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‘PBB’ alum Andi Abaya on finishing college while juggling showbiz career: ‘Umiyak ako nang maraming beses’

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<div>Former <a href="http://pbb.abs-cbn.com"></a><a href="http://pbb.abs-cbn.com">Pinoy Big Brother</a> housemate Andi Abaya has finally finished college – but the road there was far longer and harder than most people would think.</div>Andi opened up about her journey on the sidelines of the finale viewing party for Miss Behave, where she shared how she completed her Bachelor of Science in Advertising Management degree at De La Salle University in Manila.She was only a freshman when she entered the <a href="http://pbb.abs-cbn.com">Pinoy Big Brother</a> house. Andi joined PBB Connect in the middle of the pandemic, and taking part in the reality competition meant putting her studies on hold.&quot;It&#x27;s very fulfilling kasi when I started college, kasi during my freshman year, that was when I joined PBB. So I had to take an LOA (Leave of Absence),&quot; she shared.&quot;I skipped siguro almost two academic years. So na-delay talaga ako sa school. So I&#x27;m really happy na natapos ko na &#x27;yung college ko,&quot; she added.For Andi, the diploma is more than a piece of paper. She described it as a lifelong dream – and one she wanted to fulfill as much for her parents as for herself.It was only in 2022 that Andi returned to school.&quot;I mean, it&#x27;s been a lifelong dream since I was young na makapagtapos, have a degree, and pursue advertising. And ayun, I did it for my parents also. They worked really hard para pag-aralin ako sa isang maayos na eskuwelahan,&quot; she said.Many would assume that going back to class after two years away — and as a public figure at that – would be difficult. But Andi said adjusting was not as hard as people might expect, partly because she has always been comfortable on her own.&quot;I&#x27;ve always been an introvert, so parang I think I found solace in being alone,&quot; she said.Still, she is thankful for the people who were there with her along the way.&quot;I&#x27;m grateful na I met great friends kahit hindi ko sila ka-batch. I had friends from high school na nakasama ko rin noong bumalik ako, like &#x27;yung mga double degree kong friends,&quot; she added.The setup at DLSU also worked in her favor. Classes were still partly online when she returned, which gave her room to breathe.&quot;Adjusting wasn&#x27;t as hard since DLSU was still hybrid. So, I would only go to school twice a week, tapos the rest is online. So, parang medyo manageable naman &#x27;yung schedule at &#x27;yung responsibilities when I went back,&quot; she continued.Balancing school and showbiz was another matter. Andi said she started by limiting the number of units she took each term. She also set a personal deadline: she was going to finish in four years, no matter what.That meant overloading during some terms, and it came at a cost.&quot;How did I juggle? Umiyak ako nang maraming beses,&quot; she said.&quot;So, I set a deadline for myself na susundan ko pa rin &#x27;yung flowchart ko sa college. I have to be in college lang for four years. So I did overload for some terms and siguro, I was really practicing a lot of discipline. I had to be disciplined in terms of organizing my tasks and responsibilities and sine-set ko talaga &#x27;yung deadlines ng mga kailangan tugunan lalo na pag may taping ako,&quot; she said.There were also projects she had to let go of.&quot;And of course, tinanggap ko na rin &#x27;yung fact na there are times I have to compromise and sacrifice. I have to be absent or I have to decline some projects also para sa school. So, &#x27;yun, it was a compromise,&quot; she added.Now that she is done with school, Andi said her focus is on acting. She has not closed the door on a corporate career in advertising, but that will have to wait.&quot;As of now, since maluwag na &#x27;yung schedule ko, I really wanna commit to showbiz muna. I wanna give my all for acting ngayon. I still have my goals and dreams in terms of pursuing advertising. But ngayon, since mas makaka-commit na ako sa maraming projects, lalo na nabigyan ako ng Miss Behave,&quot; she said.Landing a project like Miss Behave is something she is especially grateful for, as it let her play a character unlike the roles she has taken on before.&quot;I was given a different role. Parang it made it possible for me to think na, &#x27;Oh, I can, I can play, like, different characters – not the usual from the past few years.&#x27; So, I really wanna keep doing showbiz muna and give it a shot. And let&#x27;s see, let&#x27;s see if the stars align for me. Hindi naman mawawala &#x27;yung Advertising, hindi naman mawawala &#x27;yung degree ko,&quot; she shared.<div> </div>—By Paolo Lim

‘Miss Behave’ star Andi Abaya opened up about the tears, discipline, and sacrifices it took to juggle school and showbiz.

‘Miss Behave’ star Andi Abaya opened up about the tears, discipline, and sacrifices it took to juggle school and showbiz.