KAAGAPAY SA PANGARAP: From Scholar to Serving Scholars — The Full Circle Journey of Shaun Samson

For some students, scholarships are simply financial assistance.

For Shane Jasmin Samson, they became proof that someone believed in her dreams exactly as they were.

Known to many as Shaun, she is now working as a CSR Admin Assistant at Bell-Kenz Pharma Inc. and proudly serves alongside the same institution that once supported her educational journey. In 2024, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science — a course she chose not because it was practical for scholarships, but because it was the path she truly wanted.

Long before college, Shaun already understood the value of education and the opportunities it could create. Back in Grade 6, she became a scholar of the Local Foundation, which supported her all throughout Junior High School. From then on, she learned to view academic excellence not only as an achievement, but as a doorway to a better future.

“Good grades became my way of creating opportunities for myself,” she shared.

When Senior High School came, Shaun already knew what she wanted to pursue: Political Science. But staying true to that dream was not easy.

Many scholarship programs she encountered required students to take courses related to engineering, science, or business. Again and again, she found herself facing opportunities that seemed to ask her to become someone else in exchange for support.

But Shaun refused to let go of the course she truly loved.

“Every scholarship I found wanted a different version of me,” she recalled. “Bell-Kenz accepted exactly who I was.”

During her second year in college at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, an opportunity unexpectedly came through her aunt, Ria Iyo, who worked at Bell-Kenz. After learning about the scholarship program of Bell-Kenz Pharma Foundation Inc., Shaun immediately prepared and submitted all the requirements, determined not to let the opportunity pass her by.

She never expected to be called for an interview.

But when the day finally came, what she remembered most was not pressure or intimidation — it was warmth.

“They asked me about my plans after college,” she shared. “It felt less like an interview and more like a genuine conversation.”

Coming from a family that relied on a small sari-sari store for income, the scholarship became a huge help in easing the daily financial burden of being a student. From transportation and school expenses to everyday necessities, the support from Bell-Kenz gave Shaun the breathing room she needed to focus on excelling in her studies.

The academic excellence rewards she received became especially meaningful. Instead of spending them immediately, she carefully saved a portion for her future while also allowing herself small rewards as recognition for all the hard work she poured into her education.

But according to Shaun, Bell-Kenz Foundation gave her something far greater than financial support.

It gave her a sense of belonging.

Through company events, scholar gatherings, and interactions with people behind the foundation, she was able to see firsthand the heart and mission of Bell-Kenz. The scholarship no longer felt transactional — it felt personal.

Bell-Kenz remained beside her throughout her entire college journey, from her first year all the way to graduation.

And even after graduation, the support did not stop.

When Shaun began searching for work, Bell-Kenz once again extended an opportunity — this time, not as a scholar, but as part of the company itself.

Today, she serves as a CSR Admin Assistant, working closely with scholars who are now walking the same path she once took. Every day, she listens to their concerns, processes their needs, and witnesses the same joy and relief she once felt whenever support arrived.

“I used to wait for the message that said I was supported,” Shaun said. “Now I’m the one who helps send it.”

Her story is proof that when people are empowered through education, the impact does not stop with one student alone. It creates a ripple effect — one that inspires, uplifts, and eventually comes back around to help others dream too.

From scholar to servant-leader, Shaun’s journey has truly come full circle.

And through every chapter of that journey, Bell-Kenz remained not only a supporter of her education, but a believer in who she was meant to become.