38-Year-Old Man Graduates From the Same College He Guarded for 17 Years in the Philippines

After 17 years of serving as a security guard at St. Theresa’s College in Cebu City, the Philippines, 38-year-old Erwin Macua from Trinidad, Bohol, will be graduating at the same school cum laude on Saturday.

The father-of-three juggled being a security guard and college student to make ends meet.

“I could not believe that I would reach this point. I am still on cloud nine,” he told Cebu Daily News in Filipino.

Macua remained dedicated to his job, working his usual shift from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. local time on the day of his graduation.

“It’s no work, no pay. My salary here has been helping support not just my studies but as well as my family,” he explained.

And Macua did not let his age stop him from working towards a Bachelor of Elementary Education Major in General Education degree.

“Age is not a hindrance, poverty is not a hindrance. Just pursue your dream with the formula: hard work plus determination plus prayer and you will reach your aspirations in life,” he told ABS-CBN News.

Macua has always dreamed of becoming a teacher after earning his degree because he wants to inspire children.

“Education is a good course to deal with students and you can really change their lives,” he said.

The 38-year-old dipped into his savings to get though his first year at St. Theresa’s College, but was sponsored by an unnamed benefactor for the last few years of school.

Macua said he will remain devoted to his work as a security guard at the college while studying for the exam to earn his teaching license.

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