By Kristian Rivera

Since UPCAT is back this year, this means the kids are either excited or stressed out about college admissions, the waiting game of the entrance test results, and the agony of choosing the right college.

Back in 2019, I failed to pass the UPCAT. Although I was invited to submit a reconsideration due to my score being qualified for other campuses that accept appeals, it is unfortunate that the coronavirus (COVID-19) was heightened during that time, and almost all of the provinces were on lockdown, which resulted in me studying in a college community in my hometown.

When the results came out, I panicked. I’ve been refreshing the website over and over, and at around 3 a.m., I gained access to my portal. Was it the right-minus-25%-wrong? Was it my 10 skipped items or the time pressure? Of course, there are questions that feel like an insult to your capacity. UP was my dream school, and my take on my UPCAT results were a long period of denial and retraction.

But I think not being able to enter UP was also a win on my side. We should still see the best in us in order to explore the best in us. At first, I was hesitant to share my story, but I have come to realize this may inspire others to be still and be fueled, regardless of what the results may be.

Right after the college admission season, I started building my two nonprofit organizations, which are advocacy-centered youth organizations registered under the youth organization registration program. 

I completed more than 10 internships and qualified for the most competitive ones, including Cebu Pacific, Aboitiz, and the Ayala Foundation. I was selected to represent the Philippines for the ASEAN Youth Organization, Pacific Forum International, and the Guardians of Good Governance Regional Workshop held in Manila, with only 78 accepted applicants from the ASEAN region out of 700-plus applications.

I’m saying this because I want the takers to remember that their chance of not getting into UP is not the same as their chance of getting other wins in life. If UP is not for you, remember that you always have a special place in society, at iniintay ka parin ng bayan.