I was born in the Philippines where I met and married an American. After I graduated from high school, I enrolled in the engineering field for a year but quit because I became pregnant. Being a mother and a wife kept me back from returning to college.

After we came to the States I worked for 7 years until my son was killed in a car accident in 1992. One day, I visited the Prince George's Community College to get information on how to return to school. My purpose was to increase my knowledge, but I did not have an idea of what to focus in majoring. I started taking prerequisite classes to fulfill nursing at Prince George's Community College in the year 1994. At the same time, I was taking a few courses in theology (Education for Parish Service) offered at Trinity College in Washington DC for our church parish. Serving my parish as a lector (reading the Bible at Mass) is among my several activities along with my full time studies, holding a part time job, and being a wife and a mother.

After I fulfilled all the requirements for nursing, I had to wait for a year for my entrance into the program. I took a few computer courses while waiting for my turn to get into nursing program.

Studying computer science dismissed the anxiety I felt within. My life in college is the best therapy there is, after the death of my son in the year 1992. I do not know how I would have lived through the difficulties I have survived and continued to produce something worthwhile in my academic studies, if I had not felt that all of who I am is what fulfills me and fulfills the vision I have of the world, and of the future.

A breakthrough occurred when I got my AA degree in computer information system. Emerging from myself, accepting ideas became another challenge. The desire to continue for a bachelor 's degree in Psychology became like a refreshing drink for a thirsty mind. As important as these factors were, however, they account inadequately for my academic advance. The experiences I have in life through the most difficult moments strengthened the desire to broaden my horizon. Because of these experiences, the lives of my family and friends became almost easy to understand. Like looking through a glass which I was once in, counseling returns a blessing to a friend and myself. Therefore, the thought of majoring in Psychology is more of a fulfillment to my aspiration to be useful to others and to determine how far I could move from the past.