Where do you go when you don’t end up where you want to be?
Life isn’t a race, but knowing that doesn’t make it any easier when you catch yourself falling behind. In sight of friends and peers you always thought you’d face life with—it’s a different kind of pain when you watch them pull ahead and succeed where you failed.
Somewhere down the line, whether it be in high school, college, or an unlikely chance encounter that left a mark on you—we can all point to a moment in time when we discovered what we wanted to do with our lives. But unfortunately, in cases of a loss of passion, burnout, or financial limitations, there are simply unavoidable situations that prevent us from chasing after our dreams.
Is that all there is to it? The chosen few get to live out their dreams while the rest of us settle for the next best thing? It all depends on how you’re looking at it. After all, it may just be an opportunity to find your next dream. And take it from these young professionals: It’s not the end of the world.
Gabriella Mara
Political science graduate and aspiring lawyer turned restaurant owner
Gabriella Mara is the owner of Hijo De! Mexican Cantina, a small restaurant located in Sampaloc, Manila. Despite majoring in political science and briefly taking up law at Ateneo, she oversees the restaurant’s operations, including marketing and social media management.
“I dreamt that I was going to change the Philippines. I wanted to create laws that would protect the Filipino people and change the country for the better,” says Mara. “But after years of studying political science and law, I got burnt out. I was tired, and I was losing that spark.”
Instead, looking to an idea she came up with her dad, she ventured straight into foodservice, following a brief stint in Ateneo Law. “When I was younger, we would always crave Mexican food. But since it wasn’t prominent in the area, we decided to make it at home,” she explains, explaining their choice of cuisine. “My family shares the same love for cooking, and we opened Hijo De! to share this love with everyone.”
But despite dedicating a huge chunk of her life in pursuit of law—and not to mention, being in a line of work that is as far as you can be from it—Mara doesn’t feel as if she wasted her time. In fact, she’s rather relieved by the distance.
“Now more than ever is a time to be politically active. I still have that passion, and I still have that anger against the system, but I’m glad I don’t have to use or release this anger in my job,” she says. “I can still focus on doing what I want to do: cooking good food and making people happy. I can do that and at the same time still be that person with strong political beliefs and fight for what I believe is right.”
Marian Resuello
Dentistry student by day, stylist and content creator by night
Some people choose a job based on their passions and interests, while others select the one that pays the best. In some cases, it’s a matter of proximity and the easier commute. But forget having to pick between this or that.
For Marian Resuello, a sixth-year dentistry student at Centro Escolar University and a part-time stylist and content creator, it’s all about finding joy in where you are.
Resuello didn’t particularly set out to become a dentist. “I grew up in a family of doctors, and thought my life was already laid out for me,” she says. But why dentistry? Though she was interested in neurosurgery, Resuello wanted to maintain a work-life balance. Dentistry, while not necessarily easy, allows her more leeway and flexibility with her time—and it was also her “emotional support job.”
“I love making my clients feel beautiful by dressing them in pieces that genuinely resonate with who they are. Helping artists shape their identity and define their visual branding is something I take pride in,” she says.
Resuello is in her final year in dentistry and is set to begin preparing to become a licensed dentist. Despite this, she maintains that she’ll remain a stylist. “Life has its own way of derailing us into a better future than what we first intended. Sometimes life teaches that we don’t always get what we want simply because something better is what we actually deserve.”
Noelle Lejano
Putting the multi in multihyphenate
“I was frustrated that I didn’t have a niche or that I wasn’t a master of one craft. But over time, I accepted that I’m always transforming—my interests, passions, and expressions shift constantly—and that’s okay. I realized it’s not something to fight; it’s actually what I’m meant to do,” says Noelle Lejano, a communications graduate from Ateneo.
She used to think that she’d become a journalist or a magazine editor. And while she’s still open to becoming one, right now, she’s putting the multi in multihyphenate: a brand identity designer, fragrance brand owner, reformer instructor, and even more, depending on what she’s feeling on a given day. Not to mention, she is also currently a contributing writer for several local publications.
“As someone who wears many hats, I find meaning in being able to build, shape, and reimagine,” adds Lejano. But where a lack of focus and specification is often viewed as a negative—think jack of all trades, master of none—she, too, experiences the occasional imposter syndrome and the creative block that comes with being in multiple fields.
“Once I allowed myself to evolve freely, I stopped forcing myself into a single path. Taking on many things felt like the most honest way to honor all parts of myself instead of choosing just one.” And for her, having different interests and sides to oneself isn’t an indication of indecisiveness. “It wasn’t about being scattered; it was about giving my different passions room to breathe.”
Mary Baligod
From European studies to The Fat Kid Inside
For Mary Baligod, a European studies graduate from De La Salle University, becoming a story producer at The Fat Kid Inside Studios would’ve entailed starting from zero—a re-education of sorts. But between continuing down a career path she already wasn’t sure of, and being part of something she was truly passionate about, the decision to try something new was a no-brainer.
“I was a fan of documentaries growing up. I didn’t really think much about it, and it wasn’t something I would’ve imagined I’d be making a living out of,” shares Baligod.
But during her third year in college, amid growing doubts about her course and a choice for her internship, she applied under Featr, The Fat Kid Inside Studios’ digital video channel, founded by Erwan Heussaff. “During my internship, I saw that I had more to learn about our history and culture, and the people behind them. Whenever I talked to our subjects, it felt like I was always meant to do this,” she says.
Though she didn’t have a creative background like her colleagues, she applied as a story producer. Did the disparity in ability and experience intimidate her? Surely. But being inspired by the work they do motivated her to try to bridge the gap. “All of them are fighting for something: to put food on the table, to keep a disappearing ingredient alive, or to continue a family legacy. It’s important that someone listens to them. At Featr, our role is to be a vehicle to communicate their message and stories to a wider audience.”
While the competitive job market often discourages. Baligod’s experience is proof that you don’t always have to be a ready-made product to be successful in your chosen field.
Her advice? “Learn to be a beginner. You’re learning everything from scratch; no lessons from the classroom will help you figure out your new role.”
Andy and Louise Dimagmaliw of Design Almighty
Two sisters against all odds
They say never to mix business with family, but for Andy and Louise Dimagmaliw of artsy accessories brand Design Almighty, the support and understanding that come with being by each other’s side have made the experience as fun as it is fulfilling.
The two initially had different career goals in mind. Andy, a multimedia arts graduate, originally thought about joining design studios or advertising agencies. Meanwhile, fine arts graduate Louise, who had already dabbled in art merchandise in college, considered the possibility of working in a magazine.
“My dream was always to start a business of my own. I wanted to create a brand where we can sell the output of our creative handiwork,” shares Louise. “When I saw that my sister shared my passion for the arts, I saw this as an opportunity to collaborate and extend the idea with family.”
Running your own business comes with its fair share of enjoyment and trouble. On one end, it’ll grant you control over your own time and allow you to explore and experiment without restriction. On the other hand, it becomes your life, not a 9-to-5 you can clock in and out of.
But having the opportunity to share their art with others makes it all worthwhile in the end. “It was exciting for me to have the chance to share my art with people this way, and I still feel giddy at the prospect of people using our art/crafts to accessorize and express themselves,” says Andy.
This story was originally published in Scout 2026 Issue 1
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