Against all odds, a law degree for Trixie Garvida

MANILA, Philippines – Law school is difficult for everyone but even more so for someone like Patricia “Trixie” Ulynne Garvida, who has a physical limitation called dwarfism.

This is why friends and family were exceptionally proud of her when she graduated from the Far Eastern University (FEU) Institute of Law.

Although her condition meant many disadvantages in terms of her mobility, Trixie never saw it as an impediment. Fortunately, the FEU Institute of Law turned out to be an excellent choice as the school ensured that she would maximize her learning opportunities while being treated no differently from the rest of the students.

“During the freshmen orientation, all law students are warned that it takes a lot of effort to be able to stay in, and to be able to graduate from law school. One should be ready for each class every day. And ready means being able to read the assignments, to understand the assigned topics and cases, and to correctly answer the questions of the professor when called to recite in class,” Trixie shared.

Despite her disability, what shone throughout her entire four years of law school was her determination to be treated the same way her classmates were treated. For their part, her professors also chose to look beyond her physical limitations and to focus on her education.

Trixie faced the usual challenges. She failed some subjects and excelled in others. A communication arts graduate who majored in journalism, she was more comfortable with the written word than with expressing herself verbally. Since law school required students to talk most of the time and write only during examinations, she had to venture outside her comfort zone.

“Law school is chock-full of challenges and trials. It is different every day. There are always different people with different points of view. There are challenges to face and adjustments that have to be made. Sometimes I can cope, sometimes I get left behind. But I try my best to keep up. When I can’t, I pray. I pray for inspiration, I pray for a better state of mind, I pray for a better me next time,’’ she said.

“FEU instilled in me the firm belief that we should not allow anything to limit us. With hard work and the right attitude, we can be just as good as the rest of the pack, or maybe even better,” she added.