INTRODUCE YOURSELF- ULOG 001: This is Me.

Hi! Obviously this is my first post and I'm new here in Steemit. I am Daynielle Colette Baconga Salatan, 19 years old (yesterday lol), and an Agribusiness freshman in Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan; undoubtedly the best school in our small town.

I love singing and photography. I love nature photography. I love clouds, sunsets, flowers and waves! I also play ukulele. Expect seeing videos of me singing. I believe that with me voice i can inspire entertain and inspire people. I am from the city of Golden Friendship Cagayan de Oro city, Philippines!

Me and my family (mom and sister) lived in with my Aunt Ines here. As early as 9 years old, my mom and dad separated. Me and my sister @maryelsalatan stayed with our mom while my father is currently staying in their family's ancestral house. I was in my 2nd grade and my older sister is in 4th grade when we experienced the worse scenarios in our life.

My mom quit her job and so as my dad because of their relationship problems. We have no electricity back then. We used lamps and candles to bring light and hope in our lives. It was a struggle living with mosquitoes and darkness. We have no income so we were dependant to our relatives when it comes to our food. They gave us food for every meal, they were never selfish with their blessings.

My Aunt Ophelia used to hand us extension wire (because our house was just a meter away from them) every night to plug in our electric fan to avoid mosquito bites. It was a cycle that i wanted to end. My relatives are financially stable so my cousins can get what they want. Us? We only wait for their leftovers.

That time, I also heard being told as "poor" and "no money". I also experienced asking for food from my cousins and she only laughed at me and said, "go buy some" and she looked at me and I felt like I was slapped a hundred times. I was ashamed of my self and felt sorry at first. I realized that I should do my best not to have revenge but to stop the uneven treatment not only for me but also for my sister and for my mom.

We experienced collecting scraps, bottles, and plastics from the neighborhood. We segregate them. Christmas eve came and we were very excited to sell our scraps for us to buy some food for the celebration. We earned 1,200 pesos, roughly $24. I can still remember how happy we were; celebrating Christmas with all our hardship just to have food on our table. We bought some chicken, cake and soda. We were contented and happy for what we had back then.

Those experiences pushed me to my limits. I studied hard and got with honor award when I was in 6th grade. I went to the only Science High school in our region, Gusa Regional Science High School and studied harder to pursue my goals. My mom also got hired to a Local Government Unit in our barangay. I completed without reward but at least I was part of some competitions and won multiple medals. I proceeded to Senior High School at Liceo de Cagayan University. I've undergone the Accountancy, Business and Management strand. I am so proud that I am one of the few students who had been consistent honor since 11th grade. I graduated with honor and as I walking on the stage, I only got my eyes to my mom who is crying for being so proud of my achievements.

I can still feel the ache of being on the ground, feeling like no one cares about you. Now, I survived the challenges God gave us. And I am now ready, stronger, braver and wiser for God's upcoming challenges. I passed the hardest entrance exam of University of the Philippines . I also passed Mindanao State University in Iligan. I was also qualified to the scholarship our city provides. I am now in one of the best universities in the Philippines. I am doing my best not only to make my mom proud but to help the people who helped us to reach our dreams. I am more thankful to God who gave us a loving family and relatives, for providing us what we need and for keeping us strong when in times of challenges.

But you know what I am most thankful for? I am most thankful to God for giving us all the challenges and hardship because without it, I will not be strong as I am now. I am not be as brave as I am now. And I will not be as patient as I am now.

Care Diem!