Back in 2016, I was pretty sure I already knew what I wanted for my career. I had finished my Business Administration degree, major in Marketing, and my next plans were to pursue an MBA and take the Civil Service Examination. I wanted to climb the corporate ladder, gain experience, earn promotions, and eventually hold a leadership position in a company. I was excited about that future because, at the time, it made perfect sense to me. I loved the idea of growing professionally, improving my qualifications, and having a stable career that I could be proud of.
Fast forward to today, and somehow, I’m doing something completely different. I haven’t pursued my MBA or taken the Civil Service Examination. Instead, I became a freelancer, started learning coding and automation, pursued Computer Science as a second degree, and eventually began building my own business. If you told my 2016 self that this was where I would end up, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. But looking back, I think I know exactly when my plans started changing.
The Woman Who Made Me See a Different Future
I used to work as an Executive Assistant for a design and construction firm, and one of the company owners was a woman I really admired. She was the CFO, the wife of the CEO, and what made her story particularly inspiring to me was that she used to be an Executive Assistant, too. Imagine seeing someone who once worked in a role similar to yours now helping run a company of her own. I looked up to her for years, and I don’t think she ever knew how much her journey influenced the way I started thinking about my own future.
Working there gave me a closer look at what running a business involved, and slowly, I began imagining myself doing something similar someday. I wanted to build something I could call my own, make decisions for it, and grow it no matter how long it would take. I still admired corporate leadership, but the idea of business ownership started becoming more interesting to me. The funny thing was, I had absolutely no idea where to begin. Wala akong business plan, wala ring malaking puhunan. I just had this dream that maybe one day, I could become a business owner, too. So I continued working while keeping that possibility somewhere in the back of my mind.
The Pandemic Pushed Me Toward Something Different
Then 2020 happened, and like many people, my plans were suddenly interrupted. I became unemployed for three months during the pandemic, and it was a difficult period of figuring out what I was going to do next. But those three months also pushed me to finally explore something different. I started looking into remote work and eventually began my freelancing journey as a Virtual Assistant. My corporate experience as an EA helped me transition, but the online business world introduced me to opportunities and skills I hadn’t really considered before.
As I worked with business owners, I became increasingly interested in how their businesses operated behind the scenes. I wanted to understand the systems they used, why certain tasks took so much time, and how technology could make their work easier. I started exploring CRMs, websites, workflows, and automations, and eventually became curious enough to learn coding. Imagine graduating with a Marketing degree and suddenly spending your time figuring out programming logic and why one missing bracket can ruin your entire afternoon. Medyo malayo ang narating natin, mga beshy. But I genuinely enjoyed it. That curiosity eventually led me beyond traditional VA work and toward business operations and technology as an Online Business Manager.
Why I Chose Computer Science Instead of an MBA
This was probably one of the biggest surprises in my career journey. Instead of pursuing the MBA I had originally planned, I decided to study Computer Science as a second degree. I already had a foundation in business and marketing, and through my professional experience, I was learning more about management, operations, and working with business owners. What I wanted to understand more deeply was technology. I didn’t want to stop at knowing how to use different software platforms. I wanted to understand how systems were built, how applications worked, and how I could create better solutions for the businesses I supported.
It was a big adjustment, especially because I was learning something completely different from my original field. There were times I questioned why I was making myself study programming when I could have continued developing the skills I already had. But I was curious, and I liked the challenge. I haven’t finished that second degree, but the experience and the technical skills I’ve continued developing have shaped the work I do today. I also realized that learning something outside your original profession doesn’t mean everything you studied before becomes useless. My business background and technical knowledge actually complement each other, especially when I’m helping clients improve their operations.
Do I Still Think an MBA or Civil Service Is Worth Pursuing?
Absolutely. I still believe an MBA can be valuable, especially for people who want to deepen their knowledge of management, leadership, and business strategy. I also have a lot of respect for people who choose careers in government and public service. Taking the Civil Service Examination can open opportunities that are meaningful and fulfilling for many Filipinos, and I understand why it’s an important goal for them. These were once my goals, too, and I still see their value.
I simply realized that my interests and priorities were changing. At this point in my life, I wanted to focus more on developing my technical skills, gaining experience in business operations, and building something of my own. That doesn’t mean I think my path is better than someone else’s, or that pursuing higher education and a corporate career is less rewarding. We all have different goals and different circumstances. What works for one person may not be what another person wants, and that’s perfectly fine. I haven’t completely closed the door on pursuing an MBA someday, either. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. Right now, I’m happy with the direction I’ve chosen.
The Freedom I Once Dreamed About Means Even More Now
One of the things that attracted me to business ownership was the possibility of having more control over my work and my future. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, and I still know that today. Running a business comes with responsibilities, uncertainty, and plenty of things you have to figure out yourself. But I liked the idea of creating something that could grow over time, something built around the skills and experience I’d spent years developing.
And now that I’m a mom, that freedom means even more to me. There was a season when I intentionally slowed down my work because I wanted to enjoy my little boy’s first year. I wasn’t earning the same income I did during my busiest freelancing years, but I was happy with that decision. I got to spend more time with him while still doing work I enjoyed, and that experience made me appreciate the career I’d built. It’s also one of the reasons I want to continue growing Systems & Snuggle into a sustainable business. I want to do meaningful work, continue learning, earn well, and have time for my family. I know achieving all of that will take effort and patience, but I’m willing to work toward it.
Sometimes Our Plans Change Because We Discover Something Else
Sometimes I think about that woman I admired when I was still an Executive Assistant. She probably had no idea that her journey from being an EA to becoming a business owner would inspire someone else to dream of doing the same. Years later, I’m slowly building Systems & Snuggle, bringing together everything I’ve learned from my corporate experience, freelancing, business operations, and technology. It’s still growing, and there are so many things I want to accomplish, but I’m enjoying the process of creating something of my own.
I guess what I’ve learned is that the plans we make when we’re younger don’t always have to be the plans we follow forever. Some people will find fulfillment climbing the corporate ladder, pursuing graduate studies, or building careers in government. Others might discover a completely different interest along the way. I admire people who know exactly what they want and stay committed to it, just as much as I admire those who decide to explore another direction. We all have our own priorities, responsibilities, and definitions of success, and I don’t think we need to compare which journey is better.
As for me, I still have big dreams. I still want to grow professionally, continue studying and learning, and build a successful business. The difference is that I’m now working toward a future I couldn’t have imagined back in 2016. And sometimes, I smile thinking about how one woman who used to be an Executive Assistant inspired another Executive Assistant to dream of becoming a business owner.
I’m not there yet, at least not at the level I hope to reach someday. But I’m working on it, slowly and in my own way. And I’m pretty happy that I gave myself the chance to try.
