Let them graduate!

Four students from the University of the Philippines-Manila’s Political Science Program were going to class all semester, fulfilling requirements and engaging with their teachers, doing a thesis course that is required for graduating students.

These four were diligent and determined even as all four of them were dealing with financial problems. And if you live in this country with your eyes wide open, you know how large these problems can be, how insurmountable, how crippling, especially for students who should be focused only on their studies. You would also know how it is entirely possible that these four students forged on despite—and to some extent because of—their inability to pay for their tuition this semester. Because it’s the final stretch, and graduating from the University will be the end of the struggle that was going through a college education.