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With her second child on the way, Jessaleah G. finds peace of mind knowing her firstborn has a bright educational future ahead.
HireSmart Virtual Employees recently awarded a scholarship to Jessaleah's daughter, Celestine Jeriah, who turns 5 in October, allowing her to a private school with an excellent curriculum.
"I just want to express my deepest gratitude to Anne and Mark (Lackey) and HireSmart for granting my daughter this scholarship," said Jessaleah, who was 30 weeks pregnant with her second child at the time of the interview. "It truly means so much to our family. Not only does it ease our financial burden, especially as we prepare to welcome our second child, but it also gives us peace of mind, knowing that Celestine can attend a quality school where she can grow, learn, and thrive."
The scholarship is particularly meaningful for Jessaleah because her daughter primarily speaks English, which has sometimes made it difficult for her to connect with local children who mainly speak Filipino.
"It puts my mind and heart at peace knowing she'll be able to have that environment, and it's going to be safe for her, and she'll be comfortable enough to fully express herself," she said.
Jessaleah describes her daughter as creative and energetic.
"She likes coloring and drawing,” the proud mom said. “She absolutely loves to sing and dance. She just randomly sings at very random times. She always makes up songs, and then you always catch her busting a move."
Before joining HireSmart over three years ago, Jessaleah worked as an operations manager at a startup BPO company where she handled multiple roles simultaneously. The demanding position took a toll on her ability to be present for her daughter and affected her mental health.
Now, Jessaleah works for a U.S. property management client, managing lease renewal contracts for both residential and commercial properties. She appreciates that her client is family-oriented and trusting, allowing her to work independently.
"Virtual work for me is a big blessing," Jessaleah said. "Because of it, I was able to have a career and become the mother that I want to be for my children."
Jessaleah values the stability that comes with working through HireSmart rather than directly with clients.
"Working with an agency like HireSmart, you have that extra reassurance that you're going to get paid," she said. "For the three years that I've worked with HireSmart, my salary has never been delayed or anything like that."
The expectant mother recently married her partner, Christian, of more than 10 years in April 2025. They're excited to welcome their son, who will be named Cris Cef, a combination of their fathers' names, both of whom have passed away.
Jessaleah has also instilled values of generosity in her daughter through volunteer work at a local orphanage.
"Initially she was against giving away the toys because she wants to keep it for herself, but we explained to her that we're giving it away to the kids in the orphanage so they'll have a little more joy for Christmas," she said. "We explained to her that she's very fortunate because she gets to spend her Christmas with both of her parents, not just during Christmas, but daily, and then she understood from there."
The dedicated mother says she takes pride in her work and makes sure everything she does is accurate and compliant. She's grateful not just for the scholarship but for her entire employment experience with HireSmart, which provides its virtual employees with health and dental benefits, educational scholarship opportunities, leadership training possibilities, and ongoing support.
"I'm also incredibly grateful, not just for the scholarship, but for the opportunity to work from home full time with excellent pay," she said. "It's a rare and meaningful gift to have a career that supports both my professional growth and my role as a parent. Thank you for investing in our future and for making such a positive impact on our lives. It truly means the world to us."
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