Work Scholar Reymart Gamoyao
His mother was still in high school when she gave birth to him. Up to this day, he has neither met his father nor does he know him. From birth, he was left to the care of his grandmother, and so were his three other siblings born after him.
Life has not been easy for Reymart Gamoyao. His grandmother did not earn much as a farm worker, but the love and care that money could not buy, Reymart and his siblings had a lot of from her. Early in life, his grandmother already inculcated in them the value of education – that it is their sole ticket to a good life someday. She made sure they were in school.
Things changed, however, when Reymart was in fifth grade. His grandmother passed away. Each of his siblings was entrusted to relatives; Reymart stayed with an uncle, his mother’s brother-in-law, who supported his studies until his graduation from elementary school.
Enveloped in grief and loneliness after losing his grandmother, Reymart kept to heart the lesson that she had instilled in him. He then asked his relatives in Dumaguete if they could help him continue with his secondary education. In return, Reymart committed to helping in their home. In this way Reymart finished high school – and was one of the top students in his batch.
But while he was an honor student, Reymart doubted his ability to pursue college because of financial difficulties. He felt defeated and was ready to give up but his classmates urged him to just try applying for a scholarship in Silliman University. He was not so confident about the prospects of him getting a scholarship, but he thought that there was no harm in trying.
Reymart visited the Student Scholarship and Aid Division of the Office of Student Services. It was there where he learned about a scholarship that enables students to go to college on student work scholarship, known as the Expanded Work Study Grant. Under this grant, a student works for his degree as a student assistant for six years. In exchange for his services, the University waives his tuition and fees throughout the grant period.
Reymart jumped at this opportunity and enrolled in the AB English program of Silliman. He is now on his fifth year, and is a student assistant at the Office of Student Services.
Although his uncle is supportive of him, Reymart acknowledges that the financial support that he and his family could extend is limited. Reymart would work extra hours as a student assistant to earn some amount for his allowance. True to his promise to his uncle, he would wake up early in the morning to prepare breakfast for him and the family before getting ready for school, and would do his share in the household chores in the evening before studying. In order to save money, he would walk to the campus from his uncle’s house in Barangay Bantayan and do the same going home, instead of taking the pedicab.
Despite pressures that threatened to take his focus away from his studies, Reymart is a dean’s lister and an honor student. He said his experience has in fact made him a better person; it has taught him to value and manage his time more effectively.
Reymart looks back at his boyhood with gratitude. What he went through then tested and developed his character. It made him endure his own battles in life which only brought out the best in him. He considers his classmates’ encouragement to apply for a scholarship in Silliman as God’s plan at work. If not for their prodding, his college diploma would not have been within reach.
When he finishes college, Reymart is decided: “I will give back to the University through teaching, and I will take care of my siblings, send them to school, and bring us all together again.”
