Video Transcript - From Courage to Comfort
Back home in the Philippines, I had everything I worked for. A stable career, a loving family, and a comfortable life. But comfort can sometimes stop us from growing. So when my husband and I moved here in Canada with our two kids, I choose courage over comfort. Returning to school after many years in the professional world wasn't just about adjusting to a new country. It was about rediscovering my purpose, my values, and myself.
When I joined Kwantlen Polytechnic University in May 2024, I quickly realized that Academic Integrity wasn't just a rule. It was a way of learning and living. In my college years back home, we rarely talk about citations or referencing. Sharing ideas casually was common. I didn't always think deeply about where those ideas came from. At KPU, I learned that Academic Integrity begins with accountability. Giving credit where it's due and taking ownership of my own work. It wasn't easy at first. Yes, there were times I felt unsure about how to paraphrase, cite or integrate research properly. But instead of stepping back, I leaned in. I attended academic integrity workshops, met with online tutors, and join mentor training through the Melville School of Business. Every question, every bit of feedback helped me gain not just knowledge, but confidence. Confidence to do things not just well, but right. And that commitment opened a new door for me. Serving as a Student Ambassador for KPU's Academic Integrity Unit. Suddenly, I was helping classmates understand citations, collaboration expectations, and Academic Integrity standards. I realized something powerful. Academic Integrity grows stronger when we learn together, when students can ask questions without fear and grow through understanding. Balancing studies, my part time work, internships, and family wasn't always easy. There were nights I studied after tucking my kids into bed and mornings I left before sunrise for case competition practices and classes. But those sacrifices reminded me that integrity means consistency, showing up fully, choosing efforts over shortcuts and learning for growth, not just for grades.
As a Student Senator, KHRA Vice President, CPHR BC and Yukon Student Ambassador and founder of the KPU Pinoy Club, I saw how integrity builds trust and connection. Whether representing KPU at a case competition or organizing Filipino cultural events, integrity became my golden compass. It guided how I lead, collaborate and serve. You know, in Filipino culture, we have this beautiful word "malasakit." It means deep empathy and care. And for me, "malasakit" is the heart of integrity. Caring enough to do what's right, even when no one's watching, according to Charles W. Marshall.
Now, as I near the completion of my Post Bacc Diploma in Human Resources Management, I look back with a sense of gratitude. KPU didn't just prepare me academically and professionally. It shaped me ethically. My journey began with courage, but integrity gave it meaning. And today, I continue to choose courage over comfort. As a student, as a mother, and as a leader.