in 1997.
“Pinagbubuntis ko pa siya, nagsu-schooling na ko noon. Umuwi ako ng Mindanao, doon ako nag-aral noong first year (junior high school), tinuloy ko ‘yun [habang] buntis ako sa panganay ko," she told L!fe.
Elena grew up in a broken family, which affected her studies and prompted her to work at a young age. And throughout those years, she didn’t forget her ultimate dream of finishing her studies.
“Two years old pa lang ako, iniwan na ko ng nanay ko, as in nagkawatak watak na kami. Sa tatay ko ako lumaki, hanggang sa nag-asawa siya ulit, nagkaroon ako ng stepmother,” she told L!fe. “Tapos kung saan saan na kami napunta. Galing ng Surigao, napunta dito sa Maynila, sa Pasay, nag-aral ng grade 7 [tapos] ‘di natuloy, hanggang sa nag-trabaho na lang kami.”
With the desire to finish school, Elena took a test to accelerate to third-year high school but had to put her dream again on hold when she got pregnant with her second child.
“[Dahil] broken family [kami], nagsariling sikap [ako]. Nag-take ako ng acceleration, yung PEP (Philippine Educational Placement) Test, so galing ng first year, tumalon ako ng third year. [Noong] third year ako, pang gabi [ang schedule ko] dito sa may San Pedro, mag-fourth year [sana] ako sa Pulong, Sta. Cruz, kaso natigil ako kasi nagbuntis ako sa pangalawa ko, hanggang nag-lapse na naman yun ng ilang taon.”
Elena tried her luck again in 2017—13 years since she stopped. A guidance counselor in her previous school offered her to try taking an Open High School Program to continue her last year in junior high school, which required her to attend a whole day of Saturday classes. She didn’t think twice and immediately grabbed the opportunity, allowing her to be eligible for a voucher that assisted her financially in senior high school.
In 2020, Elena finally graduated in senior high school under the Home Economics strand with flying colors—during the challenging times of the pandemic.
Elena couldn’t be happier of being able to finally go to colege, but admitted that her roles as a full-time student and mother weren’t a walk in the park.
“Nakakapagod, ‘yung routine bilang nanay, kailangan mo talaga siyang gawin. Bago ka umalis, kailangan naka-settle lahat. Lalo ngayon meron akong anak na may sakit, so kailangan bago ako umalis may kinakain na siya or nakahanda na lahat [ng kailangan niya]," she said.
The mom of five opened up about the time when she got marked as INC (Incomplete) on one of her subjects.
“[Dahil] nagkasakit nga ‘yung pangatlo ko, panay ang pabalik balik namin sa pa-checkup, kaya napabayaan ko yung mga google class ko, na-miss ko na pala lahat ‘yun,” she told L!fe.
Aside from the challenges in meeting the requirements in school, especially on the “loaded” days, Elena also got bullied.
“Hindi ko alam na may gc (group chat) silang sarili [at] sinisiraan na pala ako. Ang gusto pa nga mangyari e ‘wag daw ako makapasa, ayun ang hindi ko malimutan. Nakakalungkot isipin kasi bilang magiging isang teacher, dapat hindi mo ginagawa yun,” she shared.
Despite the hurdles, Elena makes sure to keep her eyes only on her goal, especially since she is driven by the love and support of her husband, Renato Agualada, and their five children. She realized that her hard work does not only help her achieve her own goals but also her children’s.
“Ako rin pala ‘yung naging inspirasyon nila,” she said.
She also managed to become a dean’s lister in one of the semesters, thanks to her friends and supportive professors who accompanied her during the process.
“Para lang din nila akong kabarkada. Kapag nakikisabay din ako sa mga [gusto] nila, sinasabi nila, ‘Yan ang mommy namin!’ Tsaka ‘yung mga teacher ko, supportive din sila,” she told L!fe.
Elena will be graduating next year, inching her step toward becoming a teacher.
“Next year, graduating na ko, practice teaching na lang. Bahala na after graduation, pero kailangan ko munang makapasa sa LET (Licensure Examination for Teachers), sana makapasa,” she said.
Elena’s college education is financially supported by her first child, who graduated with an Information Technology (IT) degree, and her husband, who currently works in construction.
For some people, finishing high school is already enough especially when facing financial challenges. But Elena didn’t waive her ultimate dream, especially when she learned about the people with a similar journey as hers in the "Bawal Judgmental" segment of Eat Bulaga, which she took part of in 2020.
“Naisip ko, bakit hindi ko i-pursue yung pangarap ko na hindi ko natapos nung kabataan ko? Wala namang masama ‘di ba? Age is just a number. Kalabaw lang ang tumatanda. Ang tao hangga’t kaya pa, [go] lang. Lalo na may mga anak ako,” she said.
“Ang mga anak ko ang inspirasyon ko e, kaya lalo akong nag [pupurisige]. Wala akong pakialam kahit sabihin nila, ‘Ay, ang tanda tanda na,’ ganiyan,” she continued.
Looking back at her journey, Elena has only words of encouragement for people like her, who still dreams of finishing their studies later in life.
She said, “Huwag nila sasayangin yung panahon nila, yung mga opportunity at pagkakataon, I-grab nila lahat yun,” she said, adding: “Kailangan mong I-pursige at [tutukan]. Kasi ako ngayong matanda na talaga ako, medyo hirap na rin ako lalo sa mga memorization. [Pero] kahit anumang balakid yan, wag ka lang palinlang sa kanila, ituloy tuloy mo lang.”
Elena said that apart from hard work, empathy and being true to herself helped her power through obstacles and continue taking the path toward her dream.
“Para sa ‘kin, [importante] ‘yung pakikisama at pagmamahal sa kapwa,” she said.
“Magpakatotoo ka lang din sa pagkatao mo, tsaka dasal lang, nandiyan ang Panginoon, laging gagabay sa ‘yo ‘yan.”