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May Ashen N. Acibo is my name, and I am the daughter of Marites and Rix Acibo. I was born on the 10th of May in the year 2003. Mariz, my older sister, is my only sibling. I was born and raised in Cebu City. I am a first-year college student pursuing a Bachelor of Elementary Education.

My family is small, consisting of my mother, father, older sister, and me. My parents run a small business that includes an eatery and a sari-sari store. My older sister has a bachelor's degree in business and works as a marketing manager for McDonald's. I'm still working on finishing my degree. My parents have sacrificed their blood, sweat, and tears to make us, their children, who we are today. They were able to provide for our wants and needs. They go out of their way to be there for us at all times of our lives. Despite having a loving family, I was raised to be competitive in all I do. To get recognition and prizes from my parents, I must excel and achieve special awards. My parents often compare me to someone who is doing better than me, which has contributed to this mindset in me. They always backed us up in our decisions and never forced us to make decisions we didn't want to make. We pursue what we like, but we must also do well in it.

When I was three years old, I started studying. My mother signed me up for a daycare center. My parents then enrolled me at Tisa II Elementary School for Kindergarten and Elementary. My childhood school years were filled with fond memories, and I was a member of the star section from grades 1 to 6. During my time there, I made friends, learned valuable lessons, and received honors. For Junior High School, I attended Abellana National School. It is where I met my best friends, we created the best memories there. I took up cookery as a major, it was very fun, and we were able to experiment with foods that are new to us. The best part is when we get to eat after we present it. Abellana National School holds a very special place in my heart. Many life lessons were learned, and I met teachers who inspired me to pursue a bachelor's degree in education. For my senior year, I studied Humanities and Social Sciences at Southwestern University-PHINMA. I met some new people, but due to the viral outbreak, we were only able to bond for a brief time. When we placed second in the film festival and I was the assistant director, it was the most unforgettable experience of my senior life. I am currently a first-year student at Cebu Normal University, where I am pursuing a Bachelor of Elementary Education. I am a Cebu City Scholar, and I am excited to begin on this new adventure.

I am always fond of dressing up. Being able to express me was one of my favorite parts of growing up. My mother usually gives me stuff I enjoy, particularly clothes and dolls. I used to love dressing up as a youngster, and Barbie is one of my favorites. My mother would buy me paper and dolls to dress up, which I would spend most of my time with. I constantly dress up in stylish clothes because they make me feel confident and beautiful. My passion for fashion is growing. I tried it again while staying at home during the outbreak of the virus. I dress up to cope with my stress and to release it. I also enjoy dressing up as a hobby, giving fashion advice to my friends, and collecting ideas for future looks.

My journey was never easy, I encountered many challenges along the way. I met new friends and lost some, received awards and failed classes, and was happy once and sad twice. It was like a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs. I learned who to trust and how to keep my group small. I also learned not to let your emotions control you, and to never make promises or decisions when you are sad or pleased. "Focus on your own lane, proceed at your own pace, don't look sideways," was the best lesson I learned along the journey. Someone else's success does not have to affect you or subtract from what you achieve." As a competitive kid, I was continually comparing myself to other people's accomplishments and was fuelled by jealousy. I recognized that it is detrimental to my mental health and that the only source of reassurance I require is myself. You don't have to compare your accomplishments to those of others to feel accomplished. Concentrate on your own development; you are your only competitor. I'm still young, and I still have a lot to learn. I'm ready to take on any possibilities or challenges that come my way. Despite the numerous setbacks, I am glad and proud of myself for making it this far. I'm doing my best to become the person I've always dreamed to be, successful and wise. I don’t know what the future holds but, I am here for it.