Maria Suzeth Sinogaya – Manager & Japanese Translator

I am a Dreamer and have continued to be… a Student of Life!

I have always believed that if there is a will there is a way and everything happens for a reason.

Life begins at forty… a cliche, I had always heard but didn’t believe until it hit me…

Is this the kind of life, I will be living until I reach retirement? What do I want in life, really?

One thing for sure, I don’t want to look back and say to myself, I should have done this, I should have done that! I don’t want to have regrets later when I am no longer capable, old and weary and tell myself, I should have tried at least than not trying at all!

With so much consideration, soul searching and lots of prayer, I found myself enrolled in the College of Law at University of Cebu – Banilad. That was 2016, the second semester of the school year!

‘Hard’ ‘Difficult’ – a complete understatement! Juggling an 8:00 am – 5:00 pm work schedule, Monday to Saturday and studying afterwards at 6:00 pm until 10:00 pm max with the traffic and distance from my workplace, Lapu-lapu to Banilad where my school located, was HELLBOY! LOL So when I get home past 11:00pm, I am dead tired already, but still need to study, read books and study cases…

Countless times, I cried and have asked myself, what have I gotten myself into? Thankfully, my family, especially my husband and son are so supportive.. BUT not without the usual lines, “who told you to do that?” from my hubby dear.

That life scenario continues, but I must say, I find fulfilment and the vacuum that I felt before that was lacking in me was somehow filled. Amazing experience and many discoveries, especially about myself.

I must say, borrowing from the lines of a famous movie, “Life is like a box of chocolate, you will never know what is inside.” Indeed!

For me, this year, 2019 has been life changing. Who would have thought that I would avail the Early Retirement Program of the company? No one in the company. Not my colleagues. Not even my family.

Well, it was inevitable, I must say, knowing that I had shifted my priorities. Sooner or later, I had to decide between my work and school knowing the demands of both and that I could serve anymore, two masters at the same time.

And so, I retired. I left my workplace that I called my second home for fifteen years.

Leap of Faith – I must say! And a bold decision.

The truth. It was not easy to leave behind my title, my position (which I earned through hard work and dedication), and the salary. The idea of being unemployed and the thought of having to start from the beginning and face uncertainties was dreadful. But this is what I wanted. I had to do this. I wanted to reinvent myself. And the rest was history.

I am happier now. It was different. It was unusual. I must say, reverse. All my life, I have been working, wearing my uniform, and going out early for work was normal. But it was alright. I re-arranged my life to the way I wanted it to be.

So, right now my school schedule is during weekends, Saturday and Sunday. And since, I don’t want my skill and experience to be wasted, I am looking for a weekday job from the comfort of my home which allows me to be near my family.

Life is Amazing. Life is Freedom. I am Free. I Evolved.

For a copy of Suzeth’s resume please click here.