A Masteral Guidance Student’s Journey: Striving to Balance Work, Life, and Career Growth

I am Myra Flor G. Cagas, a woman shaped by persistence, faith, and an enduring belief in the power of education to transform lives. My journey has been anything but linear; it is a story of struggles intertwined with growth, of balancing responsibilities with dreams, and of finding meaning in guiding others while still learning how to guide myself.

My roots trace back to Southern Leyte State University (SLSU), where in 2014 I earned my degree in Information Technology, major in Programming. At that time, I envisioned a career in systems and codes, yet life had other plans. Shortly after graduation, I found myself stepping into the world of finance as a Loan Officer at Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation in Tacloban City. It was a world far from my academic training, yet it taught me discipline, resilience, and how to listen—not just to numbers, but to people’s stories of hardship and hope.

By 2018, while still working, I felt a stirring in my heart: the desire to grow beyond numbers and spreadsheets. I pursued a Master’s in Management at SLSU, proof that I was unwilling to let my dreams be limited by circumstance. That same year, I transferred to the Accounting Office at SLSU. For four years, I devoted myself to administration and financial work, a chapter that trained me in patience, detail, and the quiet strength of service.

But my calling kept whispering. In 2020, I pursued a Diploma in Professional Education at Saint Thomas Aquinas College, bridging my administrative background with my growing desire to teach. When I passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers in 2022, I realized that my journey was leading me toward something deeper—toward the lives of students, their growth, and their struggles.

In 2023, I finally found myself where my heart had long been directing me: the Guidance and Counseling Office at SLSU. As a Guidance Staff, I stepped into a role where my skills, passions, and compassion could meet. Here, I was no longer just managing numbers or files; I was listening, counseling, and walking alongside students navigating their own journeys. That same year, I enrolled in a Master of Arts in Education major in Guidance and Counseling at Eastern Visayas State University. It was a step both exhilarating and daunting, especially with the distance between Sogod and Tacloban. Yet, love for the craft kept me moving forward.

Life, however, demands balance. By 2024, I was also serving as Administrative Aide VI/Secretary to the Vice President for Student and Auxiliary Services. It was a heavy load—balancing my career, academics, and personal life while grappling with the rising cost of living. Inflation made every peso count, and time often felt too short. Yet, it was in this tension that I discovered my own strength.

In June 2024, I made another courageous decision: to transfer to Cebu Technological University, where blended learning offered a more sustainable path. It meant fewer hours on the road, more time for work and family, and a renewed commitment to pursuing my dream.

Looking back, my story is not one of perfect balance—it is a story of constant striving. I have moved from technology to finance, from administration to teaching, and now to guidance and counseling. Each shift was not a detour but a stepping stone, preparing me for the work I now embrace: guiding students not just academically, but holistically, with empathy and purpose.

I am still learning, still struggling, and still growing. Yet every challenge reminds me that my journey is not simply about surviving—it is about creating meaning, one step, one student, and one story at a time.