The two graduates of the University of Cebu who placed ninth in the recent board examination for teachers elementary level were rewarded with P50,000 each by UC President Augusto Go.
Kent Apa Hiyas, 23, and Kimberly Hope Largo, 21, who both graduated from the University of Cebu-Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UC-LM) ranked ninth with a rating of 87.60.
Hiyas hails from Barangay Bangkal, Lapu-Lapu City, while Largo is from Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City.
Hiyas said that though his family believes that he will top the examination, he was not confident enough because he had a lot of scholastic failures.
“I had a hard time managing my time and to study consistently,” Hiyas said.
Largo said she could not believe at first that she was one of the topnotchers, not until she saw the results posted by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC).
“To take the exam only once served as the driving force to herself to avoid disappointing and failing the expectations of her family,” Largo said.
She said she is an over-thinker and a pessimistic person but used these weaknesses to achieve her goals.
Now that many people already knew her, she said the pressure from people motivates her to do better.
She said she already accepted the offer of the university to teach.
Both Hiyas and Largo were thankful to their parents, teachers and friends for their love and support.
The two admitted that teaching profession is not their first choice.
“My first option was to take up Information Technology but because the course was expensive, I took up this course (Bachelor of Elementary Education),” Hiyas said.
Largo, for her part, said “Psychology was my first choice but I decided to take up BEEd (Bachelor of Elementary Education) then. Even if this was not my first choice, I have learned to love what I did.”
She said she was inspired and influenced by her mother Janice, who is a public school teacher.