Karl is a 10th grade student from Balatoc, a remote mountain community in Tabuk City, Kalinga, Philippines. He lives with his father and two siblings. His mother passed away from asthma, and his father works as a farm laborer to support the family. Karl also helps with farm work whenever he can.

Getting to school is a journey in itself. Karl must walk down from the mountain community of Balatoc to the valley of Balani, crossing a hanging bridge along the way. The walk takes about an hour. Balani is where the main highway is located. If he has money for transportation, he can take a ride from there to school. If not, he continues walking for approximately another hour to reach school.

There are also days when food is scarce and the family may have little more than rice to eat. Despite these challenges, Karl continues going to school while helping his family with farm work.

Dream. He hopes to continue his education, discover the career path that is right for him, and build a better future for himself and his family.

Hannah is a 10th grade student from Tabuk City, Kalinga, Philippines. She is the fourth of seven children and comes from a hardworking family. Her father earns a living through farming, growing crops such as corn and vegetables, while the family works together to meet everyday needs.

Going to school requires both effort and sacrifice. Hannah spends around $1 each day for transportation and lunch. Despite limited resources, she continues to pursue her education with determination.

Dream. Hannah dreams of someday studying Criminology or Law. More than building a career for herself, one of her greatest motivations is her family. She hopes that through education, she will one day be able to help her parents and give them a better life.

James is a Grade 10 student from Balatoc, a rural mountain community in Kalinga. He lives with his grandfather.

Each school day, James faces about a one-hour commute each way by jeepney. But even that depends on whether he has money for the fare. When finances are tight, simply getting to school can become another struggle.

Outside the classroom, James helps his grandfather on their small farm, where they grow rice and corn. He is already balancing school, a difficult commute, farm work, and responsibilities at home.

Dream. James has not yet decided what career he wants to pursue, but he hopes to continue his education and discover the path that will give him a better future.

Denver is a Grade 9 student from Balatoc, a remote area in Kalinga, Philippines. He is the fifth of eight children in a family where every peso matters.

Each school day, Denver first walks about 500 meters from home to a roadside waiting shed. From there, the trip to school takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes by tricycle. But that ride is not always guaranteed. When there is no extra money for the fare, simply getting to school becomes another challenge his family must face.

Still, Denver keeps showing up, carrying with him the hope that education can lead to a different future.

Dream. Denver dreams of joining the Army someday, a future where he can serve with purpose and help provide for his family.

Almarie lives in Pinagan, a rural community in Kalinga, Philippines, and comes from a large family of 12 children. Her father works part-time in construction while her mother stays home to care for the family.

She wakes up as early as 4:40 AM on school days and receives about ₱50 (approximately $0.80) a day for her school allowance. On weekends, she sometimes works on a potato farm outside her community, earning around ₱450 (approximately $7.20) to help cover her needs.

Despite the financial challenges her family faces, Almarie remains committed to her education and continues working toward a better future.

Dream. Almarie dreams of finishing college and becoming a nurse. She hopes her education will allow her to build a more secure future, support her family, and one day care for others.

Clarice is an 8th grade student from a rural community in Kalinga, a mountainous province in the northern Philippines. She lives with her grandmother, who works part-time in their local village to help provide for her needs.

Her father is currently incarcerated, while her mother has remarried and lives in Ifugao, a neighboring province in northern Philippines. Clarice is the youngest in her family.

Getting to school takes commitment. Clarice walks about one hour to reach school each day. Her family also struggles with the cost of school supplies, daily allowance, and school contributions.

Despite these challenges, Clarice continues to pursue her education. Math is her favorite subject, while English is the subject she finds most difficult. She describes herself as respectful, responsible, hardworking, helpful, and kind.

Dream. Clarice hopes to study hard, overcome the struggles in her life, and build a better future for herself. In her own words, she is willing to “study hard and fight the struggles in my life” to make her dreams possible.

Zairine is a Grade 10 student at Bantay National High School in Kalinga, a mountainous province in the northern Philippines. She lives with her grandmother, who has taken on the responsibility of raising and supporting her.

Her father is currently unable to care for her, while her mother lives elsewhere with another family. Zairine's grandmother works part-time in their local village, but the family has very limited resources. School supplies, daily allowance, and required school contributions can be difficult to provide.

Each school day, Zairine walks about one hour just to get to school. Despite the distance and challenges at home, she continues showing up and working toward a better future.

Dream. Zairine's dream is simple but meaningful: to finish her education and one day have a stable, permanent job. She is willing to study hard, listen to the guidance of her family and teachers, and do her best to achieve it.

Kyl Ranz is a 9th grade student from Tabuk City, in Kalinga, a mountainous province in the northern Philippines. He attends Bantay National High School and lives with his mother and her partner.

His father serves as a barangay kagawad, or village council member, and is also a retired member of the military. His mother works as a vendor. Even with both parents doing what they can, the family continues to face financial struggles, especially when it comes to supporting Kyl's education.

Kyl is the third of four siblings, and one of his siblings is also still studying. Like many students from low-income families, he needs support for school supplies and daily allowance so he can continue attending school and doing well in his studies.

Despite these challenges, Kyl remains determined. He is a with-honors student, showing his commitment to doing his best in school.

Dream. Kyl dreams of becoming a cadet at the Philippine National Police Academy, which trains future leaders in law enforcement and public service. In his own words, he is willing to “study hard and work better to achieve my goals.”

Althea is a Grade 9 student from Pinagan, a rural community in Tabuk City, Kalinga, Philippines. She lives with her parents and three siblings. Both of her parents are farmers, working hard to provide for their family through an income that can be limited and unpredictable.

Getting to school takes Althea about an hour each way. Transportation costs ₱15 one way, approximately $0.25, or about $0.50 for a round trip. Although the amount may seem small, the daily expense adds up for a farming family that must also provide school supplies, allowance, and other required contributions.

Despite these challenges, Althea remains hardworking, responsible, and willing to learn. She is committed to attending school, studying hard, and using every opportunity she receives responsibly.

Dream. Althea dreams of finishing her education. Although she has not yet chosen a specific career, she believes completing her studies will open the door to more opportunities and a better future for herself and her family.

AJ is a Grade 8 student from Bantay, a rural community in Kalinga, Philippines. He lives with his parents and six siblings. His father works in construction while his mother stays home to care for their large family. Several of AJ's siblings are also attending school, making educational expenses especially difficult for the family to manage.

Each school day, AJ walks approximately one hour. His family faces financial hardship and struggles to provide school supplies, a daily allowance, and other educational necessities.

Despite the long walk and limited resources, AJ remains determined to continue his education.

Dream. AJ dreams of attending the Philippine National Police Academy and pursuing a career in law enforcement and public service. He hopes education will allow him to serve his country, build a secure future, and help provide for his family.

Raja-Reign is a Grade 9 student from a community in Bantay, Kalinga, a mountainous province in the northern Philippines. He lives with his mother and father.

He is the youngest of nine siblings. His father works in their local barangay community, while his mother works as a helper. Even with their hard work, the family continues to face financial hardship, making it difficult to provide for all of their daily and educational needs. Some of his siblings already live outside Tabuk, one is working abroad, and only two are currently still studying.

Raja-Reign is a with-honors student who continues to do his best in school despite limited resources. Like many students from struggling households, he needs support for school supplies and daily allowance so he can continue his education with fewer barriers.

Dream. Raja-Reign dreams of becoming a civil engineer one day. In his own words, he is willing to “dream better and work harder toward a better future” in order to achieve his goals.

Edgardo lives with his grandmother and is the youngest of three children. His father has passed away, while his mother works as a waitress to help support the family.

Each school day, he walks approximately 25 minutes to reach his classroom.

Despite the loss of his father and the challenges his family faces, Edgardo continues pursuing his education.

Dream. Edgardo has not yet identified a specific career path, but continuing his education will give him the opportunity to discover his strengths and build a more secure future. With encouragement and support, he can remain in school and continue moving toward the life he hopes to create.