Chapter 1: Danielle's Hardships in life

Looking at a far distance, Danielle was reminiscing her past before the accident.

“Pa, why is mama always giving you hard time. She is so self-centre. Can't she see all your efforts? “ Danielle said to her father who was bowing his head looking so upset.

Rodriguez, her father, looked at her with sympathy. ” Don't say that my dear. I love your mother and I will do anything to make her happy. When you grow up and find someone to love, you'll understand. As for now, just be more patient with your mother. “

Danielle hugged her father and caressed his back to give her comfort. “ I promise that I'll study hard and then find a job so that I can help you provide for the family's needs, Papa.”

“Thank you, dear!” Rodriguez said in a teary eyes while embracing her lovingly.

Then, the little Danielle remembered that she was supposed to be in their school to attend their folk dance practice.  She wanted to join in the dance because of the prize for the dance contest they participated in.

“Papa, I have to go! I need to go to our school to practice.” Danielle said eagerly.

“ Okay, Dear! Good luck! I know your group will win.”

Rodriguez said and looked at her daughter with a more brighter face.

After separating from their embraces, Danielle waved her hand and ran towards the front door. She opened the door and ran as fast as she could towards her school. Their school was just a walking distance from their house. They live only in a simple house made of bamboo. Their life was not easy but their striving hard to earn for a living.

Her father had siblings and parents abroad but her father never asked any favour from them. He swore to himself that he'll stand in his own feet no matter what and raised his own family without their relative's help. That's why Danielle was raised in a very strict and disciplined environment.

In the school, Danielle arrived in the school playground and saw that the group was already practicing even without her.

“ Good afternoon, Sir! Good afternoon, Ma'am! Sorry if I'm late!” Danielle greeted her coaches with a heavy breathing.

“ It's okay! Please take a rest first then you can join them afterwards. “ Sir Carlito said to her with a smile on his face.

“Thank you, Sir!” Danielle said and sat on a bench near her coaches who were standing next to her.

After the music stopped, the members of the group rest for a bit.

“ Danielle, are you okay now? Have you regained your strength? “ Ma'am Aurora asked her while glancing at her.

Looking at her coaches, Danielle smiled happily and nodded. She went near her partner and then the music was played. She loved performing because her heart was into it. She felt happy and like floating in the air.

But when the sunset came, Danielle and her group separated. They went home to their own places. As she was walking along the road she saw her parents riding in their tricycle. She was happy to see her father lively again. Her parents were talking to each other while they were along the road. They glanced at Danielle who was waving her hand at the side of the road.

Unfortunately, an accident happened. A loud crushing was heard and Danielle was in great pain and screamed out loud when she saw her parents being bumped in by a truck. She saw her parents lifeless and full of blood.

That was the first time that she cried. When the ambulance came and the doctor declared that her parents were gone, It seemed that her whole life was taken also at that instant. All she did was crying out loud and calling out her parent’s names.

From then on, Danielle lived with her grandmother and still continued her studies while working as part time in the canteen of the school or sell her own made yema candies so that she could still earn money. Even if her grandmother gave her daily allowance, she never dare to buy anything from it. She kept on saving money until she had earned 10,000 pesos.

In her graduation day, her Grandmother borrowed a beautiful peach coloured princess dress from one of her relatives and also bought

a new pair of shoes for her to use. She felt happy at the same time sad when she was bring awarded as with honours in her graduation day.

Seeing that there were a lot of parents who attended the graduation ceremony, Danielle felt lonely. She missed her parents especially her father. Her grandmother saw her sadness and patted her head.

“ Your parents are now in heaven and I know that they are proud of you. So smile, dear! I know they are here looking at you now. I  am so proud of you too!” Nanang Elsa said to her while staring at her.

From then on, Danielle worked harder in school and in earning money. When she graduated in high school, she was again awarded as most punctual, most obedient, most responsible, most creative, best in attendance and the final was with honours. Her grandmother was so delighted to see her every hard work.

But before the graduation day was approaching, there were college representatives who came to endorse their schools to them. Danielle applied for a private scholarship when she learned that one of her teachers was looking for candidates for the said scholarship programme.

She went to her Science Teacher who was in charge for looking for a candidate coming from their school.

“Good morning, Ma'am! May I come in?” Danielle asked politely as she was standing in front of the opened door of the faculty room.

An old teacher noticed her and smiled at her.” Come in!”

When she heard the reply she needed, Danielle approached her Science Teacher who replied to her a while ago.

“ What do you need, Danielle? “ Ma'am Leonora  asked with a poker face. She seemed very strict but Danielle knew her well because Danielle

had become one of her assistants whenever her teacher needed help.

“ “ Ma'am, can I apply for the scholarship you are in charge in?” Danielle said bravely.

“What?! You want to apply for the scholarship? Do you really need to? You have relatives abroad to help you in your studies in going to college. “ Teacher Leonora said to her in a doubtful tone.

“ Ever since my parent's died, I promised to my father that I will continue my studies without my relative's help. And besides, they never had the guts to help us when my parents was still alive. Please,  Ma'am, I really need that scholarship. “ Danielle said full of courage.

Luckily, she managed to convince her teacher to add her in the list of candidates. “ Okay! I see your determination. Wait for a moment. “

Without further due, the teacher gave her a form to fill up and she also told her the requirements needed to the application.” Good luck, Danielle!” Teacher Leonora said patting her shoulders.

“Thank you, Ma’am! Danielle smiled and left the faculty room.

With full of energy, she walked her way to get all the requirements needed for her application in the scholarship. She went to the hospital to take a medical certificate. She borrowed and rode a bike going to the municipal hall to get a cedula, birth certificate, and marriage certificate of her parents. She also went to their school  adviser to get her report card.

Finally, she submitted all the requirements needed  and the next day, Teacher Leonora came to her in their classroom  with  a wide smile on her face.

“ Danielle, I have a letter for you.”

Teacher Leonora gave her a white envelope.

Danielle reached out her hand to get the letter from her teacher. She was puzzled because there was no address or name at the outer portion of the envelope. When she opened the envelope and read the letter, it was said that she passed the requirements and needed to take the oral and written exam for the scholarship.

After reading the letter, Teacher Leonora happily  embraced her. “ Good luck on the exam. I know you can do it.”

“ I’ll do my best, Ma'am!” Danielle smiled but her heart was beating fast. She felt nervous at some point. She gathered her courage and left her teacher.  The whole week, Danielle stayed in the Library every recess time.

On a Saturday morning, Danielle prepared herself to go on her final attempt to reach her goal. As she entered an office room where the oral and written exam will take place, she saw a number of high school students sitting and waiting to be called like her. She had learned from them that they came from private and public high schools and also, they were in an honour rank in their respective schools.

Danielle felt her hands got colder and colder and her breathing became  unsteady. She felt really nervous but then she clench her fist and said to herself: “ I can do this. God is with me!”