MANILA, Philippines – While many only saw him serving meals and taking orders at a fast-food restaurant, Mark Francis S. Sequenza was quietly working toward a dream that would change his life.
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| Provided photo: Mark Francis S. Sequenza |
The 23-year-old from Mancup, Calasiao, Pangasinan passed the September 2025 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) after years of balancing work, studies, and personal struggles.
In an exclusive interview with The Summit Express, Sequenza shared the silent battles he endured as a working student while pursuing his goal of becoming a teacher.
Sequenza worked as a service crew member for three years while completing his Bachelor of Elementary Education major in Enhanced General Education at San Carlos College.
By day, he endured long shifts and busy rush hours at work, while at night, he attended classes, completed internship requirements, and reviewed for exams despite exhaustion.
“Honestly, parang wala rin akong choice kundi maging working student because sarili ko lang din talaga yung pinakaaasahan ko,” he said.
Financial struggles pushed him to work while studying to support himself and ease the burden on his family.
Despite the hardships, Sequenza never lost sight of his purpose.
“I chose Education because I want to inspire students someday and magkaroon ng stable at meaningful na career,” he shared.
As the years passed, his passion for teaching only grew stronger.
“Teaching is not just a course for me, it’s really my purpose,” he added.
Sequenza described himself as a quiet person who rarely opens up about his struggles.
“Tahimik akong tao but I always try my best to improve myself despite struggles and pressure in life,” he said.
Still, the journey was far from easy.
There were days when his body was already exhausted, but he still had to report for work and continue studying afterward.
“May mga gabi na inaantok na ako sa sobrang pagod, pero pinipilit ko pa ring mag-review,” he shared.
There were also moments when he wanted to give up, especially when he felt left behind by others, but he still chose to continue.
Through his experience as a working student, Sequenza learned discipline, sacrifice, patience, and maturity.
When the LET results were released, everything changed in a single moment.
“For a moment, I just stared like my eyes couldn’t believe what they were reading. My name was there. I passed.
Everything suddenly came back. The sleepless nights. The self-doubt. The moments I almost gave up because it felt like I was carrying everything alone. No loud support, no easy path just quiet determination and a heart that refused to quit.
And now… I understand. It was never about who was with me. It was about who I was becoming while I was alone.
All those struggles didn’t break me. They built me.
I didn’t just pass the LET. I proved to myself that I could.”
He broke down in tears after seeing his name on the list of passers.
“Napaiyak ako sa sobrang saya at relief,” he said.
“Walang impossible sa taong may pangarap, disiplina, at faith,” he added.
Now a Licensed Professional Teacher, Sequenza hopes his story will inspire working students and others silently fighting their own battles to keep moving forward despite life’s struggles.
— The Summit Express
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