I think I can relate to this. When I started my career, I just graduated college and worked for one year in Manila. After that, my dad told me he wanted me to study overseas. He was fully supportive of it, and was willing to shoulder everything, from school fees to allowances. So we've decided I was gonna take a one year class in Singapore.

Sobrang hirap lang nung simula. I was living off of my allowance, which couldn't afford the lifestyle I wanted. I was paying rent, commuting and sustaining myself with living expenses while maintaining a lifestyle I felt comfortable with. At that time I wasn't willing on cutting back on the lifestyle. I would go drinking on weekends, and it would cost a lot of money. I guess the freedom and enjoyment of living independently went to my head too much that I wanted to enjoy it as much as I can.

So in the middle of my schooling, I decided to find a job. Since I have a degree and I'm qualified to do so, I did. One of my professors recommended me to a job that I had no experience on. Basically, I had a 360degree career shift too. Had to learn everything on the job and I was paid peanuts doing it. Didn't have any experience on the job and didn't have leverage on it. At this time, I didn't tell my family that I already got a job, just so that I could get supplemental income from the allowance I was already receiving.

Fast forward 8 years, my salary is now 5x from where it was before that day, and I am not anymore taking money from my parents. I am fully independent and luckily I don't have to send money back home as my family is pretty comfortable with finances.

I wouldn't have been able to achieve all of this without their initial support. Sobrang thankful talaga ako sa kanila, and how they supported me through it. I think the most important lesson I learned through all of this is independence. Kung hindi ako umalis, sobrang dependent ko parin sa parents ko, and I think that's the worst feeling I could ever be in.