Gene Unabia

BY AARON D. TOLENTINO

MOST PEOPLE want to get in and out of college as quickly as possible, but Gene Unabia (6 BS ME and AB EC) is not like the majority.

For him, college is more than just a pit stop. After taking two majors and four minors and exploring a wide range of extracurricular opportunities during his six-year stay in Ateneo, Gene, who is set to graduate with an Honorable Mention, exemplifies how college is a journey where everyone takes their own unique path.

A different curriculum

It all began with a mindset shift. In Gene’s first year, he was content with getting Cs or Ds—so long as he didn’t fail—but upon seeing how well his classmates from high school fared in college, he decided to start reinventing himself.

A major point in Gene’s self-improvement journey was when he realized that he did not want to pursue a career in law. In his second year, Gene shifted from the Bachelor of Science in Legal Management program to Management Engineering,a decision his parents supported in spite of how it would delay his graduation.

Shifting to a new course extended his stay by two years. To make the most out of this additional time, Gene decided to take another major in Economics, a subject he says he always wanted to study. He also pursued minors and specializations in Marketing, International Business, and Data Science and Analytics to complement his management background. Aside from these, Gene also took a minor in Japanese Studies as preparation for his Junior Term Abroad (JTA). the same motivation for going on a Summer Term Abroad in Korea later on.

Gene came back from his time abroad knowing how to dance—a talent he continued to hone by joining Rhythm-in-Blue (RiB), a dance competition for student organizations. He represented Lex Groove, Ateneo Lex’s dance troupe, and ultimately won RiB in 2019.

As he looks back on his studies overseas, Gene muses about how the experience helped him learn from others: “I’ve met so many people of different stories, different backgrounds, and it’s helped me try new things and gave me a perspective that most people here don’t have.”

After shifting majors, a load of minors, and insights from his stints abroad, Gene could have chosen to simply ride out his additional two years. But Gene is clearly not made for the easygoing route.

Exceeding expectations

Gene’s drive isn’t just limited to his classes in Ateneo and his exchange universities. Accompanying his academic success is an equally successful extra-curricular track record.

Gene was active in multiple organizations including the Ateneo Junior Marketing Association (AJMA) and the Ateneo Resident Students Association. In his final year, he was crowned as Mr. SOM as he represented AJMA in the Business Cluster Month. Moreover, he found his stride once he explored his passion and excellence for case competitions. internship, and he still works closely with them as a student-ambassador.

Even though he knows that he could have begun his corporate career earlier, Gene recognizes that his extended stay in college allowed him to experience and learn so much more than he would have if he didn’t shift: “When I look back at the past two years, the additional years I had in college, the person I am today would not have happened [without the extra years].”

As proud as he is of all that he accomplished, Gene does hold one regret—being away from home in Cagayan de Oro as his 14-year-old brother grows up. He reflects, “Everything I do is so that [my brother] can look up to me and say, ‘I want to be like my kuya;’ everything I do is towards that goal.” If Gene’s impressive and unique track record in Ateneo is anything to go by, he was certainly able to accomplish his dream of being an inspirational kuya and more.

The main takeaway he would like to impart, not only to his brother, but also to incoming Ateneans is to shed the fear of having to be delayed and become brave enough to step outside of their comfort zones. Although some of his friends from Batch 2018 are already working and have established careers, he emphasizes that everyone should simply enjoy and make the most out of their time in college because life, as he knows all too well, is not a race. As Gene confidently says, “It’s been six years, but it’s been a really good six years.” Gene