Paputol-putol ang connection nung kinekwento ni Lyka kung kamusta mag-aral ng Hospitality and Restaurant Services (HRS.) "Kinakabahan po ako sa kulog," tawa niya pero sa labas lang kasi daw malakas ang signal kaya push na lang ang kwentuhan sa Zoom kahit rinig ang ambon sa labas.

Internet connection daw ang isa sa mga kailangan maitawid kapag nago-online class. Wala silang load allowance pero sa tingin niya ay nakatipid pa rin kahit papaano dahil wala nang gastusin sa pamasahe at baon. Kung hindi ay magco-commute pa siya papunta sa at pauwi ng school.

She's been taking HRS for two years now. Nadatnan sila ng pandemic kaya nitong second year, ang face-to-face classes ay naging lectures sa Zoom at video demos. The shift was challenging especially that there's no longer direct supervision and communication with the teacher that would otherwise be easier in a physical classroom setting. Lyka found herself mustering extra effort to independently fulfill class requirements like reporting. Most hands-on activities, if not all, are also being done at home so she has to find time and push herself to be more self-reliant than before.

"Enjoyin lang din ang pagbabago," sabi niya. Malaking factor ang positive mindset lalo na kung iba't ibang klase ng tao ang makakahalubilo sa pagta-trabaho sa service industry. Itong resilience din ang natututunan niyang buuin lalo na't nag-aaral siya sa gitna ng pandemya.

"Okay-okay na lang po, kailangang sanayin ang sarili," sabi niya. Nakikihiram si Lyka ng tablet sa tita niya kung saan rin siya nakikitira para na rin makigamit ng Wi-Fi. "Minsan mahirap kasi nakakakalimutan niyang meron akong pasok tapos nadadala niya [yung tablet]. Pinupuntahan ko pa siya kung nasaan siya tapos minsan nale-late ako," sabi niya. "Sorry wait, medyo naiyak ako," sabay tawa. It's only reflective as well of how much needs to be addressed to make sure students are keeping up with remote learning. Things like access to devices and the internet are all the more crucial now and yet gaps still remain in providing support to our students who are likewise trying their best to finish their education. 

Lyka is fond of their Entrepreneurship subject. "Gusto ko po 'yung entrepreneurship, sa marketing, para matuto paano mag-manage ng business at mag-plan." Ito ay para din daw matulungan ang pamilya niya sa mga matututunan niya. Nagtatrabaho sa tindahan ang mama ni Lyka habang sa palaisdaan naman ang papa niya. "Nagbabantay siya ng mga isda, pinapalaki at hina-harvest nila," kwento niya. Bilang nasa larangan din ng aquaculture at entrepreneurship ang mga magulang ni Lyka, hindi rin malayong pasukin niya ang ganitong direksyon ng tech-voc career lalo na't may business at managerial aspect ang focus ng kaniyang napiling kurso.

Habang nag-aaral pa, hinuhugis na ni Lyka ang klase ng tao na gusto niya maging in the future. Sa online classes palang, she finds herself growing fond of teachers who are approachable and who can clearly communicate to everyone -- traits and attitudes that she sees are essential to any profession in her chosen tech-voc path. These attitudes, she believes, are the ones she also needs to imbibe to see her business dreams through. 

At 19, Lyka is thinking of working abroad. She says any work is okay -- "Kailangang kayanin basta marangal". Kahit sa welding ay bukas din siya lalo na at alam niyang kumikita ang mga workers nito sa mga industriya sa ibang bansa. Hinihintay lang din niyang maging ligtas from COVID-19 soon at maghahanda na siya sa paga-abroad. Kahit anong bansa din daw basta ligtas. Kay Lyka, as long as she can balance her resilience, self-reliance, and open attitude, even going into welding - a commonly perceived 'masculine' work - is not something alienating for her. In fact, recognizing the versatility of tech-voc skills makes her want to try service occupations different from her current field, knowing that these skills will only keep on adding to her expertise.

Right now, Lyka's priority is to focus on fulfilling her class requirements. As long as there is guidance whether, from her parents or teachers, she believes she can successfully pursue a career with her service and entrepreneurial skills and even perhaps, start and manage her own business soon.