2 topnotchers’ secrets: Push self, study happily

CEBU, Philippines — As a student, how “naning” or diligent are you?

If this was asked to Sheen Michael King Akut Tidaul four months ago, his answer would have been a frown on the face.

Not considering himself studious, Tidaul lived an ordinary life in his lower years in college.

But the 23-year-old had been harboring on a goal since he was in fourth year – to top the board exam.

So when he started his review for the mining engineering board back in April, he “drastically” changed his schedule and study habits.

Once a very “relaxed” person, he learned to push himself to study for at least eight hours every day during review.

And it paid off handsomely.

Tidaul, a native of Cagayan de Oro City who graduated from Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) in Cebu City, emerged second placer in the August 2018 licensure examinations for mining engineers, garnering a score of 91.05 percent.

“I did not consider myself as naning sa una, pero during review, didto nako gibuhos tanan nakong efforts. I really changed my lifestyle to make sure I study for at least eight hours everyday. Thank God kay everything worked,” he said.

For third placer Daniel Rivera Minguito, 21, another graduate from CIT-U, the key to success is to be happy in doing what appears to be difficult.

Minguito, who hails from the town of Dalaguete in southern Cebu, said he allocated about four hours a day to “study happily.”

The most challenging part of the exam for him was answering questions he never encountered during review.

But he never lost his focus, he said. This is important, he added, when taking the board exams. He scored 90.95 percent.

“You should forget about the negativity and just focus on the exam. In fact, I occasionally took quick naps in between exams to keep myself level-headed,” said Minguito in vernacular.

Minguito also encouraged others to believe and practice responsible mining, a concept he wants to practice when he finds a company to work for.

“Mo-follow lang gyud sa mga environmental laws. Importante gyud kaayo na,” he said.

As for Tidaul, he has no concrete plans yet on where he would work but he is thinking of going into law school.

“I’m not in a hurry. I need to do things at my own pace,” he said.

Tidaul said that CIT-U has been consistently producing topnotchers in mining engineering board exam since 2013.

This year, the university posted a passing rate of 80.35% (45 of 56), which is marginally lower than last year’s 83.33% (45 of 54).

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced that 282 out of 326 passed the board exam this year given by the Board of Mining Engineering in Manila, Baguio and Davao last August.

Santiago Agripa Jr. of Bicol University in Legazpi City ranked first place in the exam with a score of 92.90 percent. (FREEMAN)