MY LIFE STORY
Karen Kay Guanzon
We are three in the family, I am the youngest and I am 7 years younger to my brother. We have a normal family and a normal life. My parents gave us a convenient life. Our family is inclined with business, from my grandparents down to my cousins and brother. I grew up looking up to my parents, I idolize them when it comes to handling business and financials. Growing up, my father always tells us that we need to strive hard and we cannot depend on him and we will not inherit anything from him. He instill on us that we cannot forever depend on them or to anyone; that we need to have our own ways in able to survive.
Being the youngest and having a big age gap with my sibling is not easy, I never got the chance to be independent even in my college days. My parents were very strict especially with me, there are rare chances that they will leave me alone. They were always there with me to look after me. There are a lot of rules that I need to follow, rules that sometimes I thought was not fair. Those rules and them being strict made me do rebellious acts. I got into a relationships that my parent's doesn't know and relationships that they do not approve. Because of that it came to my mind that the escape from my life back then was to get pregnant; that's how my daughter existed. I was 18 years old when I had my daughter, I haven't finish my studies that time. Because of my fears to my parents, I left our house and go with my daughter's father. I did not get married because I was still thinking of getting a diploma and to have a job. It was a struggle to me leaving without my parents; I realized that I made a wrong decision but I cannot turn back the time instead I need to face the reality and move forward for me and my daughter. Eventually I became a single mom; despite of what I did, my parent accepted me again with open arms and they helped and still helping me in raising up my daughter. Though support from my parents is always there, I know that I still need to strive hard and push myself more to give my daughter the same life that my parents gave us.
My first job was in GMA Network, I was an encoder and had a chance to become an editor. For three years I was able to show what I can do to my bosses, in fact I was in line for promotion but my dad talked to me and asked me to resign in able to help on our business. It was the peak of my career that time, I did not know what to do, and I was in a dilemma on whether to take my promotion or comply with what my father is asking me. In the end I chose to fulfill what my father wants, thinking that I need to regain the trust of my parents. But me working in our company did not went well, I did not see my purpose and worth there. Every expectations I had before I started working in our company did not happened. I thought I will have a future on our family business, I thought I will learn a lot from it and be able to grow on becoming a great leader. That did not happen, instead I felt that I do not make any sense in the company; one of the main reason is because they cannot give me a specific role and responsibility. That was the reason why I became lazy and lost my enthusiasm to learn the business. What made more negative impact to me is when my brother and cousin talked to me and discussed my work ethics, my cousin told me that I am not a good example to the employees, that I am just adding up on the problems of the company and they cannot see my worth. I felt so down and depressed, those words run through my mind for a long time and my life was affected because of it. However, that unfortunate event also gave me the eagerness to stand on my own and look at the possibilities on handling my own business. Fortunately I was given a chance to handle my own business; late last year I was offered by Coca-Cola Philippines to be a delivery partner in one of the town in Pampanga. I was nervous but at the same time eager to show to my brother and cousin that I am not what they think I am. Handling a business is not what dreamt before, but I pushed myself to learn and to let other people see that I can also manage my own business. It was also because of my father why I felt brave to pursue the business. He helped me on every aspects of the business; He financed my business, helped on building the warehouse, helped looking for the routing units and even helped me to get some of the permits I needed. The business also made me realize that I need to learn more especially my course in college is not in line with business, which is why I enrolled in MBA.
When my father died my life turned 180 degrees; that day is a big life changing for me. I've been with him all throughout my life and I admit that I am dependent on him. I entered the world of business and enrolled in MBA because of him; he is my inspiration for both of this. Because of his death, I was stacked, I didn't know where and how to start again. I became compliant to the point that I don't go to my office and I somehow lost care with what is happening on my business. I also stopped studying and did not enrolled, I actually have no plans on going back at school before, but the people I love pushed me to continue my studies because that is what my father wants.
Throughout my life I made a lot of wrong decisions and choices especially when it comes to relationships. Because of my strict parents I was never guided in choosing my partner. But in a much unexpected time, just when I was losing hope and feeling down because of my father's death came the one that I was looking for, for a long time. The one that accepted every ugly past that I had and my situation (having a daughter) and he became one of my strength in this time that I am still coping with the death of my father. He is patiently helping me to slowly regain and pick up myself.
