UPAlumni.net

My papa was the biggest influence on why I got into UP.

When I was 15, my father applied as a manager for a telephone company, but was turned down. Papa said the younger and a UP alumni was favored upon by the interviewer. During the interview, the initial question went like this: Mr. Acain, areyo u a UP graduate? My father proudly said “No, but I can bank on my experience for me to handle the demands of the job.” But sadly the man was not impressed by his years of experience on working in a softdrink company.

Out of frustration he probably swore to his self that at least one of us should become a UP graduate. I never dreamt of going to UP. Although it was known to be the”home of the brilliant minds”, I was never attracted to the idea of being a iskolar ng bayan. At that time my perception of the school was different.

I was a Catholic school girl and wanted to go to a college that offers a “balance curriculum”. Something that most of us are accustomed to. A school where most of our classmates would go to. A school of my choice.

But my dad was determined to break into my ideal and make UP my dream school. Still in my junior year, He make it a point to at least talk on why a high school graduate should choose going to UP other than the private schools we know. He bought a number of IQ books for me to work on (but I only answered a few). It was typical of him to casually mention good public figures, their works and then associate them as a UP alumni. This part of course, he might be doing unconsciously.

But the “strategy” worked and had reached my subconscious to give it a try. My dad created a scenario that there’s no other school I should get into except for one.

When the UPCAT applications were out, we had a fight. In the application you are required to choose two campuses. I listed Diliman and the Manila campuses. The reason was that I wanted to study a bit farther from home. Not because I hated to be near home, but I thought it was a cooler idea to be studying away from your comfort zone. And my closest friends chose to be there. Spells FUN then.

My dad asked me to change my school location of preference. Manila (based on his experience) would just give me a hard time. He added that it would be easier if I choose the Cebu campus since it’s nearer in case they want to make a visit.

I never listened to him and we didn’t talk after until the day of the submission of application. I think I was the last one from my class who submitted. Out of guilt and worry that my father might be right I changed the school campus the last minute.

During college days, especially my first two years of stay, I was having a rough time adjusting to the concept of me taking the course that I never planned. I felt that I could have gotten into a better course. Oftentimes, I feel frustrated and wanted to give up. Those are those times that I had to work my ass out just to pass a subject.

Proud to say I made it through college, although not with flying colors, but I had no failing grade during my entire stay. Staying in that school after all was worth of my dad’s effort. I learned a lot not only in terms of education but life in general. The freedom that the school imbibes is very admirable. It is something that other school lacks. The school changed my perception about things and had made a great influence on my choices in life.

And yes, I haven’t mentioned that Ateneo de Manila (on which i applied for scholarship but it’s a different story) was my dream school for long years, but that changed when I got my UP diploma.