DESPITE the multiple times the Civil Engineer Licensure Exam was moved and canceled, topnotcher Ray Christopher Pascual from Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) was determined to push through -- and it reaped beautiful results.
On the morning of Thursday, May 12, 2022, Ray was awakened when his phone was blowing up with a series of calls and messages, congratulating him on his achievement that he did not know about yet.
“I had to wash and slap my face a bit to make sure what I was seeing on the topnotchers page was for real. Indeed, it was for real and the initial euphoria kicked in as I immediately prayed and thanked God that all my hard work and sacrifices, along with His guidance, has paid off,” Ray said.
“Until now, everything still feels surreal,” he added.
Studying for the exams was not an easy feat for Ray, especially when the reviews were reduced to an online setup rather than in-person classes because of the Covid-19 pandemic. He also said the multiple cancellations of their scheduled exam were discouraging.
“Adjusting to this setup was quite difficult due to the presence of many distractions at home as well as the environment not being optimized for learning,” he said. “I had to keep pushing through to pursue my goal which is to pass the examination no matter what it takes.”
With enough perseverance and inspiration to fuel him, Ray achieved his goal with flying colors. He ranked ninth, long with 26 other topnotchers.
Ray earned a score of 91.85 percent rating and he is also the only topnotcher from Davao City.
His alma mater, Ateneo de Davao, with 50 or more examinees and with at least 80 percent passing rate, was also recognized as one of the six top performing schools nationwide with a rate of 82.93 percent.
“My family has been and will always be my biggest motivation to become a great civil engineer,” Ray said. “Everything I do and all the effort I put into studying is all for them as I see how hard they work and sacrifice to support my journey. Their efforts have pushed me to go past my comfort zone and have the desire for excellence.”
His advice for future exam takers? “Preparation is a marathon and not a sprint.” Consistency is key to studying and reviewing for the exam to avoid the dreaded burnout.
“Believe that you have what it takes to exhibit excellence and always think positive,” Ray said. “So long as you do your best and aim for greatness, you will never fall short of what is required of you.”