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Sells peanuts till 3 am, in class by 7:30: Student funds his own degree

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Era has financed his own university tuition and daily allowance since his second year by vending peanuts until 3 a.m. and attending classes by 7:30 a.m. Having started street vending at age 11 in Bogo City, he chose peanuts for their convenient shelf life and portability. Beyond his studies, he is already channeling his entrepreneurial drive into launching a local delivery service with formerly unemployed friends.

Key points

  • Marine engineering coursework serves as Era's primary vehicle to achieve financial stabil…: Marine engineering coursework serves as Era's primary vehicle to achieve financial stability and secure capital for future commercial enterprises.
  • His nightly peanut sales generate sufficient income to assist his parents and help suppor…: His nightly peanut sales generate sufficient income to assist his parents and help support four younger siblings with their education.
  • Long-term ambitions for the student entrepreneur include expanding into the real estate s…: Long-term ambitions for the student entrepreneur include expanding into the real estate sector and eventually opening a shelter for stray animals.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

When people say someone is working for peanuts, they don’t mean that positively, but this college student from the Philippines just proved them wrong. While most college students look forward to returning home after a long day of classes, Ariston Era III has another responsibility waiting for him.

A third-year Marine Engineering student at the University of the Visayas, Ariston spends his nights selling peanuts on the streets, sometimes continuing until 3 am. A time when most students are busy getting their lives together and figuring things out, he has built a routine around his studies, one that has helped him pay his own tuition fees, manage his daily expenses, and even help his family.

A journey that began at the age of 11

Ariston’s experience with selling began long before he entered college. During a conversational podcast with SunStar's

Beyond the Headlines, he talked about his life journey. At just 11 years old, he started helping his mother sell homemade food such as embutido and empanadas within their neighbourhood in Bogo City. His mother, who had also sold goods…

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