![Hard work and perseverance has its rewards if you will not ever give up. Everyone can achieve their dream if you work for it. Just like what happened to Nova Fossgard— once was a fish vendor and now became the owner of one of the prestigious colleges in the UK. Fossgard, 46, was born in Tukuran, Zamboanga Del Sur. Her father was a fisherman and her mother was a plain home maker she started to sell fish at the age of five. She still recalls how she would sell fish in the market. “You are in the market and you have to shout – fish, fish, bente, bente… Isda, isda, bariles, bariles. Bente, bente,” Fossgard said. She also vividly remembers how she would play mischief at her aunt to get a portion of fish to be sold in the market. “Nangawat ko isda sa auntie ko (I stole fish from my aunt). That’s a secret, but I will tell you. Because I was starving. I had this little girl, I gave it to her and passed it on to the market. This little girl gave me the money and I gave her commission,” she explained. Fossgard credits early exposure to business and her knack for selling for the success of her family-owned business, a language college she runs with her husband Jan. Fossgard is now director and her husband is principal at Purley Language College in Purley, 25 minutes away from London. “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. She must have felt what it’s like not to have a lot. That [is] probably what has driven her to better things through the years,” said her husband. STARTING THE BUSINESS In 2006, the opportunity came at an unexpected time when Fossgard and her husband lost their jobs. Jan was a journalist and finished both his undergraduate and master’s degrees at University of Oxford. He applied for a job at the college, which offers English language courses, and was asked if he wanted to take over the business. The former owners already wanted to retire. “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,” said Fossgard. The couple embarked on a new challenge. Fossgard then juggled between her newfound job while running the business with her husband. Work for her was 24/7, until she became full-time at the college. She took care of administrative matters, accounts and student registration, among others. From one student, the college now has more than 3,000 students enrolled every year from different parts of the world. “In the beginning, we borrowed so much money. We remortgaged and it tested us, our relationship, financially and emotionally. It wasn’t easy,” she said. Jan believes his wife’s business acumen drove the college forward. He said they also complement each other’s personalities. “She's got a bubbly, magnetic personality. She is bold enough or confident enough to speak to people in different levels. She enjoys travelling as well, so she can operate in many different countries. She is able to relate to people and negotiate and close the deals,” said Jan. Sponsored Links FROM DOMESTIC WORKER TO ENTREPRENEUR Fossgard finished a degree in accounting at Southern Mindanao College in 1991. Desperate to help her parents send her younger brothers to the university, she worked in Hong Kong as a domestic helper right after graduation. “I went through as a domestic helper first, cleaning. Even during day off, I worked part-time,” she said. While working in Singapore as a domestic helper, her former boss made an offer that she could not resist: to be the companion of his octogenarian mother in England. “They had a housekeeper, a gardener. I just sat down with her, just to be a companion. I learned so much from her. She educated me a lot: taught me [how] to cook, read a lot of newspapers and books,” she narrated. It was in Oxford where she crossed paths with her husband. VALUE OF EDUCATION Fossgard wants to inspire those in the provinces to reach for their dreams and never give up. For the former fish vendor who managed to finish university and set up a college in the United Kingdom, getting education is the surest way forward. “How can you be successful without education? 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,” she said. For those who often doubt themselves and their abilities, she has this advice: “Don’t be afraid. Follow your instinct. Gawin mo lahat ang gusto mo sa buhay. If you keep holding back with your fear, you think may mangyayari? You have to overcome (your fears). Takbo ka, don’t crawl. Always run." Advertisements Read More: Senate Approves Bill For Free OFW Handbook Overseas Filipinos In Qatar Losing Jobs Amid Diplomatic Crisis—DOLE How To Get Philippine International Driving Permit (PIDP) DFA To Temporarily Suspend One-Day Processing For Authentication Of Documents (Red Ribbon) SSS Monthly Pension Calculator Based On Monthly Donation What You Need to Know For A Successful Housing Loan Application What is Certificate of Good Conduct Which is Required By Employers In the UAE and HOW To Get It? OWWA Programs And Benefits, Other Concerns Explained By DA Arnel Ignacio And Admin Hans Cacdac ©2018 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS, TYPE KEYWORDS and TITLE OF ARTICLE at the box below](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZjGuTLMoeG91DBeH0tCHTMjpWaQ2JiRzLKDsBFsTW3Cikic7Xcivk2LtOn3N3OMSKSKKWwWrw2rhO2qYVUlpKxx_NUvkw1tNhpDARIlv-BuUZOVNGvCnKQIGREWJQVSpjiC23Q/s1600/%2524%2524%2524%2524%2524%2524%2524%2524%2524%2524%2524%2524%2524%2524%2524.png "Former Fish Vendor, Now a College Owner In England")
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Hard work and perseverance has its rewards if you will not ever give up. Everyone can achieve their dream if you work for it. Just like what happened to Nova Fossgard— once was a fish vendor and now became the owner of one of the prestigious colleges in the UK.
Fossgard, 46, was born in Tukuran, Zamboanga Del Sur. Her father was a fisherman and her mother was a plain home maker she started to sell fish at the age of five. She still recalls how she would sell fish in the market.
Fossgard finished a degree in accounting at Southern Mindanao College in 1991. Desperate to help her parents send her younger brothers to the university, she worked in Hong Kong as a domestic helper right after graduation.
While working in Singapore as a domestic helper, her former boss made an offer that she could not resist: to be the companion of his octogenarian mother in England.
“They had a housekeeper, a gardener. I just sat down with her, just to be a companion. I learned so much from her. She educated me a lot: taught me [how] to cook, read a lot of newspapers and books,” she narrated.
It was in Oxford where she crossed paths with her husband.
In 2006, her husband, Jan lost his job. He was a journalist and finished both his undergraduate and master’s degrees at University of Oxford.
There was an English language college where he tried his luck and applied. The former asked him if he wanted to take over the business as the former owners already wanted to retire.
It was a challenge for the couple, definitely not an easy one. they borrowed so much money and remortgaged. It tested them, their relationship, their finances, according to Fossgard.
Started with one student, the college now has more than 3,000 students enrolled every year from different parts of the world.
Jan believes his wife’s business acumen drove the college forward. He said they also complement each other’s personalities.
While her husband Jan works as the principal of Purley Language College, Nova takes care of administrative and operations of the school.
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For those who often doubt themselves and their abilities, she has this advice:
![Hard work and perseverance has its rewards if you will not ever give up. Everyone can achieve their dream if you work for it. Just like what happened to Nova Fossgard— once was a fish vendor and now became the owner of one of the prestigious colleges in the UK. Fossgard, 46, was born in Tukuran, Zamboanga Del Sur. Her father was a fisherman and her mother was a plain home maker she started to sell fish at the age of five. She still recalls how she would sell fish in the market. “You are in the market and you have to shout – fish, fish, bente, bente… Isda, isda, bariles, bariles. Bente, bente,” Fossgard said. She also vividly remembers how she would play mischief at her aunt to get a portion of fish to be sold in the market. “Nangawat ko isda sa auntie ko (I stole fish from my aunt). That’s a secret, but I will tell you. Because I was starving. I had this little girl, I gave it to her and passed it on to the market. This little girl gave me the money and I gave her commission,” she explained. Fossgard credits early exposure to business and her knack for selling for the success of her family-owned business, a language college she runs with her husband Jan. Fossgard is now director and her husband is principal at Purley Language College in Purley, 25 minutes away from London. “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. She must have felt what it’s like not to have a lot. That [is] probably what has driven her to better things through the years,” said her husband. STARTING THE BUSINESS In 2006, the opportunity came at an unexpected time when Fossgard and her husband lost their jobs. Jan was a journalist and finished both his undergraduate and master’s degrees at University of Oxford. He applied for a job at the college, which offers English language courses, and was asked if he wanted to take over the business. The former owners already wanted to retire. “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,” said Fossgard. The couple embarked on a new challenge. Fossgard then juggled between her newfound job while running the business with her husband. Work for her was 24/7, until she became full-time at the college. She took care of administrative matters, accounts and student registration, among others. From one student, the college now has more than 3,000 students enrolled every year from different parts of the world. “In the beginning, we borrowed so much money. We remortgaged and it tested us, our relationship, financially and emotionally. It wasn’t easy,” she said. Jan believes his wife’s business acumen drove the college forward. He said they also complement each other’s personalities. “She's got a bubbly, magnetic personality. She is bold enough or confident enough to speak to people in different levels. She enjoys travelling as well, so she can operate in many different countries. She is able to relate to people and negotiate and close the deals,” said Jan. Sponsored Links FROM DOMESTIC WORKER TO ENTREPRENEUR Fossgard finished a degree in accounting at Southern Mindanao College in 1991. Desperate to help her parents send her younger brothers to the university, she worked in Hong Kong as a domestic helper right after graduation. “I went through as a domestic helper first, cleaning. Even during day off, I worked part-time,” she said. While working in Singapore as a domestic helper, her former boss made an offer that she could not resist: to be the companion of his octogenarian mother in England. “They had a housekeeper, a gardener. I just sat down with her, just to be a companion. I learned so much from her. She educated me a lot: taught me [how] to cook, read a lot of newspapers and books,” she narrated. It was in Oxford where she crossed paths with her husband. VALUE OF EDUCATION Fossgard wants to inspire those in the provinces to reach for their dreams and never give up. For the former fish vendor who managed to finish university and set up a college in the United Kingdom, getting education is the surest way forward. “How can you be successful without education? 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,” she said. For those who often doubt themselves and their abilities, she has this advice: “Don’t be afraid. Follow your instinct. Gawin mo lahat ang gusto mo sa buhay. If you keep holding back with your fear, you think may mangyayari? You have to overcome (your fears). Takbo ka, don’t crawl. Always run." Advertisements Read More: Senate Approves Bill For Free OFW Handbook Overseas Filipinos In Qatar Losing Jobs Amid Diplomatic Crisis—DOLE How To Get Philippine International Driving Permit (PIDP) DFA To Temporarily Suspend One-Day Processing For Authentication Of Documents (Red Ribbon) SSS Monthly Pension Calculator Based On Monthly Donation What You Need to Know For A Successful Housing Loan Application What is Certificate of Good Conduct Which is Required By Employers In the UAE and HOW To Get It? OWWA Programs And Benefits, Other Concerns Explained By DA Arnel Ignacio And Admin Hans Cacdac ©2018 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS, TYPE KEYWORDS and TITLE OF ARTICLE at the box below](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XriFgeeXuDm0UYKcowDv1PBOlbjVd7F6B05_DqRyxJZMayerr3TvWPZwJ2MM81y9FZx41uOKRzpQ07I4iY-yowSVtJUaQvGSgYAXjEgHJRrcwISD-JGcr09DYkAixTjS_OxC5g/s1600/%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523.png "Former Fish Vendor, Now a College Owner In England")
“Don’t be afraid. Follow your instinct. Do whatever is it that you want to do. If you keep holding back with your fear nothing is gonna happen.You have to overcome (your fears). Don’t crawl. Always run."
![Hard work and perseverance has its rewards if you will not ever give up. Everyone can achieve their dream if you work for it. Just like what happened to Nova Fossgard— once was a fish vendor and now became the owner of one of the prestigious colleges in the UK. Fossgard, 46, was born in Tukuran, Zamboanga Del Sur. Her father was a fisherman and her mother was a plain home maker she started to sell fish at the age of five. She still recalls how she would sell fish in the market. “You are in the market and you have to shout – fish, fish, bente, bente… Isda, isda, bariles, bariles. Bente, bente,” Fossgard said. She also vividly remembers how she would play mischief at her aunt to get a portion of fish to be sold in the market. “Nangawat ko isda sa auntie ko (I stole fish from my aunt). That’s a secret, but I will tell you. Because I was starving. I had this little girl, I gave it to her and passed it on to the market. This little girl gave me the money and I gave her commission,” she explained. Fossgard credits early exposure to business and her knack for selling for the success of her family-owned business, a language college she runs with her husband Jan. Fossgard is now director and her husband is principal at Purley Language College in Purley, 25 minutes away from London. “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. She must have felt what it’s like not to have a lot. That [is] probably what has driven her to better things through the years,” said her husband. STARTING THE BUSINESS In 2006, the opportunity came at an unexpected time when Fossgard and her husband lost their jobs. Jan was a journalist and finished both his undergraduate and master’s degrees at University of Oxford. He applied for a job at the college, which offers English language courses, and was asked if he wanted to take over the business. The former owners already wanted to retire. “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,” said Fossgard. The couple embarked on a new challenge. Fossgard then juggled between her newfound job while running the business with her husband. Work for her was 24/7, until she became full-time at the college. She took care of administrative matters, accounts and student registration, among others. From one student, the college now has more than 3,000 students enrolled every year from different parts of the world. “In the beginning, we borrowed so much money. We remortgaged and it tested us, our relationship, financially and emotionally. It wasn’t easy,” she said. Jan believes his wife’s business acumen drove the college forward. He said they also complement each other’s personalities. “She's got a bubbly, magnetic personality. She is bold enough or confident enough to speak to people in different levels. She enjoys travelling as well, so she can operate in many different countries. She is able to relate to people and negotiate and close the deals,” said Jan. Sponsored Links FROM DOMESTIC WORKER TO ENTREPRENEUR Fossgard finished a degree in accounting at Southern Mindanao College in 1991. Desperate to help her parents send her younger brothers to the university, she worked in Hong Kong as a domestic helper right after graduation. “I went through as a domestic helper first, cleaning. Even during day off, I worked part-time,” she said. While working in Singapore as a domestic helper, her former boss made an offer that she could not resist: to be the companion of his octogenarian mother in England. “They had a housekeeper, a gardener. I just sat down with her, just to be a companion. I learned so much from her. She educated me a lot: taught me [how] to cook, read a lot of newspapers and books,” she narrated. It was in Oxford where she crossed paths with her husband. VALUE OF EDUCATION Fossgard wants to inspire those in the provinces to reach for their dreams and never give up. For the former fish vendor who managed to finish university and set up a college in the United Kingdom, getting education is the surest way forward. “How can you be successful without education? 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,” she said. For those who often doubt themselves and their abilities, she has this advice: “Don’t be afraid. Follow your instinct. Gawin mo lahat ang gusto mo sa buhay. If you keep holding back with your fear, you think may mangyayari? You have to overcome (your fears). Takbo ka, don’t crawl. Always run." Advertisements Read More: Senate Approves Bill For Free OFW Handbook Overseas Filipinos In Qatar Losing Jobs Amid Diplomatic Crisis—DOLE How To Get Philippine International Driving Permit (PIDP) DFA To Temporarily Suspend One-Day Processing For Authentication Of Documents (Red Ribbon) SSS Monthly Pension Calculator Based On Monthly Donation What You Need to Know For A Successful Housing Loan Application What is Certificate of Good Conduct Which is Required By Employers In the UAE and HOW To Get It? OWWA Programs And Benefits, Other Concerns Explained By DA Arnel Ignacio And Admin Hans Cacdac ©2018 THOUGHTSKOTO www.jbsolis.com SEARCH JBSOLIS, TYPE KEYWORDS and TITLE OF ARTICLE at the box below](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3BJv-Ag22gbl0d2bmKlh-sFzR8x4ZMy5VQcxyLR-xxHRbE4dXeiO7T4vGlq1whT9lnjFNYJJsI0OhOKa0lkFHFsDSn0BPhpjuahqrlE0ZZcwCrN3aXbk980vI7BoQ68rgcadFg/s1600/%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523.png "Former Fish Vendor, Now a College Owner In England")
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