https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EdCf9ZCHnVBgbuzIMeZCBvyyFkUt3IPa/view
October 5 marked the first day of the most-awaited entrance exam of the University of the Philippines – the UPCAT, where aspiring students from different parts of the Philippines take. It is an exam that not only tests your intellectual capabilities, but also to test the strength of your character and how you’ll manage to come through even if all the odds seems to be against you.
Kathleen Canonio, an 18-year-old STEM student from FSUU, was excited to take the exam.
“Last summer, I was so hyped to take the UPCAT. It died down a few weeks before the exam, but eventually came back on the day of the actual exam. Praying na unta maka pasa mi duha sa akong brother.” (I’m praying that my brother and I will pass)
Kathleen Canonio, 2019
What she aspires to be is to become a professional in the medical field. This led her to a conclusion that what she really wants to take up is either BS Nursing or BS Biology , which will serve as a pre-med course. When asked which campuses she chose, she answered, “UP Manila is my first choice and second is UP Los Baños.”
After the UPCAT, she was able to cite some insights. One, is she found mathematics and science the most difficult part of the exam. Second, is how none of what she prepared or reviewed for actually came out of the exam. She was devastated. Though after a while, she quietly reassured herself that all will be well.
SO, WHY UP?
“I know I will get the quality education that I need that will help me in the future.”
Kathleen Canonio, 2019
A few days after the UPCAT, I overheard a group of students discussing about how the exam went, and one particular student asked: “Ginamit nyo ba ang power of C?” which really had me laughing, for I remember using it so many times when I took the exam myself.
Yes, the UPCAT may be quite overwhelming but we must always remember that a true Iskolar ng Bayan will never back down from a challenge.
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