The fruits of failing forward

MANILA, Philippines - The awarding ceremonies of the Far Eastern University Top Achievers of 2015 was a proud moment for top academic scholar Bryan Quiazon. He had been a school dropout once, and could have well been written off as just another young life put to waste by the foolishness of youth.But he managed to turn the tide in his favor. Sharing his life story, Bryan dispenses valuable life lessons to his fellow youth to whom he serves as an inspiration:

1. Beware of distractions that offer only temporary joy and eventually cause you to lose sight of what matters.

When Bryan graduated from high school, he was lucky to receive a scholarship in a good university. However, he was side-tracked by the lure of computer games, barkada, and vices, which eventually caused him to lose his scholarship. His family could not afford his tuition fees so at the age of 17, Bryan found himself out of school. “I lost confidence in myself and had a lot of regrets. It was the darkest moment in my young life. I do not want to be in that place again,” he recalled.

2. Turn slip-ups into opportunities. This is easier said than done, but it can be done.

Thinking that he had lost his only chance at a good education, Bryan experienced dejection. But after a year, he realized he needed to pick himself up and found work in a BPO company. “I found happiness again. I found something I could potentially excel in,” he said. He committed his life to his job, studied the art of customer service, and set out to become the best in his field. With renewed vigor, Bryan earned a promotion in his first year of employment.

3. It can never be said too often enough: Never underestimate the value of education.

Many students, especially those fortunate to belong to a family that can support their needs, take education for granted. It took losing an education for Bryan to realize how important it is. “I knew deep inside that even after earning paychecks that can support an entire family, I still had a dream unfulfilled. Given the opportunity to study again, I told myself that I would have to go all-out. I would have to study hard and be the best in every class,” he shared.

4. When that opportunity comes, never ever let it out of your sight.

Fortunately, Bryan’s second chance came when he was accepted as a student at FEU Diliman, and he pursued his dream without hesitation. He enrolled in a degree program with a major in Information Technology, and became a student by day and a full time worker by night. “As a working student, I value every second because I want to fulfill my dream.” With determination, Bryan topped all of his classes. He became FEU’s number one academic scholar for the school year 2014-2015 with a 4.00 GPA.

5. Find your source of motivation.

Working and studying at the same time was a big challenge. On days when he just wanted to stay in bed from sheer exhaustion, he turned to his mother for inspiration. Bryan’s mother became his coach, relentlessly encouraging him to stay focused on his goals.

“With hard work, focus, and a good support system, anyone can spring back from adversity and return to the path of success,” he said. “Just because you’re down doesn’t mean you’re out. Find your truest reason for motivation, keep it and move forward,” he said.