𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝟭𝟮-𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗲-𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗝𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗲’𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹

Jerome Valdez is a proud Aiducation Talent from the Philippines. With the support of Aiducation International and Pathways to Higher Education, he overcame financial challenges to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Ateneo de Manila University, one of the country’s top schools. Today, Jerome works as a Scholarship Officer at his alma mater, helping others achieve their dreams. In this blog, Jerome shares his inspiring journey; from his humble beginnings to his life-changing experiences with Aiducation International, including a memorable trip to Switzerland.
His story is a testament to the power of education, mentorship, and believing in one’s potential.

"I am Jerome Valdez, an AiduTalent from the Philippines. I was supported by Aiducation International from high school in 2015 until I graduated from university in 2022. I come from a simple family. My father is a messenger with a monthly salary of Php 11,000, which is a little over 160 Swiss Francs. My mother is a housewife, and my older brother works as an administrative assistant. We live in a 12-square-meter house, originally a room from my grandmother’s home. Because of our financial situation, I attended a public high school near our house. At the time, my school was among the lowest-ranked public high schools in the city. But for me, it was the best I could get. My family believed that if we were to invest in education, it would be for college, not high school.

𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗔 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁
During high school, I learned about Pathways to Higher Education, the Philippine partner of Aiducation International. An upperclassman from my school had joined the program and became the only one in her batch to pass all her college entrance exams. Inspired by her success, I applied to Pathways and was accepted. This marked the beginning of a life-changing journey.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀
In the Philippines, college education is a big deal. Most high-paying jobs require a bachelor’s degree, even for roles that don’t necessarily need one. For someone like me, coming from a low-income family, earning a degree was the only way to secure a better future. Pathways and Aiducation International gave me the tools and support to make this dream a reality.

𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
Through Pathways, I received mentorship and training from industry experts. They helped me prepare for college entrance exams and provided numerous mentoring sessions and academies. I participated in programs organized by Aiducation and Pathways like the WIWAG Business Weeks, Swiss Re Start-Up Academy, Synpulse Project Management Academy, Zuhlke Innovation Academy, and the e-Mentoring program and the online Corporate Career Academy during the pandemic. These experiences prepared me for my career and gave me confidence in my abilities.

𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰: 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽
The pandemic was a difficult time for my family. My father lost his job, and we relied on help from others, including Aiducation International and Pathways to Higher Education. For over a year, my family and I stayed inside our 12-square-meter home during the world’s longest lockdown.

The mentoring sessions and Career Corporate Academy became my salvation. They gave me something to look forward to every day and restored my sense of purpose. This support was crucial in helping me stay focused and hopeful during such uncertain times.

𝗔 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲: 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘇𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱
In October 2024, Aiducation International gave me the opportunity to attend their annual Impact Dinner and meet donors in Switzerland. This trip was a dream come true. Growing up, my family never travelled for pleasure or celebrated occasions at the mall. Visiting Switzerland felt surreal—I saw the Swiss Alps, tried authentic raclette and fondue, and experienced luxury I had only read about in books.

This is me posing on the rooftop of ETH Zurich’s main building while wearing barong, a Filipino formal wear.

The Aiducation Switzerland team hiked the Swiss Alps in Schwyz.

From left to right: Jerome, Andrea, Pendo, and Christina having breakfast at Zurich HB.

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: 𝗔 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
During the trip, I met my e-Mentors, Stephan from UBS and Marco from Swiss Re, who had guided me during the pandemic. Their advice on curating my CV, acing interviews, and presenting myself to employers was invaluable. I also met my benefactors, Robin and Chantal, for the first time. For years, I had sent them video updates about my life, and finally meeting them in person was incredibly special.

From left to right: Jerome, Ronald, Pat, Fabienne, Oli, and Karen. They were my mentors, my ates 
and kuyas, who guided me as I navigated my life in college going into adulthood. 

We had lunch with Dr. Remo, from the McKinsey Alumni Group.

We visited UBS to share my experience on employability and Pendo’s experience in the entrepreneurship program.

We were also fortunate to visit the Philippine Embassy and the Kenyan Embassy in Bern.  

 I met Marco for the very first time in his office. 

My benefactors; Robin and Chantal invited me to their place in Zug three days after the Impact Dinner. It was lovely meeting their kids.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗼𝗻𝘀
In psychology, there’s a concept called adaptive preference, where people’s view of their well-being depends on their circumstances. Before joining Pathways, I saw my life through the lens of my father’s salary, my high school, and our small home. Aiducation International expanded my horizons and showed me that more was possible. They believed in me, which made me believe in myself.

𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸: 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁
Today, I work as a Scholarship Officer at Ateneo de Manila University, helping students like me achieve their dreams. I am proud to continue the ripple effect of Aiducation’s impact by supporting others in their educational journeys. I am also able to help my family live a better life and give back to my university.

𝗔 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲
I am eternally grateful to Aiducation International and Pathways to Higher Education for recognizing and nurturing my potential. Their support over seven years transformed my life and inspired me to help others. My story is proof that with the right opportunities and support, anyone can achieve their dreams."

        - By Jerome Valdez, Aiducation Talent from the Philippines

Jerome’s journey is a powerful reminder of how education and mentorship can create lasting change. His story is not just about personal success but about paying it forward and creating a brighter future for others.

Published by Boniface Mahulo