Distance to physical classrooms and time to attend classes have long hampered adult Filipinos from finishing their degrees. To some, it remains unfinished business, but as life responsibilities pile up, the opportunity of finishing school is simply out of reach.
With recent improvements in technology, distance to an institution is less of a barrier as students can now take degree programs fully online. In fact, overseas-based Filipinos have taken to online programs to pursue their dreams of further education.
Overseas Filipino worker Ferdinand Gueco, is one such example. After getting married early in life, Gueco naturally had to stop schooling. With more life responsibilities, he had to find better work opportunities—such as being an OFW in Saudi Arabia.
While working overseas proved lucrative, the dream of earning a degree and graduating never got old for Gueco. He felt that going back to school will enable him to achieve more professionally to earn more for his family in the Philippines.
Being away from the country and with steep tuition fees at schools in his adopted home, he really did not have options. After doing further research, he found AMA Online Education (AMA OEd).
Upon finding out that he can take courses fully online through AMA OEd, Gueco was excited, but had initial doubts.
“I graduated high school back in the year 2000, and I felt it will be challenging. I was so insecure and questioned myself whether I can still be a person who can perform academically,” Gueco said.
Not wanting to give up on his dream, Gueco went on to enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program major in Management Information System. At first, the challenge was getting used to the significant changes of being a working student.
“Being an OFW is already an arduous endeavor even more as you commit to further study. Aside from taking a significant chunk from my monthly budget, I had to ensure I used my time wisely, focusing on studying with the limited time I have,” he shared.
Gueco’s doubt was slowly replaced with more motivation as the easy to navigate platform and modules of AMA OEd gave him direction in his studies. “When I started to take my online modules, it was exciting to learn how the platform works. It was convenient, and I can access everything through the portal. Despite my hectic schedule, it allowed me to study anytime, and anywhere,” he added
For four years, Gueco worked hard at balancing his time between work and his online studies. With the help of mentors who respond via e-mail, virtual classes, and discussions, he finished term after term despite working full time.
In May this year, he finally achieved the dream he once deemed impossible. Gueco was one of the 72 AMA OEd students who marched at the Philippine International Convention Center to claim their much-deserved diploma.
The moment was extra special for him: He graduated magna cum laude, as well.
The effect of being a graduate was immediate for Gueco. “I recently applied to another company and immediately was about to be hired. My current company, though, found out I was then graduating and decided to keep me and gave me a counteroffer that’s more than what I expected,” he said. He is now a senior purchasing specialist at the Saudi Arabia-based company where he works.
Just like Gueco’s story, those who dream of finishing school but are hampered by time and distance can now turn to online education platforms like AMA OEd.
“Online education is really the way of the future. Through our tech-savvy, responsible, and innovative graduates, we get to show that online learning is an effective way of studying to earn that degree that opens the door for better life opportunities,” said Dr. Amable Aguiluz, IX, vice chairman and CEO of AMA Education System.