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Ana Kristine Elayda’s journey from cleaning a gym to graduating with first-class honours in law is a story of persistence, opportunity, and support in Dubai.
The student from Sorsogon in the Philippines grew up in a family where money was tight. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she needed to earn enough to buy a phone so she could continue attending online classes. Alongside her own studies, she tutored other students and later cleaned a gym to help pay for her education.
Years later, that determination helped her move to Dubai, study law and gain professional experience while completing her degree. She has now graduated with first-class honours from Middlesex University Dubai and is preparing for the next stage of her legal career.
An Opportunity in Dubai
Elayda’s academic performance eventually brought her to the attention of Antonio Maria Varvaro, an Italian lawyer based in Dubai. He offered to sponsor her legal studies through his firm, where she could also gain professional experience.
She moved to Dubai at the age of 19 and stayed with her aunt and other relatives while adapting to her new surroundings. Alongside university, she began working as a legal assistant and paralegal, gaining experience in areas including contract review and client work.
Her academic record also helped her receive a 30 per cent scholarship towards her Bachelor of Laws degree at Middlesex University Dubai.
For Elayda, the contrast was significant. She had once worked to afford the phone needed for online education; in Dubai, she was sitting in university lectures and preparing for a career in law.
Learning Law in the Classroom and the Workplace
Studying law while working in a legal practice gave Elayda an opportunity to connect what she learned at university with real professional situations.
Her days were demanding, with university in the mornings followed by work at the law firm. She also completed internships, including unpaid placements, and took on smaller jobs while studying.
One of her biggest challenges was managing time. A demanding law degree required extensive study, while her professional responsibilities left little room for breaks.
She also had to adapt to a British-style legal education system, where independent analysis and building strong arguments were important parts of the learning process. Her experience in the workplace helped her understand how legal concepts applied beyond university textbooks.
Finding Confidence and Asking for Help
Moving to Dubai also changed how Elayda viewed herself and her background.
Coming from a financially struggling family had once made her feel that her circumstances were something she needed to overcome or hide. Over time, her experiences in Dubai helped her recognise how those challenges had contributed to her discipline and determination.
She also learned that personal resilience was only part of the journey. Support from her family, classmates and mentors played an important role in helping her progress.
Living in a multicultural city and studying alongside people from different backgrounds also helped her become more confident about speaking up and participating in professional environments.
Preparing for the Next Step
Graduating with first-class honours marks an important milestone for Elayda, but she is already preparing for her next goal.
She is currently working towards the Solicitors Qualifying Examination as she pursues a route into the legal profession. Her experience has also extended beyond her degree, with internships covering areas such as international trade and arbitration.
She has earned additional certifications in Incoterms 2020, international arbitration, standby letters of credit, and anti-money laundering.
Her long-term ambition is to build a legal career in the UAE and eventually provide another student with the kind of opportunity that helped change the direction of her own life.
A Message to Other Students
Elayda’s experience has given her a simple message for students facing financial pressure or uncertainty about their future: their starting circumstances do not have to determine where they finish.
She encourages young people to use the resources available to them, seek feedback from people who can help them improve, and accept opportunities even when they do not feel completely prepared.
Her journey, from working to afford basic educational needs to graduating with first-class honours in law, shows how education, professional experience and a strong support network can combine to create new opportunities.