**No matter how difficult the challenge is, always stay positive and believe in yourself. -Kobe Bryant**

Hello Hivers, this is teneji44 grew up and raised in the developing town of Tabogon in the Northern part of Cebu. I am a former working student, a dreamer, and an occasional traveler. A teacher by profession and graduated just recently because of financial and personal reasons. I'm also a newbie on this platform and eager to learn and interact with people from different walks of life through the world of Hive. https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/teneji44/243MBEWzgAkkmUsUtH3LCPzsbaWkjUX7qzedgaF6cwwVrTbuiAxqCGD8qVuUAdtHkDntu.png _____ #### More of @teneji44 _____ **Growing up** In my younger years, I could say that I enjoyed my life living in my hometown. Even though life was hard to deal with for the reason of finances, still, I had no regrets because here I could find my roots. The basic earnings of our family are through agriculture. My parents planted corn, bananas, and vegetables. Soon after that, we raised animals, and for a couple of months, we were up to market vegetables, bananas, animals, etc. Our hometown encompasses many of my childhood memories. The friends, neighbors, relatives, and barangay/town fiesta celebration made the stay more colorful and memorable. It takes long hours of drive from my hometown to Cebu City. Even so, distance doesn't matter to me compared to the joy I feel when I arrived in my hometown to watch my family, the people I love most. With that, wherever I go on account of the call of duty, going home is still my best remedy for unwinding. As what Judy Garland as Dorothy said in the 1939 classic film, "The Wizard of Oz", "there is no place like home." Source:whyy.org https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/teneji44/23yTfFcpgu3rgETg8Rk5BcTMqqgJWtd8Lboj4iEJJBuVgnD119TeHCBah9aikPp1JFV6f.png _{These photos were taken in Tabogon, my hometown. Photos layouted and edited in Canva.} After high school graduation, I immediately went to the city to look for a job and support the needs of my family because I'm the eldest among three siblings and my parents had no stable income to suffice our daily needs. With that, instead of pursuing my studies in college, I chose to work and decided to let my siblings continue their studies. On my part, it was a difficult decision to make. However, at that time, it was my only way of patching things up in overcoming our challenges. https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/teneji44/23wWwKUM9rdhMUz3FYZaDundZgpg6RyrCDiFqEK9tKXHwBzt7gB5JBuCiE2pfTfbUCu9W.png **At work** Luckily, I got a chance to be employed in one of the most prestigious electronic companies in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, and was able to sustain the needs of my family as well as the education of my siblings. I enjoyed my stay in the said company because of my friends and the conducive environment. At this workplace, I also got a chance to go on with my peers traveling to my dream beautiful places and explored the breathtaking scenery with them. https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/teneji44/23tmPx3oMrfX5og36bE8rjUd682n6RuXdZcfAzLDHBL2oB1Pq4UvSFioMGDe1wwwj9z5f.png _{These photos were taken at the production floor of my workplace.} https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/teneji44/23xVToxi9RSLWK9izS5dLynwcj2sgjtMgCVLLK17NTX6ZuuBTrabCAjZDenm75b16VYat.png _{These photos were taken during our Christmas Party at Waterfront Hotel Lahug, Cebu City.} In the beginning, I thought I'd already fulfilled my goals in life. However, I realized that it was the perfect time for me to pursue the hindered longing to graduate since my siblings had finished their bachelor's degrees and I visited some of my favorite tourist destinations. Consequently, I decided to enroll in college and continued my studies while working for me to finish a degree and grow personally and professionally. **Being a working student** Embracing the life of a working student was tough yet challenging because of the hectic schedule. I had to be constantly on the go no matter what because I was obliged to balance my time from work and school. In the university before classes started, it took me three cups of coffee to sip for me to survive the sleepiness that I had to endure considering that during the night, I worked for twelve hours and then took a short nap. https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/teneji44/23yJLc5B9g7wW2Si2qHFjBsc2zqWBU8Z9VpVdBk5EYzZd5xPnmDQKPXAFFxTUyAH9RCEt.png _{These photos were taken in our classroom at the Univerity of Cebu Lapu-Lapu Mandaue (UCLM) campus.} Soon after, I had to prepare myself for school and study the lessons to strive consciously and ignore hurdles that lead to a lack of strength. Fortunately, with a grateful heart, I graduated in 2018 and had my license just recently since Covid-19 struck and also one of the reasons for the delays. As the bible says in Isaiah 60:22, "When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen." With that, I can certainly attest that whatever difficulties we may now be facing I know there’s a reason behind everything. We may not be able to understand the situation for now on why this had happened, but in the fullness of time, we could find answers to our questions. **My Interests** **Traveling:** I am passionate about exploring different places because taking a break once in a while is the best way of keeping our brain and body active. Traveling also can help a person gain confidence and freedom. Moreover, this enhances our self-awareness and problem-solving skills because it takes a lot of courage for a person to visit a place with whom was not well acquainted. I have been to different places in Cebu and some famous tourist destinations in the Philippines. Hence, I could say that my trip bound for Davao was nerve-racking because that was the first time I rode a plane and my first in visiting Mindanao. Besides, I'm overwhelmed by my emotion on riding the plane. https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/teneji44/23wgFm87HpHcsqLhy7ki27atjksE82JEsACQsgyNWH9QFmMZkCTQEmKLx79qvayRgrWLx.png _{These photos were taken at Eden Nature Park and Samal island in Davao City.} In addition, it was a privilege for me to travel far from my whereabouts and have only limited resources to go somewhere I did not expect to visit. With that, the adventure was worthwhile because I was amazed by the captivating beauty of nature in Eden Nature Park and got the circumstance to try the electrifying experience of ziplining. Simultaneously, we toured to discover the hidden beauty of Samal island. https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/teneji44/23yd5rtJYbZEjyGFSCAnK7sCuBFDdqdJW1omUyP2iM2tXKwgiWbnmnWtmjzDWvVE5C75C.png _{These photos were taken during our vacation in Boracay island.} Afterward, I got invited to explore the beautiful islands of Boracay and Palawan. With that, the thrill of enjoyment again aroused because this had been my dream tourist destinations, and the alluring beauty of Boracay island where we could see the white beaches with fine white sands, crystal blue sea, and the environment that made us feel relaxed and carefree. ![3.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/teneji44/23x1BAjtKNaRXh8mjZskcpoDS1hkrawCihTT2EM8XZCcNUAoegr6ZzxDvWNKpRyhSdjzr.png) _{These photos were taken in EL Nido, Palawan.} ![5.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/teneji44/23uQreJXvybBj7XEhnsjwc7gYjCYzcvto2eBAxMjghk3d8T9bLdQFQCPG8r3w5tTkzBn4.png) _{These photos were taken in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.} Subsequently, our journey to Palawan was unexpected yet rewarding because of the beautiful views. When we had our island-hopping activity, there were no exact words to utter about how I could best describe the beautiful enchanting island of El Nido and Coron and the jaw-dropping cave formation in the Underground River.Indeed, the place was paradise. https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/teneji44/23wMYEZeWxjx89gjfSYpErWFac5qwGcBR2dtS4HpMUAHGsNK4gwgy6VceL3TDfeT7VsvT.png _{These photos were taken in Coron, Palawan during our island hopping.} **Meeting People from Different Cultures**: At an earlier time, before Covid-19 struck our country, I had the opportunity to interact with people from different cultures as an ESL or (English as a Second Language) instructor at Satisfaction of Students and Teachers Academy Incorporated. Teaching the English language as a medium of instruction to foreign nationals for more than a year made me tumble that even though we're from different races and cultures, we are still human and share the same perspectives and likes. https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/teneji44/23wgQCpowSxa3HtTfQB7FzV4F635nDGaaGG72T9PnT1cpW1SPY52YCxHu5ucqsVgYqTtk.png _{These photos were taken at Satisfaction of Students and Teachers Academy Incorporated.} **Bonding with Family:** As we all know, Filipinos are well-known to have strong family ties because we put importance on our families before anything else. Most of us also work hard all day to provide for the need of our families. On my end, I supported my family and siblings in sending them to school. In the event of birthdays or fiesta celebrations, our relatives will join us in celebrating the occasion. https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/teneji44/23xKraLPJqoYBRqxa7mydfgFqk8VqQG5XQDrvxwC78r8qsh1HdLu8VVyFoz1JazKZMW6H.png https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/teneji44/23z7DSFoCHKf8AeuzG59bKinc9CnLUZyJHVNDhV8cP4q5i6iGv42Fgxj6DhAkq7AicdcC.jpg _{Me, my family, and relatives during the 73rd birthday of my mother.} **Why am I here?** I am here because I'm eager to learn, meet new friends, and interact with people from different walks of life. Apart from that, reading about other people's shared experiences and adventures inspires me a lot. This platform also helps me unfold and harness my artistic way of writing. With that, I earnestly thank @callmesmile for introducing and leading me into the Hive world. I'll be more than pleased to share with you guys the things that make me busy, my interests, adventures, and experiences in my future blogs. Thank you very much and see you all again. God bless everyone! ![321911822_902486731164535_8262062732519033582_n.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/teneji44/23ywpteQcid8S49hn4X8Z6Xisdn5Z6eqShdTYkzAPMFKCmqEH4arjhPx3HgtS9HqRx3gq.png)