Behind every diploma and career are sacrifices and struggles to graduate and land one's dream job.

Regine Cañete Villamejor, 25, of Argao, Cebu, graduated magna cum laude in Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Commerce, Major in Communication and Marketing at the University of San Jose-Recoletos in 2017. She helped her mother sell in the public market fish caught by her fisherman father before achieving her academic goal with high honors, according to Pep.ph.

Jesus Tiwan Fuentas, 41, of Barangay Labangon, Cebu City recently graduated from the Talisay City College with a degree in Bachelor of Elementary Education. The high school graduate resumed his college studies while selling chicharon (pork crackling) to support his four children and wife, Pep.ph reported.

In a Facebook post last July, Fuentas profusely thanked all his customers, including classmates and teachers, for buying his snack, without which he wouldn't have financially supported his family and studies.

Carlo Padoga aspired to become a danseur after watching a performance of dancers from the prestigious Ballet Philippines when he was a teenager. He sought and won a scholarship from a ballet school and joined BP in 2016, GMA News' "Make Your Day" reported.

Padoga fulfilled his wish to make ballet dancing his bread and butter, ending his occupation as a market porter during his teens and helping his parents and siblings enjoy a good life. He also toured the world when the BP performed abroad.

Despite being a nursing board exam topnotcher in the Philippines in 2015, Suharto Jundam had to do odd jobs for five years when he looked for work in Australia. He is now employed as a registered nurse in the Land Down Under, according to news program Saksi.

Jundam told Saksi in a recent online interview that he got frustrated by his failure to quickly find work in his chosen field but he did not give up. He had to take up a conversion course in Canberra in 2017 to pursue his profession in Australia, so he worked to support himself while staying at his aunt's home.

His stint as a barbecue boy lasted two weeks. Like Villamejor and her mother, Jundam then became a fish vendor in a market. He used his income to rent his own place, pay tuition and cover his daily expenses.

Jundam also worked as a cashier, barista and toilet cleaner until he finished his course which became his ticket to employment.

His advice to those aspiring for a career abroad is not necessarily to do the same job he did. Don't easily surrender to challenges that come your way, he said.