By Jesusa Mae Sumaoang
Student Contributor

Anyone whose wheels constantly move and travels the right way gets nearer to the destination day by day. 

Being wheelchair-bound, she is striving to pursue her dream career in teaching. At some point, she may be vulnerable and dependent because of her limited movements; but she remains determined and empowered in overcoming life’s challenges. 

Meet Johanna Florentino Patricio, a senior secondary education student of the MMSU College of Teacher Education, who is proving that differently-abled persons like her can do great things. 

Coming from a family of teachers, Johanna is much inspired to become an educator because she sees the profession as noble and rewarding. As a teacher education senior student getting closer to her dream, the 22-year-old lady admits she struggles with her physical disability. 

“Growing up with physical disability is a big challenge, especially that I am not able to enjoy a physically-normal life,” she shared. She lamented that due to her situation, her family exerts extra effort to assist her and provide all needs she has to undergo medical examinations to find out more about her situation.

Johanna said she continues to overcome these challenges because of her family’s support and inspiration. Aside from stepping up against adversities, she also shines above the others. With her hard work and passion to study, she emerged as an academic scholar in the college. 

According to her teachers, Johanna is a well-performing student - remarkable for her being goal-driven, focused, creative and resourceful.

With a few months to go before the semester ends, Johanna anticipates to graduate with flying colors this year – to celebrate her feat and to ‘march’ with her wheelchair in the university. 

After college, she is braced to hurdle the board examination – a step closer to becoming a licensed teacher. Once she becomes so, she vows to inspire and empower others, particularly the differently-abled ones, to pursue their dreams. “Let my experiences teach them how to ‘stand up’ in the face of any limiting circumstance,” she beamed.

Besides this, Johanna also wants to become a lawyer in the future – another big dream that she commits to achieve despite her physical limitations. 

As she continues the journey, Johanna could never imagine that differently-abled persons like her have made it this far. Instead of being stuck, she constantly shrugs off the reality of her wheelchair and focuses her attention to persistently rotating her wheels to arrive at her dream destination. (HLY/JVBT/DPTJ, StratCom)