03/05/2026
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๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ง๐ฐ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐
Hello, JFINEX! Iโm Shine. Some of you might know me for my favourite lineโโANG MGA RESIBOOO!!โ
Kidding aside, Iโm just a girl who traveled roughly 600 kilometers from her hometown to take a risk. Back then, I didnโt really know what I wanted to do with my lifeโespecially in college. But somehow, things fell into place, and here I am, having served as Vice President for Audit for four semesters.
Being the new girl in the city wasnโt easy. I didnโt know how to ride a jeepney, I wasnโt familiar with the roads, and I got lost more times than I can count. I still remember crying and asking help from policemenโwho were kind enough to drive me to school. Itโs a memory Iโll never forget. Despite all that, I found my wayโnot just through the streets, but through people. I built connections, formed friendships, and slowly stepped out of my comfort zone, which, for someone like me who wasnโt naturally friendly, meant a lot.
My world eventually revolved around school and academics. I worked my brows off to achieve grades I could be proud of. The pressure I put on myself was intense, but the fulfillment that came with seeing the results of my hard work made everything worth it. That academic fire in me never burned out. And as someone who had always been active in organizationsโeven back in elementaryโI knew I couldnโt let the opportunity to join JFINEX pass. The moment I saw they were looking for members; I signed up without hesitation.
I started as an Official Junior Director for the Grievance Committee. I still remember our Halloween event during my freshman yearโit was fun, lively, and surprisingly comfortable for a first encounter. There was no awkwardness, no dull momentsโjust a genuine sense of belonging. By my sophomore year, I joined the Audit Committee, where I discovered my love for numbers and realized that my OC-ness had its place. Eventually, in my final two years, I had the honor of serving as Vice President for Audit.
That role made โreceipts and supporting documentsโ practically my life. The stress from working on research papers and year-end reports for SCOA is still fresh in my mind. And to be honest, I was handling not just one, but two sets of reports, as I also held executive positions in other organizations. As a self-proclaimed workaholic, I thrived under pressureโbut of course, ranting became part of the routine too. Still, everything paid off. We received a Qualified Opinion during my first year as VP, and I left the organization with an Unqualified Opinion in my final term. It was both fulfilling and bittersweetโknowing that I had reached that point, yet I would never experience it the same way again.
A few months after graduation, I canโt say that everything has drastically changed. In many ways, Iโm still that academically driven, finds comfort in workloads, and slightly perfectionist version of myself. But if I were to choose between being a student and a corpo girlie, Iโd honestly choose the former. Adulting has a way of making life revolve around moneyโalipin ng salapi, as they say. Work takes up eight hours a day, sometimes more with overtime, five days a week. Compared to student life, where you could still find pockets of rest and breathing space, itโs a different kind of challenge.
That said, earning your own money does bring a different kind of satisfaction. I just make sure that my corporate life doesnโt take away the things that make me happyโmy small breaks, my โHappy T,โ and my TGIF/S moments (iykyk). At the end of the day, you only live once. Missing a day or two of work is far better than burning yourself out. Your physical and mental health will always cost more than any salary deduction. We are humans, not machinesโweโre not meant to function 24/7. So, take care of yourself, too.
To my younger self, Thineโyou may still feel like you havenโt figured everything out, but look at how far youโve come. You stood on your own, survived college in a completely new city, carved your own path, experimented with life, had your own fair share of regrets, and achieved your academic goals. The road ahead is still long, but giving up was never part of your story. You may still be indecisive and impulsive at times, but thatโs okayโthose traits shaped who you are today. Youโre not even halfway through your story yet, so keep going.
And to all Financialistasโalways choose courage. Donโt let your fire burn out. Go aheadโrant, curse, rest when you need toโbut never stop moving forward. Fear will always be there, whether in academics or in life beyond it. Do the things youโve always wanted to do. Life is about trying, learning, and living fully. At the end of it all, what stories will you tell your children and grandchildren if you let fear decide for you?
Take risks, but stay grounded. Make choices that not only serve you, but also respect the people around you. Mistakes may leave bruises, but they heal. Regrets, on the other hand, will haunt you forever.
Thank you, JFINEX and PLM, for all the challenges, achievements, and memories. I will always be grateful for the years we shared. Hereโs to more legacies, more growth, and more triumphs.
Until we meet again.
That has been Shine, our featured Phoenix of the Month, reminding us that growth often begins with uncertainty and is sustained by courage, discipline, and the willingness to keep going. Through every challenge faced and every milestone achieved, her story inspires us to embrace risks, honor our limits, and continue writing a life we can be proud of.
