JULIE CHUA – LIPAYON | SME Awardee | HS 1992

When the pandemic hit, my husband and I considered homeschooling our three girls. We sat each of them down separately, did our research, and collated the possible pros and cons of both options. There was debate and back-and-forth but in the end, each child chose to shift to a homeschooling program. It was not an easy transition in the beginning. The two older ones, who were more conscientious of their education, soon got the hang of it and even progressed to incorporating household chores outside of their routine roles because (for the first time) their schedules were no longer so hectic. Our youngest, however, understandably needed guidance and still does after these two years, but has grown much from the experiences and challenges of self-learning.

My Assumption education taught me a lot of things, but I think one of the more important lessons that especially helped me through these trying times, is that REFLECTION guided with prayer is the best way to make any decision. As a family, we were lucky to have the gift of time that allowed us to really consider and pray over our decisions. It truly allowed us to face the uncertainty of tomorrow with confidence and peace.

If I had to sum up all that I’ve taken from Saint Marie Eugenie’s teachings in one word, I think it would be LOVE. Not just any kind of love, but a love that fuels joy, passion, and hope. In my own life, I am blessed to be a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a doctor, and an entrepreneur. However, when I get caught up in the weight of all these roles, I forget what a blessing each of them is. But then, I remember what St. Marie Eugenie said –that “LOVE never says I have done enough” and I truly find inspiration in these words. She reminds me to find joy in and love each and every role that I play, each and every heart that I touch. In doing so, I’m able to find truth in her saying and always have something more to give.

I think that if Saint Marie Eugenie were alive today, she would say that one of the most pressing issues of our world is the rise of intolerance. That a lot of the anger and hate that we read about and see comes from a lack of acceptance of each other’s differences and choosing to respect and understand each other. I think that she would remind us that a key to fighting this intolerance is EDUCATION. She would say that an educated mind is an open and enlightened mind, and that by reaching out to others through education, there will be hope for peace in our communities, in our country and in our world.