Small steps take you there and that’s probably what Joel Quitariano had in mind when he set off to sell ice candies to help finance his college studies.
A young man from Isabela, Quitariano, absolutely not a quitter, clinched his dream to finish his studies – and there’s more: he did it with flyng colors, walking on stage as his batch’s cum laude, according to GMA News’ “Saksi,” (Witness).
“With his efforts, he was able to complete a Public Administration degree as well as finish as one of the students at the top of his class. He graduated with honors, a cum laude,” said the report.
Quitariano came from a poverty-stricken family. His life was that of struggles in the daily grind so much so that lived in an orphanage, finishing his studies with sheer perseverance and hardwork as it was his only way out.
“Hindi naman dapat ikahiya ‘yung pagiging working student kasi basta’t marangal ‘yung ginagawa mo,” Quitariano was quoted in the news report as saying.
The network news said Quitariano was also able to buy a refrigerator and even adopt a child.
