My Freelancing Journey

Hi, I'm Swedean Lomosbog. I'm a trained General Virtual Assistant at Filipino Virtual Assistance (FVA) Business Consultancy. My coach in the freelancing course is Coach Keren Keziah Ame of West Mindanao. Before becoming a GVA, I'm a Biller in a Water Association in our place. You might wonder, "A biller becoming a virtual assistant and freelancer? It's too far from each other." And believe me, that's what I thought too. So, how did I end up here? What are the challenges? Is it worth it? Well, let's dive into my story.

Introduction to Freelancing & the Challenges

Freelancing is an unknown word to me until the COVID19 pandemic arrived. I'm just new to this. It's already on my expectation that I will be facing a lot of challenges. First off, I'm just a high school graduate, and I'm not a techy person at all. I have low self-esteem and unsociable. I don't have any social media account, even Facebook! How did I overcome all of this?

Great Help in My Journey

Meeting new people, being out of your comfort zone, and learning new things is very nerve-racking. So who and what helps me in this journey?

• Friends. They pushed me to try freelancing. They even welcome me to the social media world when I made an account. Typical friends, right? :)

• Coach Keren. She's so patient and encouraging. She always reminds us to remember our WHYs. Rest if we're tired, celebrate small achievements and enjoy the learning process. She's the best coach, I say.

• Family. There were times that I want to give up because it's too hard, and I'm tired. Their support really gives me the strength to continue the course.

• Prayer. I pray when feeling the stress from all the portfolios. The texts from Proverbs 3:5,6, to trust in Jehovah always helps me to continue my journey.

Is the Journey Worth It

Yes, it's worth it. Why? It's just so amazing to learn and do things you never thought you'd be able to do. My self-confidence raises. The knowledge I obtained in the freelancing course is what helps me in knowing myself more. Doubtful to try freelancing or not? Don't hold back! Take a baby step first, and see where it takes you. Happy freelancing :)