Isang Pinay na dating nagtitinda ng Isda, may-ari na ngayon ng isang School sa England!

Determination, perseverance and old fashioned hard work will surely bring you to new heights. Just take the case of Nova Fossgard, who used to be an ordinary fish seller in Zamboanga Del Sur. Now, she’s the school director of the Purley Language College in England.

According to ABS-CBN News, Fossgard was born to a fisherman father and a stay-at-home mother. She started to sell fish at the young age of five, just to help with her family.

This tough upbringing exposed her to the challenging world of business. Fossgard shared that through this experience she became the successful woman she is today.

Currently, Fossgard is married to the principal of Purley Language College.

Her husband attested to her perseverance and said, “I’m sure that coming from a family that had a small business themselves it must have helped her a lot. She had to work at a very young age.”

The couple said they became the head of the school in a sudden and unexpected manner. It was 2006 and both had previously lost their jobs. Her husband applied for a teaching job in Purley Language College but he never expected to spearhead the school.

Apparently, the previous owners already wanted to retire from their positions. They offered her husband to handle the school instead. Fosgard shared that she also applied as a teacher.

She disclosed, “It was just by coincidence really. My husband applied to teach English here. Then my husband was approached if he wanted to buy out the school.”

Nova Fossgard eventually became a full-time administrator. However, the road towards success was not an easy one. She revealed that it tested her relationship with her husband through emotional and financial aspects.

Her husband said that he believes they complement each other’s personalities. He described Fossgard as “magnetic” and “bubbly.”

Prior to being a school director, Fossgard shared that she used to be a domestic helper in Hong Kong.

She actually graduated with an accounting degree in Southern Mindanao College but that didn’t stop her from becoming a helper to send her younger brothers to college.

She believes that education is one of the best secrets to success. Fossgard said that she would always urge her brothers to take their studies seriously.

She shared, “I kept telling my brothers, education is the best capital for you. Then once you have education, look for what you are passionate about. Then focus on that one thing.”

Fossgard added that people should always follow their instinct and learn to overcome their fears. This, according to her, is the secret to becoming successful.

Read the netizens’ comments below: