BEYOND THE COUNTER: A WORKING STUDENT’S STORY

June 28, 2025 Lifestyle

BAGUIO CITY

Inside Black Scoop Café at SM Baguio, a young woman stands behind the counter, helping prepare drinks for the customers. People see her uniform and think she’s just another part-timer. But behind that counter, she carries a heavy story of sacrifice and quiet hope. She comes from a small family — just her, her mom, and her dad. Her parents are separated, but both never stopped loving her. “They’re not together anymore,” she shares, “but they both help me in everything they can.” Even so, life was often hard. Money was tight. Sometimes, there wasn’t enough for tuition or daily needs. She felt the weight of it every day. “There were times I almost stopped school because we didn’t have enough money,” she says. “But I didn’t want to give up.”

She wanted so badly to help. “That’s why you’ll do everything to help your parents and reach your dreams,” she says, “so that one day, all the hard work of my parents will be repaid.” Before classes started, she searched for a part-time job. That search led her to Black Scoop Café. “I was nervous on my first day,” she says. “It was my first time working. There were so many things to learn.” There were moments she thought she couldn’t handle it. “There were so many challenges I went through,” she shares, “like the times I couldn’t go to work because I had school requirements to finish. But the café was considerate.” Work was tiring, especially from Wednesday to Sunday when the café was full of customers. She would run from school to her shift, sometimes with rain falling hard outside.

On days when she worked until closing, she would walk home alone, the city lights blurry from exhaustion, arriving as late as 10:30 or even 11 PM. “Rain or shine, I had to go to work and school,” she admits. “Sometimes I get home so tired, my whole body hurts.” Yet, every small reward felt big. “Some customers give tips, even just a small amount, and it’s already a big help,” she says. Her boss at Black Scoop Café was kind but strict when mistakes happened. “She’s kind,” she explains, “but you can feel when she’s mad if we make mistakes. I don’t take it personally. She has the right to get mad because it’s work.” Instead of letting it break her spirit, she used it as strength. “It becomes a lesson for me. I want to do better,” she says.

“It wasn’t easy to be a working student, especially because it was my first job,” she says. “But I managed to do it and I finished my contract.” The entire time she worked at Black Scoop Café, she kept it from her mother. She never told her she was working. There was one secret she kept hidden, deep in her heart. “I hid this job from my mom,” she shares, her eyes welling up. “I only told her after I finished my contract. And it made her proud of me, even though I kept it a secret.” When she talks about her mother’s reaction, her voice shakes just a little. “My mom smiled when I told her,” she says. “She said she was proud of me because even though I was alone in my struggles, I still managed to help myself.” Her first salary felt like a reward for every sacrifice.

“It feels so good to have your own money and buy what you want,” she says, wiping a tear. “Because you know how hard you worked for it.” Eventually, school became busier, and her internship was coming up. When her six-month contract ended, she decided not to renew. “I needed to focus on my studies. I want to graduate,” she says.But the lessons from those months behind the counter will stay with her forever. “Being a working student is not a sign of being poor,” she says firmly. “It means you’re strong and responsible.” She hopes other working students know they’re not alone. “To all the working students out there,” she says, voice steady, “we can do this. Don’t be ashamed. Your dreams are more important than what other people say. Prove that you can do it.” Beyond the counter, beyond the lights of Black Scoop Café, her story goes on — carrying silent tears, quiet strength, and the deep hope that one day, every sacrifice will finally be worth it.

Reanne Gretchelle P. Columbres/UC-Intern