ALY’S JOURNEY: THE STORY OF MY DREAMS FROM COURAGE AND DETERMINATION

Hi, I’m Jareen Alyanna P. Flores. You can call me Aly for short. I’m 32 years old and currently living in Caloocan City. I’m new in this platform and I’m very excited to interact in this wonderful community. I would like to share with all of you my ideas, opinions, insights, learning, experiences, self-empowerment and travel adventures. I’m the type of person who usually does activities that would make me grow and spend time with people who align with my energy, boost my confidence and help me to have a more positive outlook in life. So, when I read about HIVE, I got interested knowing that it aligns with my real intention and purpose. I believe it would give me opportunities to enhance my knowledge and positively engage with the members of the platform. As a new member of this platform, I invite you to venture into my online space and hope that you stay with me through the stories and experiences I will tell. I created this blog to speak openly about myself, unveil my thoughts and feelings, and delve into interesting topics I’d like to talk about. On this online page, you will find and read inspiring stories that radiate good vibes, inspiration, and hope. In laying out my story, I would like you to know that there’s something more in life than struggles and difficulties. Keep tuning in, I hope you will enjoy my stories and the way I see life.

MY ORIGIN
I came from a very simple family. I am the third child of four siblings. My parents did a terrific job of instilling morals and discipline in us. I can describe them as parents who are full of dreams and want our lives to become beautiful.


Our life before was difficult. But despite the hardship, my father continued to strive to earn a living with my supportive mother. I remembered the times when we hadn't finished school yet. They never stopped finding ways to fund our education even though we had very tight expenses. It was indeed a tough time in their life when we were still studying because honestly, we didn't have enough money to go to school. Our parents just forced themselves to finance our education so that we could finish school. They didn't give up on their belief that education is the key for us to have a better life. As a result, their dreams for us came true. Currently, we all have a degree, a stable job, and already have our own families. In my view, saying thank you to my parents is insufficient to pay for all their suffering just to achieve their aspirations for us.

ABOUT MY CAREER
I graduated with a degree in Psychology in 2013. Then, I became an elementary guidance officer in one of the Catholic schools of our city. After three years of working, I realized that I have a different passion. The more I reflected on my capabilities, the more I realized that teaching would be the best career where I saw myself progressing. I wanted a career where I could have a direct influence on student's knowledge and learning—something that would bring me more inspiration. From that point, I decided to change my career path and pursue teaching. I hoped and prayed to God that my goals and plans would fall into place and that all my wishes about my career would come true. Fortunately, I passed the licensure examination for teachers in 2018.

My background in Psychology and my License in teaching served as a good foundation for me to open doors for opportunities. I became a teacher in different private and public school institutions. I have taught various levels of students from elementary to high school. I also explored the world of the ESL industry. My enthusiasm for teaching online grew as I accumulated more experience. I suddenly realized how much I enjoy teaching English online, especially to adult professionals who want to hone their English language skills. It was inspiring that as a teacher, I create a positive and encouraging influence in the lives of my students. Today, I am overjoyed to say that I found my goal-driven career. I’m an English Online Trainer and Business Consultant at a leading Business English school for Japanese professionals. I believe it’s a job that matches perfectly with my passions and prowess. Realizing my experience, I’m grateful for all the mistakes and failures I encountered along the way. It helped me to obtain wisdom and make the right decisions.

MY FAMILY
This is my present family now in the picture. My husband is my supportive partner, and I as a mother who is trying my best to nurture my son who has an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The beginning phase of my experience as a mother was not easy, but because I have a good partnership with my husband, I feel encouraged and supported in fulfilling my responsibilities. My husband and I watched my son grow up, we noticed that he was different. At five years old, we found out that he had an autism spectrum disorder. It is a condition of a child with problems in social communication, interaction, learning, and paying attention. The doctor further explained to us about his medical condition, the attention and support he needs, and the possibilities. Compared to other typical kids his age, he has different needs. Our discovery of his condition gave us great concern and pressure. In the end, we can't do anything but accept and continue to see the positive side. Upon acknowledging this reality, we immediately created ways to provide the right attention and support for the needs of my son. We sought a reputable school and a therapy center right away, and I spent time practicing his skills-building tasks at home for improvement. I also spent time learning more about his condition. I did further research to know how I could help my child better.


As a mother of a child with autism, I can say that it's more challenging since you have to devote all of your time, energy, and attention to meeting his needs while remaining strong. I am aware that other mothers have gone through similar experiences. I know that I'm not the only mother who has experienced this kind of situation. But the most important thing of all, even if this role is challenging, is that you make a way for your child to develop so he might have a bright future like any normal child. Now, I trust that with my husband's and my cooperation, our son will improve greatly and grow up well. We believe that one day he will be able to live a normal life. Many people would think that having this type of child is a curse, limitation, and disability. However, we parents see the contrary, since we believe that his condition is a gift, talent, and grace that God has given him. Now, I affirm that as parents, we are prospering to support our child's growth and help him bring out his full potential.
My son is currently 8 years old now; he is constantly learning and improving.

Images showcasing his artistic works and interests.

These are his photos from centers taken during his therapy sessions and workshops.

MY PASSION
I also want to mention how much I enjoy singing pop and classical music, as well as Disney and ballads. I hope you will continue to watch, as I will soon be posting music covers as well. I enjoy reading novels and books with inspirational themes, such as those by Paulo Coelho, Rhonda Byrne, Robert Greene, Jack Canfield, and many more. In actuality, their works improved my emotional intelligence, awareness, and sense of spirituality. I also enjoy traveling, particularly to the various beaches in the Philippines. I'll soon share some of my travel experiences as well. Lastly, I enjoy watching Korean dramas and suspense films at home. Although some people claim that watching can be a waste of time, I find it to be fascinating, because the plot teaches important life lessons.

Interests and passions of mine

Images from my adventurous trip

As I wrap up this initial post, I want to express my gratitude to @Antonette Langgamon for her encouragement to join the HIVE community. Her willingness and persistent efforts to assist individuals like myself who wish to increase their income and improve their abilities are appreciated. Without her, I could never have discovered HIVE.