Jodi Sta. Maria. Image: Hannah Mallorca/INQUIRER.net
Jodi Sta. Maria will be taking up her master’s degree in psychology, and is set to take a short break from acting after taking on the lead role in the high-intensity drama “Lavender Fields.”
Sta. Maria said she will take a “short break” from acting, as she disclosed some of her plans for the year during a media junket for the revenge drama “Lavender Fields,” when asked about the milestones she wanted to achieve for herself.
“This year is a [time] for me to learn and grow. I’m starting my master’s degree in psychology and I want to focus more on family and marriage therapy. I want to make mental health accessible for all,” she told reporters.
But this doesn’t mean that she is closing her doors on acting anytime soon. She said that she has always been grateful for the opportunities she received throughout her career, noting that she wants to make a “legacy” in the industry.
“Gusto ko lang naman mag-perform and mag-inspire. At first, I just wanted to work because I needed exposure when I was younger. Ngayon, since medyo nakatagal na sa industriya [at] marami nang nagawa, iniisip ko na lang is I want to leave a legacy and to take good characters,” she said.
(I just want to perform and inspire. At first, I just wanted to work because I needed exposure when I was younger. Now that I’ve been here in the industry for quite some time and I’ve done a lot of things, I just think about leaving a legacy and taking good characters.)
The 42-year-old actress then reflected that focusing on the blessings she received from her career might be a result of her maturity, as it changed her perspective on what she wanted to achieve.
“Nag-iiba na siguro once you age, and I’m happy and thankful na at my age, kinakaya pa niya ang demand ng isang actress (I guess things change once you get older. I’m happy and thankful that I can still handle the demand of being an actress despite my age),” she said.
“Lavender Fields” is down to its final weeks on air, and it also stars Jericho Rosales, Janine Gutierrez, and Jolina Magdangal.
Also part of the cast are Albert Martinez, Edu Manzano, Maricel Soriano, Jana Agoncillo, Krystal Mejes, Victor Neri, Bernard Palanca, Miguel Vergara, and Marc Santiago.