In April 2009, I started my journey as a book typesetter in a pre-press company. The process of learning has not been easy as I have zero knowledge about the nature of work. As a goal-oriented and assertive individual, I took this “zero” knowledge as a purposeful opportunity to discover my potential in book design. I went through theoretical and practical training for years before I fully understand the overall workflow. As Helen Hayes says, “The expert at anything was once a beginner”. And I started from nothing! At first, it was like writing on a blank sheet; there was no beginning, wondering about the ending. I even doubted myself if I could make it. With a decisive interest to work hard, I was able to achieve one of the most significant milestones of my life as an employee! I have been privileged to lead the publishing’s print-on-demand team. I handled the following:
• Production workload
• Manpower assessment
• Production queries related to page layout and graphic designs
• Quality assurance
• Page layout tasks/Template Creation
• Print-on-demand training
Being opinionated in an efficient manner, I was able to share this accomplishment by encouraging everyone to broaden their horizons and open their doorways to success, with all the talents and skills they could offer. My passion for book design has inspired me to keep trying new things and push myself beyond my comfort zone. We all begin from scratch, just like books. We are the ones who will create stories and these stories can bind everyone together. Now, I have started my new chapter as a virtual assistant. With the scholarship and formal training granted by the government-funded program here in the Philippines, I will continue to inspire people and follow the path leading me to success.
