My Journey to Hive: A Tale of Determination, Passion, and Self-Expression  

Hello, Hivers! May you all have a happy and blessed day. I am new here and am honestly over the moon right now because I am part of a big community where people share common passions and interests. I'm looking forward to venturing out with something new. I am so excited to get to know more of you here!

ABOUT ME
I am Je-ann Fuentes, single, 21 years old, and a Filipino full-time student at one of the prestigious state universities in Cebu City, Philippines. I'm in my 4th year, taking up a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Major in Marketing Management. I'm the youngest of four siblings and the only one to attend college. Having that provided is the reason why I have strived so hard ever since I was in primary school up until the present.

I was not born with a golden spoon in my mouth, which is also why I'm working so hard to be successful. I remember during my elementary school days, we had to walk kilometers every day because our house was very far from school. My siblings, cousins and I had to walk barefoot during rainy seasons. We had to cross rivers with our tiny legs and feet, carrying our shoes or slippers with our little hands. But we never skipped school despite all of that. We are so driven by determination and willingness. Despite all the struggles, we managed to be consistent honor students and never failed to make our parents proud. We may not be rich in money, but we are wealthy with love and support, which makes us even more grateful for our lives.

I've always been passionate about my studies—for my parents, family, and future. Thriving in education is my way of showing gratitude to my parents for all the hurdles and sacrifices they've been through to get me to who I am and where I am today. In light of that, I'm forever grateful that my parents have never pressured me, not even a little, and not even once. Instead, they are my consistent love-givers and my strong support system. I didn't come from a wealthy and privileged family, but I'm blessed and thankful to have loving parents who give us everything. I pray daily to God Almighty for their good health, protection, and long life. They are my inspiration for everything that I've been doing right now.

MY PASSION/INTEREST/HOBBIES
I love reading books, either English novels, which I can find on online reading platforms or nonfiction books. I started to read in my junior high school years, and I consider it my personal quality time. For me, it is both a quick escape from reality into an imaginary world and a wake-up call from fantasy into real life. It gives me comfort and wisdom.

I love music. Music is one of the most genuine and effective ways to express myself. It is a form of communication and an escapade since it constantly allows me to communicate, share my feelings, and cry my heart out. Besides, singing is my passion. Therefore, I sing because I love to. Moreover, my songs are a representation of my current emotions. I sing when I'm happy, seeking comfort, or experiencing heavy days.

I am also into photography. I love taking snaps of splendid times and scenery. It's how I stockpile enchanting moments and experiences that I want to remember forever. I want to keep all the beautiful memories in my heart and mind.

MY PRIMARY REASON FOR JOINING HIVE
My ultimate reason for joining Hive is self-expression and socialization. I've been on many platforms where I could socialize with many people and share my thoughts, who I am, and what I want. But then, as I utilized them, I deciphered that only some people have the same perceptions, views, and likes. I can't guarantee that what interests me would interest others.

Hence, I looked for a platform where users could build a strong connection through shared interests, so I finally got here. Here in the Hive, there are communities for us people with the same passions, where everyone can engage freely with fellow individuals who can understand and reflect on us, our creative minds, and our life events. Thus, this is a safe place to express myself artistically. This will be the perfect spot to get to know me more, improve my writing skills, enhance my capacity, engage with other people from distinct cultures, and learn from all of you.

I joined here because I want to share with you guys something I love that you might also like. I wanna share some interesting facts, stories, and experiences. I wanna read new, diverse, and exciting topics from you. I want to collect new perspectives and gather insights from a new set of people. I wanna read your stories and experiences. I wanna get inspired by all the positive and ideal things you do in life.

I haven't heard about Hive before, so it's unfamiliar. But then I got to know it through @mejoy, which was also recommended to her by Miss @callmesmile and @missleray. I heard about it, and it caught my interest since I love to write and share experiences with others. That's why I pushed through to learn more about Hive and immediately joined an orientation. The orientation occurred on September 9, 2023, at Miss @naymhapz's residence. I just appreciate her very kind and welcoming nature. She accepted us as attendees with open arms and a warm smile. What also makes it more overwhelming is that my co-attendees at the orientation are my primary teachers.

Hive was introduced and discussed further with us by Miss @indayclara, Sir @intoy.bugoy, and Sir @ybanezkim26. The orientation has been so smooth and informative. The more I have discovered regarding the features of Hive, the more I get interested and motivated to join. It's such a fantastic platform for people like me who love to write and engage.

So, dear Hivers, I'm pleased to be here! It's such a pleasure to be on this platform with you. I can't wait to share my blogs and read yours, too. I do hope that we will support each other. Let us all BEE connected!