UP diploma never too elusive for mom who graduated with her kids

Twenty-three years ago, Lorelei Aquino thought she would never march the sunflower-lined University Avenue to finish her degree in business management.

She had trouble with one of her mathematics classes and was pregnant with her first child, and feared that these might hinder her from achieving her dream of holding a college diploma.

This Sunday, however, Lorelei's life-long dream came to fruition: at the age of 44, she became one of the more than 4,000 students who graduated from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, the country's premier university.

Also marching were her children Mark Romeo and Lorielle Ann, who received their own baccalaureate degrees on the same day that their mother turned her dreams into reality.

Lorelei, Mark Romeo and Lorielle Ann pose behind the UP Oblation on their graduation day on Sunday, June 24, 2018. Photo: Erwin Colcol

Together, Lorelei, Mark Romeo and Lorielle Ann shifted their sablay to the left to officially mark their graduation from the university—living proof that nothing is impossible for a family who is focused in achieving their goals, individually and as a whole.

The math problem

Mathematics, Lorelei admitted, has always been a very difficult subject area for her.

"My very first singko kasi ay nakuha ko sa Math 11, yung College Algebra. Mula noon, lahat ng maths ko, it's either three times ko kinukuha, hanggang six times. I have had nightmares because of math," she told reporters in an interview.

In 1994, Lorelei said she only had two math subjects she needed to pass to be able to graduate: Math 100 and Math 101.

She, however, received a conditional grade in Math 100, and failed to pass the removal exam, barring her from receiving her "elusive" UP diploma.

At the time, she was pregnant with Mark Romeo and was already working.

"I've always dreamt of returning to school para nga makuha yung very elusive diploma ko. Pero 'yung golden opportunity tsaka 'yung chance talaga para bumalik, wala talaga," she said.

Lorelei also admitted that her parents did not know that she did not finish her degree.

"Ang paniwala talaga nila, grumaduate na ako. When I eventually learned na hindi ako pumasa, hindi ko na sinabi sa kanila dahil alam kong sasakit lang ang loob nila," she said.

But with two of her kids about to graduate from UP, Lorelei decided to take a leap of faith and enroll in Math 100 in the UP Diliman Extension Program in Pampanga, where she first took the subject more than two decades ago.

But she got a grade of 4 again in Math 100 with no option to take a removal exam, and that was when she decided to take the class in UP Diliman. This time, she passed, with the help of her children.

"Yun na lang ang kulang niya at matutulungan naman namin siya for reviewing subjects kasi nadaanan na namin. So parang perfect opportunity na ito na kunin yung subjects niya tsaka matapos," Mark Romeo said.

Lorelei's children both graduated cum laude: Mark Romeo in chemical engineering and Lorielle Ann in biology.

Lorielle Ann said she is very proud of their mother, who chose to achieve her dreams even after a long delay and despite her duties as a parent.

"We're very, very proud, lalo na sa mommy namin na kinailangan niyang i-balance yung role niya as a housewife, role niya as our mother, plus yung pag-aaral niya ng math na kinakatakutan niya," she said.

"Siyempre proud kami na kinaya niya lahat 'yun at nagkaroon siya ng courage na bumalik kahit na feeling niya nakakahiya kasi ang tanda niya na," she added.

Mark Romeo, meanwhile, believes that with the help of one's family and loved ones, no dream is out of reach.

"Sa mga tao na gusto may gustong ma-achieve but something is holding them back, kaya niyo namang gawin yun with the help of your loved ones and your family para matupad niyo yung dreams niyo," he said.

Mark Romeo plans to pursue graduate studies, while Lorielle dreams of becoming a doctor.

As for Lorelei, her UP diploma will not do much as far as her career is concerned. Still, it is a testament that she has achieved her goal.

"For the longest time, housewife ako, blogger ako, part-time writer ako. Hindi ko na kailangan ang diploma, [pero] talagang pinilit ko lang makuha yan para lang masabi ko sa sarili ko na graduate ako," she said.

Lorelei hopes that her and her family's story will motivate students to aim for their goals, no matter how long it will take them.

"I really hope na through our story ay ma-inspire sila na bumalik sa school para ma-earn yung diploma nila kasi napaka-importante kahit na gaano ka-successful ka, kung alam mong there is something na holding you back, mahirap mag-move forward," she said. — BM, GMA News