WHEN it comes to pursuing her dreams, Juana “Annie” Caminade-Villegas believes that age is definitely just a number.
Villegas, 56, was the oldest student of Cebu Technological University (CTU)-Argao Campus who graduated this year.
Villegas, a widow and a resident of Barangay Taloot in Argao, graduated from her Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) Major in Technology, Livelihood and Home Economics course on Wednesday, March 29.
She is one of 595 students from CTU’s Argao, Oslob and Alcoy extension campuses who graduated this year. She graduated cum laude.
But Villegas admitted that the road to her academic success was a challenging one.
She had to endure doubts from her family, teachers and fellow students. “They’d ask me if I could do it, I could make it through when I’m already old,” she recalled in Cebuano.
She initially wanted to enroll in the Bachelor of Arts in English Language (AB English) course in CTU, but decided to take her current course due to her sons’ insistence.
When she decided to enroll at CTU, Villegas had to ask for the blessing of her two sons: Joseph, a licensed chemist, and Jonathan, a lawyer and municipal councilor of Argao.
She recalled that when she sought permission from her sons, Jonathan even challenged her that if she graduates with honors, he would be willing to sponsor her law studies.
Villegas vowed that once she graduates, she plans to become a lawyer like her youngest son.
But it took more than 30 years before she could go back to school.
When she was 18, Villegas wanted to pursue a medical course, but didn’t proceed because of poverty.
When she got married to her late husband, Villegas promised to get a college education but family life prevented her from proceeding further.
She instead focused on nurturing the academic achievements of her two sons until they became professionals.
But Villegas, a widow and now a grandmother, said she was determined to finish her studies.
She said that during her freshman year, she found difficulty passing some of her subjects, particularly those involving the use of computers.
But since her sophomore until her final year at CTU, she was a consistent member of the dean’s list.
She attributed her success to the support of her family and her batch mates who would help her in her studies.
“Bisag wala kay sakto na kapasidad, buhaton nimo tanan, basta dili lang ka magpakaulaw. Mapuno ka sa utang, mapuno ka ug paghanyo sa mga tawo diin makahatag nimo ug seguridad ug makalampos sa imung anak (Despite the lack of capacity, you have to do everything, just as long as you don’t embarrass yourself. You will be borrowing a lot, asking favors from people who could give you security and help your children to succeed),” Villegas said.
Villegas advised people her age who want to go back to school to go for it.
“Age is not a hindrance in going to school. If you really have an ambition to finish school so you can help your community in a good way, then treasure it. Just focus, study, and be patient,” Villegas said in Cebuano.
