A 32-year-old mother finally achieved her dream when she finally passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET).
Richelle Ann Gonzales, a mother to six children, was over the moon when she passed the LET with a rating of 76.8%, just a little over the passing rate of 75%. She couldn’t believe that after years of challenges and frustration, Richelle is finally a licensed teacher.
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She recalled the experience when she heard the good news. “I was doing some laundry work when a cousin of mine broke the news that I finally passed the exams. At first, I did not believe her, but later on, I was able to verify it as a sister-in-law of mine posted it on her social media account,” she was quoted on Inquirer.
Richelle is from a small village in Sangay, Palapag in Northern Samar. She graduated from the University of Eastern Philippines in Catarman, Northern Samar. She first took the LET in 2010.
Growing up in poverty, she always dreamed of becoming a teacher. Her parents are coconut farmers, and she has seven more siblings. To finance her studies and achieve her dream, she used to sell ukay-ukay and peddle lotto bets around their town.
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Despite a difficult life, her parents and siblings never failed to motivate her to try and take the teacher’s board exam again and again. She said they never gave up on her, even though there were many times she already gave up on herself.
Finally, after 11 years and 14 tries, Richelle cried in happiness. She said she fervently prayed a novena so she could pass the exams.
Now that she’s a licensed teacher, Richelle plans to teach at the school near their town, the Sumoroy Agro-Industrial School. She also feels elated that she can now financially help her family and her husband, who works as a laborer.
“Be confident in your own abilities and don’t give up. Don’t be ashamed if you have failures. Always trust papa God,” she advised.