Greetings! 

My name is Shela Igot. Rodrigo, but you can call me She or Shela. I was born on April 27, 2004,  and I am currently residing in Babag, Lapu-Lapu City. Originally, I am from Olango Island, a  separate island from the mainland of Lapu-Lapu, but still part of the city. I spent most of my  childhood years in Olango before moving to the city for college. As far as I can remember I always 

love exploring and learning new things that I feel I can do. Singing is my greatest passion, but I  also enjoy reading and writing which brought me to my current position.  

Back then, before our house was demolished, our neighborhood was surrounded by relatives.  Growing up with cousins my age made me feel closely connected to my family. However, after  the demolition, we became separated, and naturally, we drifted apart as we grew older. I came from  what I consider a big family. I have four elder sisters and one eldest brother, making me the  youngest. I also have several nephews and nieces whom I grew up with (a different kind of story),  which I believe shaped me to be sociable at times and opened with my behavior around my family.  However, moving to the city exposed me to a different reality—one where not everyone is kind or  accepting, and as naïve as I was and has been, I was culture shock. I grew up in an environment  where fragility is not a weakness but an opportunity to be loved, though my family was never  perfect, however, I didn’t use it to convince myself that there is no possibility of staying kind,  maybe because a big part of my life I was loved deeply. 

From education to passion, I was supported and not forced, but like any other family financial  problem carry us to unimaginable things. I began my elementary years at Sabang Elementary  School, a public school where I became competitive because of societal expectations and curious  as I was for learning. I continued my studies at Sta. Rosa National High School, still located at  Olango Island, here I learned to hide in my shell, stealthily exposing myself a little and never get  much used to associate because all I thought about school was for learning and realized later on  that I have missed a lot of opportunities back then. For Senior High, I temporarily moved to the  city and studied at Asian Learning School. Unfortunately, this was during the pandemic, by that  my exposure to the community was limited, it became the source of self-isolation and loneliness  because I don’t have many friends let alone a digital phone to contact someone, it was difficult  that time. Then few years later, I started college without carrying a full baggage of knowledge and  a little less amount of money, I wasn’t prepared of it all until I accepted the fact that from that day  on my life would not be the same as it was. Right now, I am a 4th-year student at Cebu  Technological University – Main Campus, taking up Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Major in  Literary and Cultural Studies, which proves that I have survive that rollercoaster journey. 

My life wouldn’t be fully molded without KFF Foundation, of all the goals I set for when I was in  Elementary, it is only the scholarship that was granted, I wasn’t accepted at my dream school nor  the dream course I want to pursue, it was unforgettable but forgivable because I have realized I am  destined to a greater cause. That’s what KFF taught me, true wisdom (life) beyond academic, it  shaped me to understand life better. I don’t have the confidence to walk with my head up before  but KFF put me into a place where I practiced to manage different people, cooperate with respect 

and be respected, and to gain financial knowledge. It was unique rather than different. Now that  my remaining months to KFF is getting nearer, I still carry the vision with me for KFF the moment  I became part of the organization and that is to extend help for future scholars and for the  organization. I hope that the future scholars would have the same spark as me the second I joined  the KFF and not only think of it as financial institution but a room for holistic improvement where  everyone is treated with respect and dignity. I want to tell them “To be stubborn” not letting  negativities maneuver their life and treat failures as a bypass to give up but rather an opportunity  to persist because there is no such as perfection only opportunities to be a better person. You will  eventually know the true meaning of “stubbornness” in KFF and will realize how it makes a special  ingredient both personal and professional.