My First Hive Post Surviving the Shadows: The Resiliency and Power of an Individual Beyond Its Obstacles (An untold story)

A passionate individual who strives to do my best in all endeavors. With perseverance, hard work, and a strong belief in God, I believe that nothing is impossible. These are the introductions that I always tell whenever I encounter a mock interview.

I smile even when I'm weary.
I carry burdens that few can see.
I keep standing, even when every part of me wants to rest.
The more I give, the more exhausted I become, yet I continue because others need me.
I am not a machine, nor a superhero.
I am not fearless, but I choose courage every day.
Who am I?

I am Lovelyn Kaye Villaflores Salvador. My full name is quite long, but people use to call me "Teacher Love” or my second name “Kaye”. I am an ESL Teacher but still a lifelong learner. I am delighted to have found this platform where I can share a glimpse of my life. This cyberspace will serve as my online blog, sharing twists and turns in life and building connections with people around the world.

25 years of existence and still don’t know the path that I should take. I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in elementary education, am a licensed professional teacher, and earned 24 units toward my MAED, major in educational management. A Teacher who can teach both offline and online to all ages and nationalities. I am a woman with passionate dreams of becoming who I aspire to be. I come from a humble background, where my parents worked tirelessly to provide for my brother and me. My father is a physical therapist who treats individuals with disabilities, while my mother worked as a government employee at the Local Government Unit (LGU) in San Jose.
Looking out of the window, I have come to realize that we were not exactly a "happy family." We faced stress, even though our relatives on my father's side occasionally helped us. However, in recent years, we were met with harsh words and cold stares. We were deeply grateful for the support we received, but we often felt marginalized within the family. There was favoritism, and it seemed that lifestyle and material wealth mattered more than our bond as a family.

As a child, I was not naturally gifted. I wasn’t the smartest or the one who excelled in everything I attempted. However, I continued to try, even when others turned their backs on me or mocked me. Despite the challenges, I always gave my best. My grandmother on my father's side constantly compared me to my cousins, yet I persevered. I worked hard, joined extracurricular activities, and became one of the top students in our class. Despite my efforts, I did not receive the recognition I longed for. I learned that sometimes, you don't need to fit into places where you don't belong. You must remain true to yourself, do your best, and strive for your own success. While some may not be proud of you, there will always be others who appreciate your efforts.
Among the many women who have fought valiantly in life, my mother has been my unwavering support, sacrificing her own needs for our future. She has always been my number one supporter as I faced life's challenges. She stood strong for us, even enduring pain in silence. It breaks my heart to see her in tears, especially when I witnessed my father's betrayal.
There was a time when I questioned everything. I was filled with anger, especially when my father once threatened me as a child. His whereabouts led to a cycle of violence and retaliation that haunted my childhood.
Despite the material possessions we received—clothes, toys, and shoes—we were trapped in a home where love felt absent. We were confined, unable to go outside or play with friends, living in an environment that felt darker than blue.
As the years went by, my mother confronted him, asking him to choose between his family and his friends. He chose us and worked hard, eventually building a house for us with my mother. For a time, he showed dedication to his family, making plans for home improvements until 2022.
In 2023, my grandfather on my father's side was diagnosed with heart enlargement and other complications. We were devastated, sacrificing our time to stay by his side. Unfortunately, my father returned to his old vices. Arguments between my parents resumed, and the fear we had once felt returned with the heard dread sounds of our gate or the engine of his motorcycle and the way he kept on shouting at us. My mother stayed awake, protecting us from harm.
The year 2023 was one of the darkest times in my life. I lost my grandfather, my source of strength, and my father succumbed to his vices once more. I also lost my grandmother on my mother's side, who had always motivated me to pursue education. Additionally, I lost my beloved pet, and my first partner of nearly five years betrayed me. The weight of these losses led me to contemplate suicide. I wrote a note expressing my grief, anger, and disappointment. When my mother discovered the note, she cried, urging me not to give up and to have faith that we would overcome these challenges together.
In 2024, as my father's vices worsened, my mother became my sole financial supporter during my internship. I lost weight while finalizing my thesis and managing family problems.

On June 14, 2024, I graduated with a degree in elementary education. Despite my achievements, none of my relatives congratulated me, including my father, who did not attend the ceremony. My tita from California sent a graduation gift, but my father squandered it on his friends and vices. My mother was furious, and the remaining money he held was given to my brother, who passed it on to her. I felt anger and did not want to celebrate my success.
We saw that there would be no changes if the person made wrong decisions instead of choosing his family. For peace of mind, we decided to move apart and live just the three of us. Yet it was the hardest decision, but we had to move.
As July came, during this time, I was preparing for my LET exam. My mother remained my unwavering support throughout this journey, encouraging me as I reviewed at the CBRC for my upcoming LET. My tita and tito on my father’s side assisted with the review center fees, and I worked hard as a Teacher, sharing knowledge with my students. After taking the pre-board exam, I was overjoyed to see my name among the passers, ranking fifth. After months of hard work, I passed the board exam in September 2024, receiving the results in December.
In January 2025, I fell in love with a man who captured my heart. He is different from anyone I have met; he has no vices, is family-oriented, and respects his parents. It is rare to find someone so genuine. He supports my dreams and in fulfilling a promise I made to myself. I hope he will be the last, my man, whom I eternally loved.
But things were not so easy. Yet there will be no perfect relationships. We were both busy. Being frustrated at work and sometimes with the people surrounds us in the workplace, and even the time changes, tested our relationship. But I don’t know if I can still hold it. Because It’s hard begging someone who wants to let them stay at your side.
Yet, I consider myself not too lucky to find true love. But instead of acting heartbroken and furious, I focused on restarting my life, focusing on work and learn again.
I also made the hardest decision in my life to leave the children that I have taught for 1 year and 6 months due to personal problems, and the way it didn’t renew my contract because we have a strict boss and psychopathic co-workers, so I decided to work at home and return to being an ESL teacher, where I met an opportunity to learn and grow again.
At present, I have started to be a private ESL Teacher where I can get an opportunity to teach Chinese students, especially other nationalities that I met on different platforms. And it was a blessing, as many students and parents were reach me out and have trust and support in me. As long as you keep hitting the books, believe in yourself, and have courage, it really pays off.
I can say this is the time when I am the one who supported my brother’s studies and helped my mother with our daily life expenses. And I am proud of myself that I didn’t give up and able to survive in these shadows.
As I look toward my future dreams, I know there will be challenges and obstacles. However, I will stand firm, drawing strength from God, my family, and my loved ones. I will always place God at the center of my life. I will never cease to dream of who I want to be. As a woman, I encourage everyone to break their silence and stand tall, fighting for their rights. I would not be where I am today without my mother’s support or my self-belief. Use your experiences as stepping stones to overcome life’s challenges and achieve true success.
I am onboarded by @antonette and @chinito about this opportunity to freely express my thoughts without fear or self-doubt, I felt inspired to begin my own blogging journey. She generously offered her guidance and patiently helped me navigate this platform, making the experience much less overwhelming. Through her advice, I learned about the platform's rules and posting policies, including the importance of creating authentic content. I fully understand that using AI to generate posts is strictly prohibited, and I am committed to respecting and abiding by these guidelines. She also emphasized the value of meaningful engagement within the community. That excites me because I look forward to connecting with people who share the same interests, exchanging ideas, and learning from one another. With that, I can confidently attest that this post, along with my future entries, comes from my own thoughts, experiences, and reflections. While my photos are personally captured, some have been enhanced using Canva for visual presentation. So, come along with me as I ignite my passion for blogging thru sharing positivity, embracing personal growth, discovering new opportunities, and creating meaningful connections in this digital space.

Thank you for being here, and happy reading!