Last April 24, I had the privilege of witnessing Yugto 2026, the 8th Commencement Exercises of the CARD MRI Development Institute (CMDI)–Tagum Campus. Inside the Tagum City Historical and Cultural Center, excitement and emotion filled the air as 282 Senior High School graduates celebrated a hard-earned milestone, accompanied by the quiet pride of parents and families whose sacrifices helped make the moment possible.

The ceremony was meaningful in itself, but what made it truly unforgettable was the keynote address delivered by Dr. Jasmin J. Neri, Provincial Director of TESDA Davao del Norte. She began by commending the graduates for their perseverance and recognizing CMDI’s “One Family, One Graduate” program, which makes education accessible to young Filipinos from struggling households.

Then she shared a story that was deeply personal and profoundly moving.

Dr. Neri recalled growing up with 10 siblings, in a poor family. In Grade 4, she and two of her sisters – one in Grade 6 and the other in Grade 2 – were scheduled to attend their school’s recognition/graduation program on the same day. Their mother managed to borrow money to buy them dresses, but not enough to afford shoes.

There was only one old pair available for all three girls.

Her older sister, who graduated first, wore the shoes on stage and later lent them to Dr. Neri. But for the youngest sister, the shoes were too large. To make them fit, they stuffed paper inside.

For many people, it might seem like a small story about childhood hardship. But in truth, it reflects the quiet struggles that countless Filipino families endure every day — parents stretching every peso and children learning sacrifice early.

Yet what stood out most was this: poverty did not stop them from dreaming.

Dr. Neri shared how she became entrepreneurial even as a student. She harvested sampaloc from their tree, turned them into candies, and sold them at school. As leader of their gardening group, she took home vegetables that became food for their family. Through consistent academic excellence, she maintained free tuition throughout high school, easing the burden on her parents.

In college, while pursuing a Nursing degree, survival became even more difficult. Her mother could send only ₱30-50 from Samal, which was not enough for her daily needs. She helped classmates with assignments and carried her friend’s belongings in exchange for food and transportation money.

Before graduation, she returned home to find their two large jackfruit trees gone. Her mother had been forced to sell them for a meager ₱200, to settle her school clearance fees.

To some, they were just trees. But to a poor family, they were security and sustenance. Selling them was an act of sacrifice rooted in a mother’s determination to see her child finish school.

What made Dr. Neri’s testimony even more compelling was that her journey extended far beyond professional success.

At 54 years old, she continues to pursue higher education and is currently completing a Doctor of Philosophy degree. She spends weekends studying, proving that learning is not limited by age or circumstance.

Her message to the graduates was simple yet urgent: never remain idle, never stop improving yourself, and never underestimate the value of technical education and practical skills. She encouraged students to take TESDA short courses, earn National Certificates, and prepare themselves for the opportunities and demands of the modern economy.

Quoting Aristotle, she ended with these words: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Long after the applause faded, what lingered in my mind was not the formality of the graduation ceremonies, but the image of three sisters sharing one pair of shoes.

In today’s world, success stories are often measured by titles, wealth, or recognition. But Dr. Neri’s story reminds us that true success is built quietly —through sacrifice, persistence, discipline, and faith.

For many Filipino families, education remains the most reliable pathway out of poverty. It is not an easy road. It demands sacrifices that are often unseen and uncelebrated: mothers pawning belongings, fathers working extra hours, siblings sharing what little they have, and students persevering despite hunger, exhaustion, and uncertainty.

The story of the shared shoes is ultimately not about poverty. It is about perseverance. It is about a mother who refused to surrender to hardship, daughters who refused to abandon their dreams, and a family that believed education could change their future.

As the graduates of Yugto 2026 begin a new chapter in their lives, may they carry with them not only their diplomas, but also the enduring lesson behind that single pair of shoes: no circumstance is too difficult for a person who refuses to stop moving forward.

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“Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance.” – Samuel Johnson