From Struggle to Strength: The Journey of Aran Dave Getanes
In Sitio Panali-an in Barangay Ipil, mornings begin with boats returning from the night’s catch and families like the Getanes counting whatever the sea has provided. Here, 20-year old Aran Dave Getanes grew up as the eldest of 3 siblings in a fisherfolk household. His father earns around PhP4,000.00 per month from fishing, while his mother stays at home to care for the family. Even basic needs are often hard to meet. College was a dream they simply had no budget for.
Despite this, Aran held a quiet ambition: to become a mechanical engineer. He finished Senior High School with honors, proof of his ability and perseverance. When he entered his first year in college, however, the gap between aspiration and reality became painfully clear. His course required drawing tools, uniforms, books, and daily transportation to Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU)–Ormoc. His family, already struggling, could not cover these costs. Personal challenges and emotional stress at home made it even harder to focus on his studies.
The obstacles piled up quickly. There was never enough money for project materials or fare to school. The academic demands of Mechanical Engineering were high and he felt pressure to earn while studying. His father, looking at their financial situation, doubted whether Aran could realistically continue in college. Worry seeped into Aran’s daily life. It was difficult to complete assignments, buy materials, or consistently attend classes. More and more, he asked himself if he should keep going. “I wanted to study, but the lack of money and the problems at home made me question if I could continue,” he recalls.
Even before entering the university, Aran had tried to ease the burden. In Senior High School he worked as a babysitter and all-around helper. At one point, he stayed with a friend, doing chores in exchange for a place to sleep so he could attend classes. Later he moved to Cebu to work as a house helper, hoping to save for college. These efforts showed his determination but the gap was still too wide. By the time he was in his first year of Mechanical Engineering, Aran was at risk of dropping out purely because of poverty and not because of a lack of ability.
In August 2024, Nature’s Spring Foundation, Inc., in partnership with HOPE Worldwide Philippines, started supporting students like Aran. The scholarship was designed not just as financial aid but as a holistic intervention combining educational support, psychosocial care, and family engagement. For Aran, being accepted into the program was the turning point that changed the direction of his story.
Through the scholarship, Aran began receiving a monthly school allowance that covered transportation, project expenses, and other essential needs. He was given required materials such as drawing tools, uniforms, and books. These items that had once seemed out of reach. Beyond finances, he joined monthly psychosocial and life skills sessions, where he learned to manage his time, process emotional stress, and build resilience. Program staff conducted regular check-ins and academic monitoring, along with quarterly assessments, home visits, and school coordination.
The effects of this support were immediate. With his basic school needs covered, Aran could focus on his studies instead of constantly worrying about money. He became more confident and motivated. There were still academic setbacks. For instance, he failed two subjects along the way but this time, he did not see them as reasons to give up. Supported by the program, he continued as a regular Mechanical Engineering student, determined to learn from his mistakes rather than be defined by them.
Change also unfolded at home. With the scholarship easing education costs, the financial burden on his parents was reduced. His father, who had once doubted whether college was possible, began to see Aran’s education as a real and shared priority. The family’s growing belief in his journey changed their dynamics: conversations shifted from whether he could stay in school to how they could support him to finish. His younger sisters, seeing his persistence, became more motivated to study, and Aran’s pursuit of engineering became a quiet but powerful example for them.
In the wider community, Aran’s story has begun to ripple outward. In a barangay where many young people feel pressured to work early or doubt that college is within reach, his story shows that poverty alone does not have to force a young person out of school when there is consistent help. For other youth in Sitio Panali-an, he stands as proof that a student from a fishing family can claim space in a university classroom and hold on to big dreams.
Today, Aran is in his second year of BS Mechanical Engineering at EVSU–Ormoc. He attends classes regularly, submits projects on time, and remains focused on his long-term goals. He envisions graduating as a mechanical engineer, possibly pursuing a master’s degree, and using his profession to give his family a better life. In the future, he hopes to support other struggling students who face the same barriers he once did. “I may have been born with less, but my determination is worth more than wealth. One day, I will give my family the life they deserve,” he says.
Aran’s transformation is the result of several forces working together. The college scholarship of NSFI implemented by Hope Worldwide Philippines gave him what he lacked most: consistent financial support for school, structured psychosocial care, and regular encouragement from adults who believed in his potential. Alongside this, his own determination, prior work experience, the encouragement of friends, and his family’s growing support all played critical roles. The journey has not been easy: emotional stress, demanding coursework, and failed subjects were real obstacles, but with scaffolding from the program and his own perseverance, he has stayed the course.
His story under NSFI’s Education Program is still being written. In a coastal community where poverty often dictates how far a young person can go, Aran’s journey from struggle to strength shows what becomes possible when determination meets sustained, holistic support. ###
