Mariano Marcos
State University

After 30 years in the beauty industry, he earns environmental science degree

𝘽𝙮 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙡 𝙏𝙖𝙥𝙤𝙖𝙣, 𝙅𝙧, 𝙎𝙏𝙍𝘼𝙏𝘾𝙊𝙈 𝘾𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩

Do you still remember the beautician who entered MMSU at 42 years old? He is now set to receive his degree during the 47th Commencement Exercises on July 11 at the iconic Sunken Garden.

Juanito “Janeth” Agana, 46, is finally earning his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, proving that everything happens in its perfect time. After three decades of beautifying faces with hairstyles and makeups, he will soon receive his long-time dream of getting a college diploma, inspiring others to achieve their dreams no matter how late in life they may come. 

Janeth first pursued college in 1999, enrolling in the accountancy program at the University of Perpetual Help. However, he had to leave school to work full time as a beautician, a more practical choice at that time.
Still determined to chase his “beautiful dream,” he entered college in 2021, a time when education shifted to online mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the struggles along the way, this 46-year-old beautician at the “Nize N Ezzy” Salon in the City of Batac persevered in earning his degree for a better future. 

Now, 26 years after his first attempt at college, he successfully hurdled the challenges of juggling studies and salon duties, being among the 3,423 graduating students this year.

𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆

A native of Roxas City, Capiz, Janeth is currently residing in Brgy. Palongpong in the City of Batac, Janeth narrated that studying and working at the same time is arduous, yet he managed his time and energy effectively. 

“During school days, I spend my vacant hour within a day in working at the salon. Then, after my classes in the afternoon, I return to the shop to serve my clients until late at night,” he recounted. 

In balancing both roles as a beautician and college student, Janeth admitted that there are instances wherein he had to choose his work first, which somehow affected his academic performance. 

“I nearly failed in one of my subjects, but thankfully, I passed the removal exam. In finishing my undergraduate thesis, I had to seek assistance from my classmates and friends aside from seeking guidance from my adviser and panel members,” he narrated. 

Janeth’s drive to pursue college is much admired by his professors, who see him as a responsible, attentive, and committed student. In the salon, his clients often praise him for his determination to become more successful, and they give him additional payment for his quality service. 

“Those words of affirmation from my professors and clients give me a sense of comfort which are more than enough for me to keep going,” he expressed. 

   
While beauty care and environmental science are two separate roads, Janeth believes that there is a certain connection between these fields. He claimed that some lessons acquired from his degree, such as in trichology (study of human hair), help him deliver proper hair treatment and other cosmetic services to his customers.  

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

As he soon exits the halls of MMSU that nurtured him for four years, Janeth attributes his success to his family, especially his adopted son, Daniel, who graduated BS in Information Technology at this university last year and is now a call center agent at Accenture in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. 

“This academic track I decided to tread will surely pay the best interest someday, not only for me, but also for my son,” he said in an MMSU article in 2022.

After graduation, Janeth intends to take professional education units at the MMSU College of Teacher Education. Likewise, he desires to continue working at the salon, not only as a provider of cosmetic care, but also as an agent of a comfortable work environment for his fellow beauticians and clients. 

He believes that preparedness and determination are the key to achieving a certain goal. To those who consider studying while working, he says they can also do it.

“You don’t have to be ashamed. Keep on achieving your dreams and be a living proof that pursuing one’s dream has no expiration date,” Janeth said.

𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚: Janeth’s preferred pronoun is “he.”

(Read his feature story in 2022: https://www.mmsu.edu.ph/.../valor-in-the-parlor-42-year...)