A bright life is enjoyed by the former flower farmer’s daughter thanks to the SM Scholarship award

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The basis of a life well lived is stability. People may grow, explore other areas of life, and contribute to the well-being of the community when their basic needs are met.

Young people who want to succeed seize the opportunity to stand on firm ground, especially those from low-income households. They use it as a place where they can plant the seeds of their hopes and dreams.

Jonnah Jane Sacamay, a former SM scholar who grew in an environment where stability seemed to be unknown territory, is one example of this. Back in the day, flower cultivation was the main source of income for Jonnah’s family. This forced them to tread carefully because the market for flowers fluctuate seasonally, and they were often impacted by unusual weather changes.

But while they had journeyed through life with uncertainty, they had always planted in her mind the power of education.

“Given that the nature of farming is very seasonal, our income is not stable. Aside from augmenting our daily needs, we also had to ensure that my education is secured,” Jonnah recalled. 

Holding on to the power of education

And so, to help her family, she studied hard in grade school as soon as she learned about others who had the opportunity to pursue college through the SM College Scholarship Program. With her whole heart dedicated to learning and her eyes set on the SM scholarship, she finished high school as the class valedictorian. Once the forms were available, she immediately processed her application at the SM Store in Cebu.

“I was informed that I got accepted as an SM Scholar. From then on, a huge weight was lifted off my parents’ shoulders. I could pursue my chosen degree in my chosen university,” she added.

Through the scholarship offered by the SM group through SM Foundation, she was able to focus on the development of her skills and knowledge not only in accountancy but especially in life. She became a Magna Cum Laude graduate of BS Accountancy at the University of San Carlos.

“The SM Scholarship helped me reach my dream of becoming a CPA, and this opened doors for me, enabling me to land a job that empowered me to help my family,” she said. 

“My experience in retail has given me wide knowledge in different areas. With this, I always make sure that my family makes informed decisions in all aspects of life. One thing that has become a tradition among SM Cebu scholars during my time was to have an outreach program. In our own way, we were able to pay forward the help that we received from SM. It was a fulfilling experience that we could share our blessings in our own little way,” she added.

Jonnah currently serves as a Senior Accounting Manager at the SM Store, Cebu. Aside from financial security, she currently takes care of her parents’ medical expenses and lets them enjoy vibrant life experiences after retiring as flower farmers.

“Having a degree enabled me and my family to experience more in life. It paved the way for me to secure a stable job, which allowed me to travel, treat my family to a nice meal, take them shopping on special occasions, and most importantly, support my parents and their medical expenses. Aside from providing me with a scholarship grant, working in SM has provided a sense of security for me and my family,” she shared.

Opening doors to more

SM Foundation made it its goal to help create an environment where low-income families can thrive and achieve stability, just like how the SM College Scholarship Program paved ways for Jonnah and her family.[

The application period is open from February 1 to March 31, 2023, for the academic year 2023–2024. The chosen scholars may choose to focus on accounting, information technology, engineering, or education, and they will receive a monthly stipend that includes enrichment activities in addition to their full tuition.

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Visit https://www.sm-foundation.org/what_we_do/college-scholarship-program for additional details on the SM College Scholarship program.

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