This
is my response to query, what event in my college years that change my
life and inspired me for success for my StoryWorth Book **
This episode in my life
occurred when I was in 3rd year college at the University of the
Philippines, Diliman. Q.C., pursuing a bachelor's degree in Chemistry.
One of the subjects, required for the degree was Differential Calculus. I
took this course with the engineering students instead with my
chemistry classmates , because of some schedule conflict with my other
elective courses. To make the story short, on the final examination for
this course, I scored only 69% less than 1% for a passing grade of
“C”. I was given a “Condition” and have to take a retest to pass the
course. The next day, I took the retest and passed it with flying colors
with a grade of 75%. So what is the big deal? I passed, how did this
affect my life and career? Because of the “Condition” grade that I
obtained, I was not qualified to graduate with HONOR (CUM LAUDE), even
though my grade point average for the four years qualified me for that
honor. The fact that I did not
graduate with HONOR although I have the grade point average devastated
my ego, and my self-esteem. In my class of 20 original freshmen, only 15
graduated in four years and only one graduated Cum Laude. This shows how hard and difficult it was to graduate with honors at that time.
With
my ego deflated, I made a personal vow, that no matter what, I will
pursue graduate studies in the US to show to my professor and the whole
world of my capabilities and to redeem my self-esteem. My ego and
self-esteem went back to normal levels when a year later, I passed the Board Examination for Chemists, scoring 3rd place nationwide.
After
graduation I was hired by my Alma Mater (UP) as Instructor in
Chemistry. Two years later, I got married and have settled down in our
home in Quezon City, a gift from my parents and my wife's parents. A
year later, my wife was pregnant with our oldest son. I had completely
forgotten my personal vow to do graduate work in US. I was very happy
with my job in UP and enjoyed teaching.
One day, I received an
acceptance for a full teaching Assistantship/Scholarship from the US,
from one of several applications, I sent before, I got married. I have
to decide. It took a lot of discussions with my wife and myself. Is my
burning ambition my number #1 priority or my family and future child in
my wife womb's? I can not decide, but thanks to my late father-in-law, I
would have been stuck in the Philippines teaching at the university. I
did not know that my father-in-law had advised my wife “To let me Go”.
My wife later informed me, that without her father's advise she would
not have given me her consent to leave her for my burning ambition. ( My
wife did not know of my personal vow at that time)
So with a sad
heart to leave my family, but with excitement to fulfill my dreams , I
went to the US for graduate study. During my first year in the US, I
was tempted twice to quit and return to the Philippines. I was very
lonely especially on Holidays and Christmas, plus the winters of Chicago
was bad for my body, that was accustomed to the tropical climate of the
Philippines . I oftentimes ask myself, What in the “Hell”, am I doing
here with tears in my eyes almost freezing in my face and my nose frozen
because of the frigid temperatures of Chicago.
But my vow and burning ambition triggered by the 1 point I missed at the final exam in my Differential
Calculus class kept me going, until I completed my Ph.D. Degree in
Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 1964.
** https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/27/cnn-underscored/storyworth-review/index.html
Meanwhile enjoy this video of Hauser Libertango
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