My Autobiography

My Beginning
Yeepee! I was born with the name Kenji Ambong. I came into this world in the beautiful mountain town of Tawang, Balbalan, Kalinga, on March 6, 2006. The moment I arrived, my mother said it was one of the happiest days of her life because I am the last of all my siblings. Being the youngest, I was the final piece of our family, and my mother's heart was filled with so much joy and love welcoming me. I grew up surrounded by the warmth of my family, the fresh mountain air of Kalinga, and the rich culture of our people. From the very beginning, I was deeply loved, and that love became the foundation of who I am today.

Childhood & Elementary Life
Growing up in Tawang was a true adventure. My childhood was simple, joyful, and full of energy. Every single day after class, my friends and I would rush straight to the river splashing, swimming, and playing under the open sky for hours. We spent so much time under the sun and in the water that I became very dark-skinned, but honestly, I didn't mind at all. Those were the most carefree and happiest days of my life.

I attended Tawang Elementary School, where I built some of my fondest school memories. From Grade 1 all the way to Grade 6, I enjoyed every year the lessons, the teachers, the classmates, and especially the after-school adventures by the river. Graduating from elementary felt like a big achievement, but it also marked the end of a very beautiful chapter. The laughter, the friendships, and the simple joys of those years will always have a special place in my heart.

(These river days and school memories shaped the happy, resilient person I am becoming.)

High School Life
About a month after I graduated from elementary, my life took a big turn. My sister brought me to San Mariano, Isabela to continue my studies. She told me honestly that if I stayed in Kalinga, my education might suffer so she made the decision for me, and I chose to follow her advice. Leaving home was not easy, but I trusted my sister.

When I arrived in Isabela, everything felt so different from my hometown — the environment, the people, the language, the culture. I had to start all over again. At the beginning of high school, I had no friends because I was a stranger from another place. It was lonely, but I never gave up trying to connect with people.

By the time I reached Grade 8, things slowly started to change. I began finding friends, feeling more comfortable in school and even in our barangay. Little by little, I adapted to their language and their way of life. The days kept moving forward, and before I knew it, I was standing at graduation — finishing my high school journey at San Mariano National High School (SMNHS), carrying with me a heart full of memories and friendships I will never forget.

Teenage Life
As a teenager living far from home, life had its own bittersweet rhythm. My hobbies helped me get through the lonely days I loved playing online games and watching anime. They were my escape and my entertainment whenever I felt homesick.

But the thing I wanted most as a teenager was simple: to go home and hug my parents. My parents could only visit me every 2 to 3 months, depending on whether they had enough money for the trip. I missed them deeply every single day. There were moments when the longing was so heavy that all I wanted was to find my way back to Kalinga but I was young, I didn't know the roads, and I had no choice but to stay and be strong.

Looking back, those years taught me patience, independence, and how to carry love in my heart even from a distance. Every time my parents did visit, it felt like the whole world lit up again.

College Life
After graduating from high school, a new adventure began. Together with some of my friends, I applied to universities online. I applied to 3 universities and was lucky enough to pass the entrance exams. I then went through the interview process at ISU Cauayan (Isabela State University Cauayan Campus) and I survived it!

I chose the course Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) because I believed it had a dual purpose almost every job in the modern world needs technology, so I grabbed the opportunity. It felt like the right path for the future I was dreaming of.

In college, some of the friends I made in high school continued walking this journey with me, and I also found new friends among my classmates. The circle grew bigger, and so did my confidence.

My future goal is clear: finish my course, work hard, and one day find a job abroad. I want to give back to my parents everything they sacrificed for me, and I want to make my family proud — especially my mother, who was so happy the day I was born as the last of her children.

Kenji Ambong