A Filipino student inspired many netizens by proving that one can only achieve success if he works hard for it and defies all odds.
Facebook user Maria Awing Tauli shared photos of the student named Jonel Tejedo who caught the attention of netizens as he pays for his own studies by selling balut, penoy, quail eggs, and other snacks despite having cerebral palsy.
“I was so speechless when I saw him coming down the stairs. I really admire him. Despite his condition he manage to sacrifice and earn by doing this. May the young generation imitate his perseverance,” Tauli captioned her post.
According to cerebralpalsyguidance.com, cerebral palsy “is a neurological disorder that affects a child’s movement, motor skills, and muscle tone”. It is mostly caused by “brain damage that develops while the baby is still in utero or during or shortly after birth”.
“The road may be long and bumpy but success is still at the end of the line,” Tauli added.
Tejedo’s story was later discovered by ABS-CBN and featured it on their news program TV Patrol. They reported that he is a 25-year-old hospitality management student at the University of the Cordilleras and that he would sell his products after school at Barangay Lower General Luna.
“Kahit may kapansanan ako, kinakaya ko lang lahat-lahat upang maituwid ang aking katauhan upang hindi hadlang ang kapansanan,” Tejedo was quoted as saying.
He said that selling balut and other food items is his way of helping his father who works as a taxi driver and mother who is a dishwasher at a local food place.
His parents also can’t help but feel proud of their son who is willing to do anything for his studies despite his condition.
With his perseverance and drive to give his family a better life, it is not impossible for Tejedo to pull his family out of their current situation and provide a better life for them.
