AIM HIGH DESPITE FAILURES

With Christ nothing is impossible!

During my elementary years, I kept on dreaming of academic award or medals. But sad to say, I wasn’t able to receive at least one. But that dream never ends there.

This chapter will lead you to aim high despite failures. This will help you not to be destructed even we are already injured. Yes, failing of something you want to achieve really hurts. We feel embarrassed by the loudest “boooooooos” of others. But always remember, “Everyone experiences failure”. However, individual reactions differ from another. Others stop achieving their dreams but only few continues to work hard and believe for a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth or and so on chances.

 During my elementary days, I do not have failing grades. However, when all elementary Grade-Six pupils are required to take the National Elementary Achievement Test by the Department of Education I failed. A few days later I took another examination, the entrance test for the incoming high school students. Again, I failed it.  Both tests were assessments whether or not I’m ready for high school. I thought I cannot go to high school but due to a consistent petition to study in the public school where I wanted to pursue my high school curriculum, I was accepted. Those were the first two failures that I always remember during my younger years. It hurts and I felt rejected.

However, I never quit studying despite the feeling of being embarrassed or humiliated. I pursued my high school studies. In the fourteen sections for the first year students, I landed in the last section. Although this is not good, I was envious for those students who belong in the top sections. I always observed that the students of these pilot sections were very competitive and I was challenged to compete with them. But, I never had a chance to do it until my high school graduation.

After graduating high school, I had the feeling of being rejected again. In my mind, I should choose the school that doesn’t require an entrance exam. In my hometown, Ormoc City, all the schools that accept college students require an entrance test. I am afraid to fail again. In my mind, I hate entrance examination because I am not lucky with it. So, I had to choose a school away from home. Then, I chose Visayas State College of Agriculture (Visca for short) in Baybay City, Leyte. The school does not require an entrance test but it is known as a “school of exhaustion”. I just described it as such because students are not only exhausted by the quality education in pursue of its academic excellence but also of the locations of each departments or buildings from one mountain to another top of the mountain. Yes, we were exhausted by walking from one building to another every after the end of each class. Many students travel by foot because motorcycles are not yet common at that time. There are no multi-cabs to ride when we want to transfer to another class. Our choices would either be to walk or to run. In fact, many students arrived late for their next class. But we need to be patient in order to finish college. In fairness to my Alma Matter, the institution is a very beautiful place. It is peaceful and comfy. The water is very cold. It relaxes ourselves when we are stress. The nature is really such a wonderful blessing from up above. We have to thank God for this blessing.

Being away from my hometown motivated me to start anew. I considered it to be a new place of academic competition where I can compete with other students who come from another region. With this, I never wasted my time. I used all my efforts to excel in the class. I worked and prayed hard to pass or top every examination. I felt relieved when I see my name posted in the bulletin board as one of the top students who took the examination.  With that determination, from no title in the first year, to academic scholar in the second year, to partial scholar in my third year and lastly I become a full scholar in my fourth year. My prize is really right. I graduated “Cum Laude”. At last, I receive my first academic medal which I’ve been dreaming since my elementary years.   God is never late in giving blessing. He gives it at the right time.

 After my college graduation, I immediately applied as a teacher in almost all of the schools in Ormoc City and Baybay City. Yes, I also experience the feeling of being rejected. In fact, one of the principals told me that I am not qualified as teacher in her school. I never stop applying until I applied in Visca Foundation Elementary School (VFES). The principal of VFES expressed that there were more than five hundred (500) applicants for teachers and only seven (7) will be hired. The committee at that time ranked all the applicants and disqualified others who did not pass in the written examination, and then they chose those who qualified for the interview and picked the top fifteen (15) applicants who were qualified for teaching demonstration. Finally, the best seven (7) applicants were chosen. With God’s grace, I am one of those who belong to the top seven (7). Thanks be to God! I got my first job. Without persistence despite the rejections, we cannot get what we ask from the Lord. 

I worked immediately after graduation to save money for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). Despite the hectic schedules in work, the Lord helps me in passing the examination. I really feel the overflowing blessings from God. He never has forsaken me. Tragedy may happen like my father’s death did not break the relationship that I have with God. Yes, my father’s death was not easy but I surrender it to the Lord because I saw my father suffering for so many years because of his illness. I have to trust the Lord of His decision to take my father’s life. God created us and He Himself has the right to take the gift of life.

I continue teaching in the private school for three (3) years. After that, I decided to transfer in the government. God really works in mysterious ways. He again helped me in getting the said job. I worked in the Department of Education for three (3) years and decided to quit the job in pursuing Bachelor of Laws.

 I enjoy being a working man. The benefits of having a salary every month allow me to spend the needs and the wants without a problem. As a simple person, I spent less during those times. But after six (6) years of working, a sudden change of lifestyle happened-  a life of being a student again. I have to ask for an allowance every week to spend for the basic expenses of studying in Cebu City. I had to study very hard for the course because I really had a hard of time of understanding the world of Bachelor of Laws. The terms that I encountered were not familiar to me. I need a long time to digest the cases that were assigned to me. It was really a Calvary for me. I was very pathetic during law school but I had no choice but to continue. 

I failed many preliminary, Mid-term and Pre-final examinations. In fact, I failed three (3) final examinations which made me anxious for quiet sometime. I failed three (3) subjects in laws school. I always feel uneasy and almost decided to quit law school but I have to continue to keep on running the race of being law student. Right, fight the good fight of faith! God will always with me no matter what. When we experience failures brothers and sisters, have faith and do not lose hope. Pray that God will enlighten us. Surely, God will guide us! In my case, God helps me to overcome anxieties and I graduated Bachelor of Laws. Although without honors, I used tears, sweat and blood to pass all subjects.

My failures never ended after graduating Bachelor of Law. I prepared for bar examination in 2013 but I tripped. I had to stand up and fight what I want to be, a lawyer. I tried the luck of passing the bar examination again in 2014. Contrary to what I wanted, I stumbled again. Right, I had to stand up despite of the injury. I stopped taking the bar examination in the year 2015 because my money is not enough to finance the exam. I had to work and save money for the 2016 bar examination. I need to heal the injuries I got with the two examinations. I prayed to the LORD and asked Him why? I do not understand why these failures happened. I always beg to God for a favorable result but to no avail. I cannot fathom God’s reason or purpose for these injuries. What I have in mind is that, those failures are just injuries. I do not die because of taking the bar examination. While alive, I still have many chances to pass the bar. I believe God will always provide what we need.

May 16, 2016, I stopped working. I was amazed that God provides what I need for the 2016 bar examination. I raised the funds for the books, payment for the boarding house in Manila and in Cebu, fare for airplane in going to Manila and back to Cebu, food for seven (7) months, and for the last minute coaching for the bar examination. I was very healthy during the six (6) months of preparation for the exam and my family and friends support me by becoming my prayer warriors. I thank God that He gives me these provisions. When I took the bar examination, I surrender all my efforts and my knowledge to GOD. I trust God for whatever happens. I believe I will pass the third time of the examination.

One of the actors, Jim Carrey , was booed on his first comic  stand-up. He was also rejected when he auditioned but later on he becomes a successful actor.  We also know Walt Disney who was told by a newspaper editor that he has lacked of imagination and had no good ideas. He never stops creating cultural icons that bear his name.  Disney once said, “ I think it is important to have a good hard failure when you’re young…because it makes you kind of aware of what can happen to you. Because of it I’ve never had any fear in my whole life when we’ve been near collapse and all of that, I’ve never been afraid.” Who did not know Elvis Presly? You know what; he heard some bitter words after his first performance. Somebody said to him like this, “You ain’t goin’ nowhere, son. You ought to go back to drivin’ a truck.” After which, he was promptly fired. However, he never considered it to ruin his dream. Presly becomes the world’s biggest star.

        See, even famous experience failures. So, why fear failures?

Friends, never stop aiming high. God will direct us if we always pray. Prayer is our very sharp weapon from embarrassment and danger. Ask God for guidance and enlightenment and make each day a day with Christ. Building relationship with God everyday strengthens not only our spiritual but also physical, mental, and emotional aspects of our life. Failures come always with success. But let success wins over failure! Have faith brothers and sisters. God will always love you.