After months of preparing, Jack Animam has finally secured her Taiwanese visa and is set to leave on Thursday.
And despite having prepared herself for so long, the 21-year-old native of Malolos, Bulacan was still full with emotions while spending her last day in the country.
“Mixed emotions — masaya, excited, malungkot, at kinakabahan.
“Pero mas nangingibabaw ‘yung excitement,” she confessed to Tiebreaker Times.
When she finally secured her visa, the first people she went to were her parents.
Though sad that Animam will be away for a long time, her parents know they have to let her go. This, playing and studying at Shih Hsin University, is her first step into the real world.
“Siyempre proud sila, pero at the same time malungkot din. Eto na ata pinaka-matagal na mawawalay ako sa family ko.”
Despite the limited movement due to the quarantine measures in the country, the 6-foot-5 product of National University still trained hard at home.
And she’s had some success, coming close to her ideal playing weight.
“I’ve been working out every day. Minsan nga nawawalan na ako ng gana kasi ang tagal. Pero sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na konting tiyaga pa, it’ll be worth it.
“Siyempre pati utak ko kinundisyon ko rin dapat kasi nga, matagal kong ‘di makikita family and friends ko. Pero sila ‘yung inspiration ko to keep going,” she expressed.
For the next few months, Animam has set four goals.
The first is, of course, to lead SHU to the top in their league. The second and third are to become a better basketball player and to gain a master’s degree in Public Relations and Advertising.
The last one?
“Learn Mandarin.”
