Autobiography

MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Lemuel Gaviola and Jerley Ola first met at their workplace, ACT Machineries, where their love story began. On June 16, 2006, in Cauayan City, Isabela, they were blessed with their first child, a handsome baby boy named Leiji Mark Gaviola, and that child is me. As a child, I was playful, cheerful, and sometimes quite mischievous. Growing up in a loving and supportive family, I learned important values such as respect, responsibility, and perseverance. Their care and guidance helped shape the person I am today. This is the story of my life, experiences, and challenges.

According to my mother, I learned how to walk when I was only one year old. Ten months later, I experienced traveling to my fathers hometown in Bayugan City for the first time. There, I met my grandparents, uncles, and aunts from my fathers side of the family. My first vacation with my fathers family was very enjoyable even though we only stayed there for one and a half months, because it was also the first time I saw the waves of the beach.

When we returned to our hometown, my grandmother gave me my first ever bicycle, and more than two years later, when I was already three years old, my family once again returned to Mindanao, and it was there that my first younger brother was born.

When I turned five years old, we are already here in Luzon, I started studying kindergarten at Mambabanga Elementary School in Luna, Isabela. After only five months, we returned once again to Mindanao. I continued my studies there, this time already in first grade at Anolingan Elementary School.

My experiences as a six-year-old child were not the usual experiences for someone my age, especially when it came to going to school. Whenever I went to and from school, I walked alone, although there were also times when I walked with the friends I had made. Our stay there became memorable not only because it lasted for more than two years, but also because of the childhood memories I created there. It was also there that I first saw my second younger sibling, my younger sister.

In June 2013, our family returned to Cauayan City, where I continued my elementary education at Cauayan South Central School. During my years in this school, I experienced many things getting into fights, crying, getting hurt, and learning important lessons as a child. From Grade 2 to Grade 6, my elementary life was enjoyable and full of memorable experiences. At that time, playing games and having fun were the things that occupied my mind the most, which is why I did not receive many awards in school. Nevertheless, I was able to graduate from elementary school successfully, and I know that those years are one of the happiest and unforgettable parts of my childhood. It was also during those times that my youngest sibling, my younger sister, was born.

The day finally came when I entered high school. During Grade 7, I was very focused on my studies, although there were times when I became distracted. I was the kind of person who easily got irritated and often looked for trouble during my early high school years. It was also during this time that I experienced cutting classes, sleeping during lessons, and pretending to be sick just to avoid going to school.

I also experienced being called to the Faculty Office because of getting involved in fights inside the classroom. I was often teased, and since I was short-tempered and sensitive, situations sometimes led to misunderstandings and physical fights. It was also during this period that I experienced being caught in conflicts involving friendships and relationships. To be honest, I did not completely understand why some girls argued because of me perhaps because of my personality, the way I interacted with others, or maybe I was just naturally charming.

That was how my first years in high school went. When I reached Grade 8, I was still not that mature in the way I thought and acted. Grade 8 became an important part of my life because it was the time when I slowly started to change. I began avoiding unnecessary fights, became more disciplined and tried to improve myself. Unfortunately, just as things were starting to get better, the COVID-19 Pandemic happened.

The COVID-19 pandemic became one of the most difficult experiences not only for me, but also for many people around the world. Many families faced hunger, unemployment, and financial problems. There were times when my family also struggled, but thankfully, God continued to guide and provide for us. During those difficult times, my father worked in Davao City, where he managed a branch of Equity, allowing him to continue supporting our family despite the strict quarantine restrictions.

Around 2020 or 2021, my father finally returned home from Davao. Soon after, almost everyone in our family became sick because of the virus. Thankfully, their condition did not become severe, and my family recovered quickly after a short time.

Classes during the pandemic continued through online and modular learning. However, studying was difficult because we often had no internet connection or mobile data. Most of the time, my parents would pick up printed modules from the school. Despite the challenges, I still managed to complete all my requirements during Grades 9 and 10 and successfully finished junior high school with Gods guidance.

The time eventually came when I entered Senior High School. During these years, I became more focused on my studies because classes had returned to face-to-face learning instead of modular classes. I took the ICT Strand, and this was where my interest and goals in the field of Information Technology truly began. Throughout Grade 11, I consistently received With Honors awards.

Grade 12 became one of the most memorable parts of my senior high school life. During this year, we experienced work immersion, although it was only conducted within the school because we were not accepted at Isabela State University. It was also during this time that we took our TESDA training and took the NC II assessment in Santiago City. Because of my hard work and focus, I successfully passed the NC II Assessment.

Despite all the experiences and challenges, the moment I graduated from Senior High School became the most unforgettable for me. I felt extremely happy because I saw how proud my family was of me. After that achievement, I finally entered college, where I slowly began to experience the real challenges of life.

When I first entered college at ISU-Cauayan Campus, life did not feel very stressful yet. Perhaps it was because I was still a freshman adjusting to a new environment. During my first year, both in the first and second semesters, I became a Deans Lister, which motivated me to work even harder in my studies.

After that, I entered my second year in college. Although it was still manageable at times, there were moments when I experienced unexpected disappointments, especially regarding my grades. One example was during the second semester of my second year, when I received a grade of 3.0 in one of my subjects even though I completed all the requirements. Because of that, I began to feel that my dream of graduating with Latin honors might no longer happen.

Despite these challenges, I continue to move forward and do my best in my studies. Our midyear classes have just started, and I remain determined to work hard until I finally achieve my college degree. After graduation, my greatest goal is to provide for my family and give back to my parents for all the sacrifices they have made for me. I want to find a stable job, save money, and someday work abroad so I can help my family even more and achieve the dreams I have for myself and for them.

As I continue my journey in life, I know that there will still be many challenges ahead. However, I believe that with hard work, determination, faith in God, and the support of my family, I will eventually achieve my goals and become successful in the future. This autobiography is not only the story of my experiences and struggles, but also the story of my dreams, perseverance, and hope for a better life.