Testimonial
Leveraging Independence to Create Impact: Oona’s Journey with eduCLaaS
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Early Independence: The Roots of Responsibility
Oona Saergee Ibona’s story begins with a childhood marked by independence. With her parents often absent and home life minimal even during high school, she learned early on to navigate life on her own. What once felt normal later revealed itself as a powerful foundation—shaping her into someone adaptable, resilient, and self-reliant. These early lessons naturally led her to take charge of her future, emphasizing smart, responsible decisions that would secure both financial independence and professional growth.
Facing Reality: The Hurdles of Higher Education
As she approached the next phase of life, Oona encountered two major obstacles: employability and affordability. She noticed that even entry-level job listings often preferred candidates with experience—a catch-22 for fresh graduates.
I kind of know that having a degree doesn’t guarantee you a job after graduating. I’ve seen job descriptions “we accept fresh grads, but we prefer those with experiences.” So, what do I do if I encounter something like that?
At the same time, quality education seemed financially out of reach, with private universities being costly and public ones extremely competitive. The uncertainty of burdening her parents with tuition fees made her question if traditional university paths were even viable.
My other concern is the cost, because we can’t cover it. The cost is pretty high, especially if you go to a good university. It means it’s either state universities or the expensive ones. The cost will really be a problem for my parents.
Finding a Way Forward: The eduCLaaS Breakthrough
Everything changed when Oona discovered eduCLaaS. The earn-while-you-learn model of their Bachelor’s Degree program offered a solution to both of her problems. She could fund her own education through real work, lifting the financial weight off her parents.
What drove me to eduCLaaS? It’s the earn while you learn model. It was appealing. Being able to cover your education fees with the money you’ve earned.
Just as importantly, she’d gain practical, on-the-job experience while studying—an ideal combination for someone determined to be career-ready by graduation.
Then work-study also. You get to work and study at the same time. When you graduate, you will get three years of work experience already.
With this model, Oona wasn’t just earning a degree; she was building a resume at the same time.
Growth in Action: Learning Beyond the Classroom
Oona’s transition from student to working professional was transformative. Digital marketing classroom lessons evolved into hands-on skills in the workplace. She sharpened her time management, problem-solving, and communication abilities while working with diverse teams on real marketing campaigns. The work-study format accelerated her development, giving her insight into how businesses function and how she could contribute meaningfully.
The first module that we had was “website development. That was the hardest module because we have to go through WordPress, but I think that was the best chapter that we had. I was actually commended for my website that I made. I was labeled as the benchmark of the class. So, I was actually pretty motivated and thought that maybe I was made for this.
Her dedication paid off—she was eventually hired as a Marketing Associate at eduCLaaS. In her first few months, she was eager to take on anything that came her way—a feeling many first-time employees can relate to. The excitement naturally ebbed, but things took a meaningful turn when she was transferred to another business unit. The work became more challenging, more serious—and she thrived in it. With steady support from her manager and director, she was given hands-on opportunities to grow and apply what she had learned during the 12-month bootcamp. From social media and email marketing to lead management and paid campaigns, Oona found herself increasingly confident in her contributions.
Her dedication and maturity didn’t go unnoticed. Despite the inevitable challenges of real-world work, she remained professional, responsible, and deeply passionate about her role. Over time, she stopped being seen as a student and started being treated as a full-fledged team member. That shift in mindset and behavior ultimately led to her promotion to Digital Marketing Executive—a proud milestone that marked the beginning of her professional career beyond the apprenticeship.
A Degree with Purpose and Experience
Oona’s journey with eduCLaaS is proof that education doesn’t have to follow a traditional path to be effective. By combining study and work, she not only gained academic knowledge but also real-world experience that set her apart from her peers. Her story is a compelling example of how a proactive mindset, when matched with the right opportunities, can turn challenges into steppingstones toward success.
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Take the First Step Toward Your Own Success
If you relate to Oona’s story and want to become one of our learners to explore a learning path that aligns with your goals, now is the time to take action.
Book a consultation or get a personalized career proposal today to see how eduCLaaS can help you build the skills you need for a successful future.
