Another proud Igorota showcased a high level of intellect in a foreign land. This time in Los Angeles, California. Karen Comullob Bag-ayan, a native of Sallapadan, Abra and Sadanga, Mountain Province, graduated with the highest academic honor given to students. She graduated Summa Cum Laude.
Aside from this, her name consistently appear in the rooster of Part time Dean's honor list and President honor list until she finished her two courses, BS Nursing and Natural Science major in Chemistry at East Los Angeles City College on 2021.
While Karen is studying, she works as an in-patient technician at White Memorial Medical Center Los Angeles, California. And even when pandemic related stress keeps taking most of her time, she still pursued her review for the nursing board examination.
Atlast! Her effort was granted on the month of September of 2021, when the result of the examination were out and her name once again appeared in the rooster of registered Nurses. She is now officially absorbed as nurse of the same hospital.
In her speech during her thanks giving party held at Sallapadan Abra, she extended her heartfelt appreciation to her family and friends who are the backbone of her success, "Thank you for your support and believing in me. I am extremely blessed and grateful that you guys never gave up on me. You taught me about life by example and through your courage, I learned to follow my dreams."
Her humble speech has made everyone specially her mom and dad, and her former teachers here in the Philippines proud of her and her achievements. The learnings they fed her were not wasted.
Her community here in Sallapadan, Abra were she grew up before flying to California to continue her studies also express their gratitude through their mayor Mr. Garde Cardenas and the elders who said "thank you child for making us known, in a country where development is advance and where different intellect meet."
