Yesterday, I woke up from my usual 2-hour-weekend-nap and my roommates told me, "Debbie, may results na ang UPCAT." My mind started listing the names of the persons I know who took the exam, particularly from my High School. Later, I saw six of their names in the UPCAT passers list. Honestly, I felt enthusiastic and proud for them. It maybe a weird and OA emotion but I feel really proud every time someone from my high school will make his/her name among the prestigious UPCAT passers list.
What's sad is the fact that only a few people from my hometown appreciates the honor of passing the entrance exam of the top university in the country. You see, Camiguin is one of the provinces that has the fewest number of UPCAT takers each year. During my time (that was August 2009), we only filled one classroom with a 30-50 student capacity (maybe lesser, whatever, I can't really remember the size). Imagine my surprise a year later when I saw Diliman come UPCAT time heavily strucked in traffic with a lot of aspiring seniors. High school students were really determined and I noticed some of them getting nervous while lining up to enter the exam room. "Ang laki ng pinagkaiba sa amin," I uttered to myself.
I don't want to blame my hometown fellows for that attitude. UP, particularly Diliman, Los Banos and Manila, is really far far far away from Camiguin that you need to gather your courage to pursue studying there, not to mention the fact that you need to close your ears on several discouraging words about UP.
I could still remember the events that orchestrated when I learned that I passed the UPCAT. Yes - I felt like I was floating (OK, that is exaggerated) but I was really really really really really elated that I can tell you it made my day (or even week) perfect! :) When I saw my name in the list, there was certainty in the words I told my mom, "I will study in UP." My decision was final, at least for me. I won't go on telling you how I fought for that decision but it was a series of mustering every courage I had and believing in the dream I nurtured in my heart since grade school amidst people telling me to do otherwise .
To all UPCAT 2013 passers, studying in UP is something that is up to you now. You took the chance, now the top university in the country is giving you one of its esteemed slots to experience UP life. I will not tell you to grab it right away because deciding where to study in college is something that requires a lot of thinking. I won't even say that "UP life is fun" or "UP life is hard" or "Yeah, the teachers here are great" or something like that. No words can depict the exact bizarreness of life here. Instead, I will tell you, with the same conviction I had three years ago, that the decision to study in UP is one of the best decisions I made in my life.
UP gave you a challenge. Now, it is up to you whether you'd take on that challenge or not. Of course, I hope you would. To those who will forego the chance of studying in UP, cherish this moment in your heart. C'mon guys, passing the UPCAT is something you can be proud of for the rest of your life! :) To those who will pursue studying in UP, brace yourself future iskolar ng bayan, brace yourself and welcome to UP! Regardless of what your decision will be, I want to congratulate you all for passing the UPCAT! God bless!
From UP with love,
DMD <3
