Defying expectations, going out of her comfort zone: MR goes where she is most needed

“I feel like ZFF has been investing in me even before I joined the Foundation.” This is how Mary Rose Jean Andrada-Poa feels about her journey to Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF)—a destination she was always bound to reach.

MR is the only child of an Ilongga nurse and an Ilocano Philippine Marine member. She hails from Zamboanga City, where her parents met and eventually chose to settle down. She has always been a star pupil, so she was “groomed to want to be a doctor.”

Her career path was made clear to her. Her parents acquired an educational plan so she can pursue college in one of the ‘big four’ universities. But life has its twists and turns, no matter how one person prepares for the future. The educational plan turned to dust because of a scandal. With inadequate finances to support her studies in Manila, MR decided to stay in Ateneo de Zamboanga as a scholar.

While this change in the choice of university came out of necessity, to everyone’s surprise, MR also chose a different career path. Instrumental to this life-changing decision was a summer program in 2004 where she got to see the other side of the world in Illinois, USA. MR shared “habang tinitingnan ko ang school system nila, the thought that came to my mind was not to live there. Naisip ko bakit hindi pwedeng maging ganito sa Pilipinas?”

That moment also led her to realize that it is not her heart’s desire to be a doctor. The thought of catering to individuals who can pay for her services simply did not appeal to her. In her heart, she knew that she had to take the path where she is most needed, and MR knew that private practice as a doctor was not it.

MR chose education. “I realized that I want to develop minds and teach,” MR shared. A lot of people tried to dissuade her, including her parents. There was even a point when she became a subject of ridicule because of her choice. She was bullied and called names—crazy and coward to name a few. “Kahit ganoon, hindi ko siya pinagsisihan. I always remind myself to go where you are most needed. The best place for me to serve would be as a teacher,” MR said with utmost conviction.

Going after her heart’s desire

MR’s journey in Ateneo was never easy. Oftentimes, she would feel like a fish out of water, but the years she spent in Ateneo also affirmed that teaching is what she was called to do.

Ateneo hired MR to join the faculty as soon as she graduated. It was fulfilling, but something seemed to be missing. “Sabi ko, okay nagtuturo ako, I am teaching Ateneo college students—mga estudyanteng nakakaangat sa buhay. Doon ko tinanong, do I want to stay in the four corners of a classroom?” That longing led MR to venture out and to accept service loads focused on social development. Soon enough, MR learned about the Ateneo Center for Leadership and Governance (ACLG) and it started her long journey with Bridging Leadership.

In 2013, ACLG was chosen by ZFF as an academic partner in Region 9 for the Municipal Leadership and Governance Program. ACLG started grooming her as part of the roster of ZFF’s Bridging Leader (BL) faculty. With this new partnership, MR found out that it is possible to extend her service to people in the community.

“Sa students kasi nabibitin ako. I teach them theories and repetitive lessons. Parang walang mayadong impact yet. This is not what I wanted to do. I often asked what can I do to multiply myself and help form people who have direct impacts on their communities?” MR shared. That’s when MR fell in love with Bridging Leadership. Since she learned about BL, it became a part of her.

Extending self through ZFF

2016 was a year of life-changing decisions for MR. She got married and eventually decided to move to Manila with her husband. An offer came from ZFF and it practically made sense given her background.

“Since I was introduced to BL in 2013, parang hinanda na ako. I feel like ZFF has been investing in me even before I joined ZFF.” The academic partner exposure and her background in education in Mindanao all made sense to her. ZFF’s mission and vision aligned with her personal values and to her mantra of going where she is most needed.

Having knowledge about ZFF prior to joining the organization did not mean an easy road for MR. Challenges came but she saw them as necessary learning opportunities. She embraced her own limitations as someone without a background in public health and community work. MR would always see herself lacking credibility and that she “was still teaching theory.”

“I felt that the examples and experiences I share would always be hollow because I was sharing examples from the books and from what I hear, not from what I experienced myself,” shared MR.

This challenge prompted MR to make a difficult decision in 2018. She gave up her position—her comfort zone—to manage a program on resilience. It was a perfect opportunity for her to see what is happening on the ground. “I was getting out of my comfort zone, but I needed to do that para hindi ako parang basag na lata. I needed to experience working in the field and practicing BL with LGU partners.”

Since the program had a limited budget, MR had to take on all positions in an operating unit—training, formation, monitoring and evaluation, and overall management. It was a difficult but necessary growing experience. “It was difficult, but I had a blast learning.” Throughout her journey in ZFF, MR stretched herself in so many ways and that included joining another team in 2019, the Knowledge Management Group. “This is always my nature. I always challenge myself to learn new skills for personal growth and to become a better BL practitioner. I also respond to what the organization needs from me.”

As ZFF grew as an organization, MR also grew as a person. “I see myself doing what is aligned with ZFF’s vision. I don’t know where my next plans would take me. Saan man ako dalhin, extension na ng sarili ko ang ZFF.”

MR looked for an organization that would allow her to extend herself outside her reach as a teacher. She found more than that in ZFF. It stretched her capacity, affirmed her values, and encouraged her to challenge the status quo. It allowed her to see what goes beyond what she already knows and what she can already do.

After all, growing takes place when you get out of your comfort zone, when you defy conventions, and when you take the road less traveled.