EXECELLENCE TRANSITIONED INTO GREATNESS

As I set foot into the limelight of this prestigious and topnotch maritime institution, JBLFMU-Molo, Inc., I was inculcated with the value of excellence alongside other values that I believe are of paramount importance in surviving the tides of life. College is never a piece of cake, for it entails stress, pressure, choices, expectations, frustrations, sleepless nights, and many others. Yet, what prevails is the institution’s image as a home for exemplary seafarers guided by its core values, which form the identity behind every success story.

My story is a virtue that encompasses all the values that are necessary for the realization of all my aspirations in life. Excellence is surpassing one’s fine performance, and it is not only limited to the achievements inside the university but in all aspects of life. I extend my capabilities and talents in the community by engaging with organizations that could champion my advocacy, especially in youth empowerment. I took part as a facilitator in the Life Coach Seminar, a 3-day character formation seminar that aims to empower Ilonggo youth leaders who have a passion to serve. There, we help students to further know who they are, guide them to understand what they can be in the future, as well as how they can extend themselves to the community and to the youth, and at the same time, they help us, the facilitators, grow in a multitude of ways. Sailing through the realities of life requires a person with an embodied spirit. Our purpose should not only be a picture of what we desire; it should be the force that motivates us to be better. As we set sail, we must visualize and keep track of our objectives; otherwise, we will have no direction. I became the Unit Model Cadet 2019 because people believed in me, and I believed in myself too. I set my goal to win because I remembered a friend who once told me, “We came here to win, not just to participate.” After which, I did my best and brought home the bacon. I was in my second year at the university when I was really eager to have a shipping company that could support my tuition fee, given that my family is financially challenged. I took my first exam at a company, underwent the interview phase, but failed to qualify for the scholarship. I was later recommended to another company; I passed the exam but still failed. Despite all those obstacles, I never lost hope. On my third recommendation, I altered a little bit of my style. I studied more often, looked for as many sources of ideas as possible, got some help from my companions, and always asked for God’s guidance and presence of mind. Shortly after that, I passed the exam and interview phases. After a month, the results were out, and I was on the list of passers for Pacific Basin Shipping Ltd. I felt genuine happiness at that time and was grateful for the good news I received. Being part of the company has opened many doors of opportunity for me. It enabled me to become more responsible as a student and kindled the burning passion to become a competent and world-class marine engineer since I already have a shipping company. I went on board after my second year. I am on a 2-1-1 scheme, completing two years of classroom instruction, one year onboard a ship, and then returning for one year at the institution. As part of my cadetship or apprenticeship, I went on board one of the international sea-going vessels, a bulk carrier, from October 27, 2021, until September 22, 2022. I stayed there for 11 months and realized that one must be excellent enough to understand vital things, for one mistake leads to the danger of all the crew and the vessel as a whole. Moreover, if we deepen our understanding of this value—excellence—we are not only acquiring high grades or receiving merits but also putting ourselves in a position to excel, which means filling the gaps in our personal development within us. Currently, I am in my 4th year, and I plan to do more and even exceed my expectations by transforming my words into actions. Youth empowerment has always had a special place in my heart. I discovered that I was capable of leading while serving my fellow students. I am presently the Governor of the Maritime Education Department’s Student Executive Council (MED-SEC) and a volunteer in the Supreme Student Government. As part of my selfless service, I will allow myself to be a catalyst for innovations for the benefit of the Lacsonian community. Furthermore, I personally believe that if you want to be a vanguard in the maritime industry, you should equip yourself with the most essential things. As the saying goes, “Before we go to war, be sure you prepare yourself with gears and be able to sharpen the extent of your skills and capabilities to perfection.”

To be right rather than to be kind means doing what is right all the time, which in a sense means being kind to someone. Insisting on doing the right thing is an act of kindness that could trigger excellence when a person realizes that they could do better than what they think they can. At the end of the day, it’s more than just your own accomplishments that have shaped your image and how others perceive you. It is more of a bigger picture of a better self amid all the waves you surmounted, which made you the best sailor everyone looks up to.