Grab Driver Takes Online Classes In Between Deliveries: 'Para Po Sa Pangarap Natin'

Learning now means being glued to the screen and hoping connections don't falter in the middle of class. For others, continued education depends on whether the family has a spare laptop or phone.

Enter Francis John Valerio, who is now on his third year of college taking up Bachelor of Arts and Communication at Adamson University. You may not know him by name, but he's the Grab delivery driver who recently went viral to attend online classes in-between orders.

"Before po kasi ako maging Grab driver, working student na po talaga ako sa isang fast food restaurant," Francis said.

Dedicated working student

Francis' day was cut in half: School in the morning, and Grab deliveries from 6 p.m. until midnight. Then, he took it upon himself to deliver full-time to help his family, making attending online classes close to impossible. Still, he would whip out his phone in between deliveries to tune into the digital lectures.

One busy day, Francis stopped by a mall where he was scheduled to meet a friend. But Francis made a request. "Wait lang, 'pre nandito ako sa mall, nago-online class pa ako."

Without Francis knowing, his friend found him by the road, snapped his photo, and uploaded it online.

Hours later, comments of admiration and praise poured. Francis was not expecting the social media response saying, "'Yun naman po talaga 'yung ginagawa ko. Normal ko naman pong ginagawa 'yun, dati pa po ako nagmu-multitask."

"Mahalaga po talaga 'yung time management. Pag may online class ako, nag-pause muna ako sa pagde-deliver," he said.

Though Francis isn't seeking validation from others, it comforts him, knowing other people respect and admire his efforts to study and hustle simultaneously, especially during the pandemic.

Times are tough, but Valerio's not about to let an opportunity slip from his grasp. He said he would do everything he could to finish his studies, and encouraged other students on the same boat to persist with a positive outlook, no matter how daunting it gets.

"Para po sa pangarap natin, huwag po tayong huminto, lalung-lalo na para sa pamilya natin."

Watch the Grab driver who attends online classes when he is not making deliveries

This story originally appeared on Reportr.World. Minor edits have been made by the SmartParenting.com.ph editors