I passed UP, now what?

I always knew I would get an admission to the University of the Philippines (UP). My entire life as a student has practically been the epitome of the very formula that yields an Iskolar ng Bayan—straight A’s, a plethora of extracurricular activities, and a collection of shiny gold medals. I was the quintessential science high school achiever, and perhaps even more.

The thing is, unlike almost half of the student population, UP was never my dream. It was the midnight of April 19, 2024, when my phone rang repeatedly with notifications from my peers. The inevitable has finally come; it is time for high school seniors across the country to brave the results of the University of the Philippines College Admission Test.

As for me, it is the time of year to relapse and relive the bitter truth of life. About a year ago, I experienced the same thing. It was a sunny third of May, nothing extraordinary, just another day for a 12th grader waiting for graduation.

All of a sudden, nothingness turned into a day of chaos. Screams of excitement and cries of agony filled the air as everyone pulled their phones out of their pockets. The University of the Philippines College Admission (UPCA) results were out; the day I dreaded most was now upon me.

As I attempted to face my UPCA result, a part of me wanted to see a rejection letter. If I were rejected, I at least have less of a reason to consider UP as my university. In the back of my mind, however, I have always felt a sense of connection be.