A proud Filipino janitor is living proof that determination enables anyone to persist in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
It has been a difficult life for Abzonie Reño who, due to lack of money, waited for a long time to fulfill his dreams of finishing his studies.
Back in 2008, Reño graduated from high school but he decided to put his college education on hold and move to Metro Manila to earn money for his family, ABS-CBN News reported.
There, he experienced entering several jobs to make both ends meet. He worked as a janitor, a factory worker, a store attendant, a baker, a security guard, and a houseboy.
After seven years of working in Manila, he returned to his hometown to pursue college at the age of 23.
“For seven years its been my dream na makapag-aral ulit tapos siyempre po inspired po ako na galingan po siguro kasi matanda na ako,” he was quoted as saying.
“Nakakahiya sobrang tanda ko na para maging first year college pa pero ‘yun din po ang naging motivation ko,” he added.
After four years of studying at Caraga State University – Ampayon Butuan City campus, Reño finally achieved his dream and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, majoring in Math.
What’s more impressive is that Reño was also the university’s first-ever summa cum laude.
“Sobrang saya po proud sa sarili kasi hindi ako bumalik ng pag-aaral para mag-excel bumalik lang ako para makapagtapos lang po pero sobra-sobra pa po yung binigay ni Lord,” he said.
In the batch of graduates wherein Reño is a part of, another student graduated magna cum laude and eight others graduated cum laude.
Reño said he is now preparing to take the licensure exam for teachers.
Watch his inspiring video here:
