A diary of my life story - this is going to be quite long so brace yourselves! But this is me, pouring my heart out, hope this inspires you in one way or another.
My name is Tracy Maureen Perez, I was born on March 23, 1993 in Cebu City, Philippines. I'm the only child of my late mother Chona Perez, who singlehandedly raised me until she passed away last 2010. I am also a miracle baby and I thank God everyday for the life given to me, no matter how difficult it can be sometimes.
After my mom gave birth, we then moved back to my grandparents’ hometown, in a very small barangay in the province of Agusan Del Sur, where I spent my childhood until I graduated in Elementary School at 12. Growing up in the province, it was always so serene, we’re surrounded by all kinds of plants and trees, and farmlands as far as my eyes could see. I guess this is how I started developing my love and appreciation for the beauty of nature which I will always carry with me no matter where I go.
At an early age, I also developed my love for learning, I remember always looking forward to go to school. I guess for the most part it was because I’d finally get the chance to play with kids my age, being with just adults all the time at home . But kidding aside, I’ve always enjoyed excelling in school, I was always so close to my teachers and I enjoyed representing our school in quiz bee competitions! I ended up being the class valedictorian and Mommy Chona couldn’t be happier!
And you know what, I’ve always loved being on stage (or all the way up our dining table for a song or dance number when my grandparents’ siblings would visit ). I would always volunteer myself for any extracurricular activity – name it! I always took part in every event, even in drawing competitions on foundation days (and I am well aware of the fact that I’m bad at drawing! Perhaps, this is what you call being an inborn performer?
I’ve also had several phases growing up, at some point I was super girly, I would wear 5-inch platforms to school on wash days , and at one point I was so boyish – my circle were mostly boys, I would play with them every break time, and wore basketball shoes everyday going to school Those were fun times!
But it wasn’t all fun, I had my share of struggles too even at a young age. As a child raised by my single mom, I was oftentimes bullied in school for not having a father. I still don’t understand to this day why it was such a big fuss back then but some of my classmates would always make fun of me and call me names – the worst I could recall was being told I was borne out of a bamboo tree so nobody really loved me.
Now, my highschool years! So, after graduating in elementary, we moved back to Cebu (where I was born) and lived in a municipality called Argao. I have to admit it was a struggle having to move to a new place, start a new life, and go to school were everybody already knew each other since diapers. I was branded as the ‘new’ girl and had a hard time ‘fitting in’ or find a clique. It was the time when I started having self-doubts and insecurities, but through the years, I slowly started to gain friends and be my usual bubbly self again. I then graduated with flying colors and it was one of the proudest moments of my life. It felt amazing seeing the look on my mom’s face as I was being called as the class salutatorian. Plus, she was called on stage too and my heart was just bursting with so much joy and fulfillment...but I never thought it would be our last.
Sophomore year of college, at 17, I lost my Mommy Chona. I woke up one day and she was gone, I was left alone in the world without any immediate family – no mother, no father, no siblings, and having nothing to my name. I was devastated, I was lost, I was hopeless, I thought I would never survive. And thus, the new chapter of my life began – the constant fight for survival, for belongingness, for happiness, for purpose, for fulfillment, and for a better life.
Fast forward to 2022, I am still fighting, but this time, I am no longer alone. I now carry with me the hopes and dreams of the once 17-year old who lost everything along with the hopes and dreams of every single person who just like me, had hit rock bottom and is constantly working her way back up.
To you who is reading this right now, never lose hope! Keep moving forward. You are strong and you are so much greater than the problems you are facing right now. Sending you all my love from the Philippines!