A Solitary Sunrise

(Inspiring story of Ivy Rose Pangi)

At the tender age of 16, Abby, an only child, found herself grappling
with the profound loss of her mother. Their bond had been unbreakable,
and her mother's sudden passing left her in a world filled with grief and
uncertainty.

As Abby grappled with grief and loneliness, she realized the true
value of the love and care her mother had provided. She missed their
laughter, their talks, and the warmth of her mother's embrace. The
extravagant gifts and privileges she had taken for granted seemed empty in
comparison to the love she had lost.

Over time, Abby learned to cope with her grief and became a more
compassionate and understanding person. She realized that material
possessions couldn't replace the love and companionship of her mother.
Although she had been spoiled, her mother's love had taught her the most
valuable lesson of all the importance of genuine human connection and the
fragility of life.

Initially, Abby's world felt shattered. However, instead of succumbing

to despair, she decided to honour her mother's memory by fulfilling the
dreams they had shared. Her mother had always emphasized the
importance of education, so Abby channeled her grief into her studies,
striving for excellence in school, with unwavering determination she
focused in her studies to fulfil her mother's dream and the last message of
her mother before she died was "papatim ti skwelam anak ta sika lang
pag-asak". (focused on your studies because you're my only hope).

Through her strength and dedication, she transformed her personal

tragedy into a source of inspiration. Her story serves as a reminder that
even in the darkest of times, the human spirit has the capacity to rise above
and shine brightly, illuminating the path for others to follow.
Guide Questions:
1. What developmental tasks did the person go through?
-Abby went through a severe development task throughout her
journey which involved yearning to keep the safe, and supportive
relationship with her mother and learned to hold onto the memories
that were left behind by her mother to move on.
2. What specific challenge in his/her life did she/he face?
- The specific challenge that Abby faced in her life was the
sudden loss of her mother at the age of 16. This loss was
emotionally devastating for her as she had a strong and unbreakable
bond with her mother. It left her grappling with grief, loneliness, and
uncertainty about her future. Abby had to face the emotional
challenges of losing her source of love, support, and guidance.
3. How did he/she overcome the challenges she/he had?
-Abby struggled to accept the fact that her mother was really
gone and held onto her mother’s last words; to study hard because
she was her last hope. These last words could have given her the will
to thrive and survive despite her mother’s demise.
4. Create a symbol of how she overcame his/her challenges until she/he
became an adult.

-The symbol that represents how Abby

overcame her challenges could be a mighty oak
tree. In this symbol, the deep and sturdy roots
represent the strong foundation of the lessons,
love, support, care, and guidance that her mother
provided her. The expansive branches and lush
leaves symbolize the growth and wisdom Abby
gained from her experiences. Just as the oak tree continues to thrive
and grow, Abby's journey reflects her personal growth and
development while carrying her mother's wishes, love, guidance, and
care with her.
5. What were his/her responsibilities in life? How did it influence him/her to
surpass his/her challenges?
-Abby was an only child and had the responsibility to live her
parents’ dreams, which could have given her a lot of pressure
especially since it was a wish that came from her late mother's
mouth. Overcoming this challenge will make her much stronger in the
future, since it will take her years to fulfill her responsibility as an only
child. Throughout these years, she will encounter challenges,
overcome them and the cycle goes on. These will be her stepping
stones to grow herself and her career, just like how her parents wish
her to be.