BAYAMBANG, Pangasinan – Let this be an inspiration to all, that physical handicap is never a hindrance for one not to finish his or her studies.
A 22-year from Barangay Sancagulis in this town has just proven that as Grace Anne Cadosales transcended tall odds in life and finished Bachelor of Science in Information Technology cum laude at Perpetual Help College-Pangasinan on June 9.
There may be a lot of people with physical handicaps like Cadosales who would not consider going to school and pursue their ambitions owing to many reasons.
But Cadosales simply refused to be affected, and not even the defects in her legs and spinal column would prevent her from pursuing her dreams because of her trust in God.
She narrated on her Facebook account that she indeed had encountered a lot of trials from the start.
“Nong unang beses akong in-enroll ni mama sa school hindi ako tinanggap kasi daw hindi ako normal at maaaring maging pabigat lang ako sa klase,” said Cadosales.
“Sa early stage na iyon ng buhay ko nakita ko na kung ano ba ang totoong kulay ng mundo sa mga tulad kong PWD. Hindi pala lahat tanggap ako,” she lamented.
But her persistent mother tried her best to look for another school which would accommodate her.
“Ginawa lahat ni mama ang paraan ma-enroll lang ako, tinulungan siya ng isang kong doctor/therapist na ipaglaban karapatan kong makapag aral. And finally tinanggap na din ako sa pangalawang pagkakataon,” she said.
Her suffering did not stop there, she said.
“May times na may na-encounter akong mga grupo noon ng mga magulang na sinasabi nila ‘bakit pa ako nag aral’ ‘baka maging pabigat lang ako at maapektuhan ang klase.’ May mga bata din noon na pinag tatawanan kalagayan ko,” she revealed.
But she said it was God who made her like that, believing God has an excellent plan for her.
“Sa mga panahon na iyon sinabi ko sa sarili ko na ‘ok lang, may purpose si Lord kung bakit ako napili niya,’ she said.
When Manila Bulletin interviewed her, she said, she got all the courage facing difficulties in her life by trusting God.
Quoting a verse in the Bible, Cadosales said: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight paths."
Four days after her graduation, on June 13, she was immediately hired by a surveying office in her hometown.