‘Never let go of your dream’

by Asst. Prof. Marnesa P. Campoy
College of Nursing

This is 20-Year Service Recognition Award recipient, Asst. Prof. Marnesa P. Campoy’s response to receiving the service award.


I stand before you today with a heart overflowing with gratitude and humility.

Twenty years ago, if someone told me I would be here standing as one of the honorees of Silliman University College of Nursing, I would have smiled in disbelief. But here I am, not because the road was easy, but because of a DREAM that never left my heart.

Let me take you back to where it all began. I came from humble beginnings.

My mother, a loving woman with so much wisdom, was an elementary graduate. My father, a hardworking man, only reached first year in college and had to stop schooling after he and my mother got married at the young ages of 18 and 19. Education, though not highly emphasized in our home, was something I deeply longed for.

Since my elementary years, all I ever wanted was to become a nurse. I didn’t know the complexities of the profession, but I knew I wanted to care, to help, to heal. That dream kept me going. In high school, after my afternoon classes, I would head straight to the City Library-not to do assignments, but to read books about health and sciences. I found myself fascinated by the human body, by diseases, by how care can change lives.

One afternoon, in that same library, I stumbled upon a tiny magazine. On its pages was an article about Silliman University College of Nursing. It spoke of excellence. It spoke of brilliance. It spoke of a place where the best nurses were formed. That same evening, without hesitation, I told my father, “Pa, dinhi ko gusto mo eskwela sa [Pa, I want to study here at] Silliman University College of Nursing.”

But my father, in a tone I can still clearly remember, said, “Ahhh, maglisud man gani mi nimo ug hatag pamliti kada adlaw [we even have a hard time providing your daily fare].” That moment humbled me, but it never stopped me.

At that time, I didn’t even know where Silliman was. I only knew it was in Negros Oriental. But I held on to that dream, like a thread of light in the dark.

And eventually, God, who works in ways beyond human understanding, opened doors I never even knocked on.

Today, I hold a Master’s degree from Silliman University. I am also on the brink of completing my Doctorate degree in Gerontology Nursing. Who would have thought that someone like me, with nothing but hope and hard work, would one day be part of the very institution I only used to read about?

But I will be honest. There were moments of doubt. There were seasons when I questioned myself: Do I really belong here? Do I deserve to be in a university like this, surrounded by faculty members who are all brilliant and excellent in their own unique ways? It was a real struggle. But it was also a blessing. Because being in SUCN made me want not just to be good, not just to be better—but to be excellent in all I do.

That hunger for excellence drove me through multiple sleepless nights, through countless hours of burning the midnight candle just to meet the standards of SUCN. I would prepare and re-prepare, read and re-read, because I knew I was part of something bigger than myself. And I wanted to live up to it.

For 20 years, SUCN has been my home. But it wasn’t always easy. I’ve had my share of battles-personally, professionally. There were times when I seriously considered resigning, when the weight of the responsibility felt too much. But every single time I was about to let go, I was reminded: This is the dream I’ve always held on to. This is the gold in my hands. I cannot afford to drop it now.

As I reflect on these 20 years, I realize it truly takes a DREAM to turn dreams into reality.

D is for Discipline – I learned to wake up each day with purpose, even on the hardest mornings.

R is for Routine – Forming good habits, being consistent, showing up even when it’s inconvenient.

E is for Education – Not just formal learning, but the continuous pursuit of knowledge and growth.

A is for Action – Because to me, dreams without action are just simply wishes.

M is for Mentality – The strength of the mind, the heart, and the spirit to believe that what once felt impossible can become inevitable.

And most of all, I learned the sacred value of integrity. Hard work is a given in our field, but working with integrity is something deeper. It is something I have always tried to model and echo to my students. It is the compass that keeps us aligned with the true purpose of our profession.

As l stand here today, I also want to express my deep appreciation to the people who have made this journey meaningful.

To our beloved dean, Dr. Theresa A. Guino-o, thank you, Ma’am Tisoy. You have always embodied excellence in every sense of the word. Your constant support, your wisdom, your guidance and above all, your understanding fuel me to do great things every day, ma’am. Thank you for believing in us, for pushing us, and for showing us that excellence is not just a goal—it is a way of life.

To Asst. Professors Mary Natalie Cata-a and Maria Ellaine Adarna, fellow honorees and […] pillars of SUCN, thank you for your quiet strength, unwavering dedication, and the legacy of excellence you continue to pass on to the next generation. You inspire us all to stay grounded, yet aim high.

And to my fellow honorees, today is not just a recognition of the years we have given. It is a celebration of the lives we have touched, the students we have inspired, and the future we have helped shape. Each of you carries a story of perseverance, a journey of sacrifices, and a heart that refused to give up even when it would have been easier to walk away. You are living proof that love for our profession, anchored in service and compassion, can overcome any challenge. Your dedication has built bridges for others to cross, lit torches for others to find their way, and planted seeds of hope that will bloom for generations to come.

Today, we honor not just the milestones but the countless unseen moments of grace, courage, and resilience that brought us here. May we continue to be pillars of hope, beacons of light, and vessels of purpose wherever life may take us.

So today, as I stand here, not just as a faculty member but as someone who dared to dream, let me say this to anyone who might be struggling with doubt: Never let go of your dream. Even if it takes time, even if the odds are against you, hold on. Because someday, just like me, you’ll look back and realize—it was all worth it.

To my colleagues, to SUCN, to Silliman University, thank you for giving me the platform not just to teach but to live out my calling. And to God, who made all things possible, this is all Yours.

Daghang salamat, and may we all continue to live our dreams with discipline, routine, education, action, and a strong mentality.

Happy 20 years and to more years of impact and purpose. God bless us all.