Before being admitted to the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), the entire process felt like a test of my resolve. It was a leap of faith, and I was overjoyed to make it as the first Filipino student. Knowing that USTC demands and expects a lot from its students, these high expectations motivated me to strive harder and thrive in my professional growth.

A few key lessons from my transformative journey as a master's student are the importance of building a strong network of peers willing to help and support one another. I struggled with research, as it wasn't my initial strength, but a good friend and classmate, who became like a brother, along with my adviser, guided me throughout my journey. This experience showed me that diversity is indeed a key ingredient for success. My journey was challenging and never easy; I often describe it as a humbling experience. It taught me how to persevere and become more resilient. There were moments of frustration and disappointment after many failures and rejections, to the point where I considered quitting and returning to my country. However, I ultimately persevered after realizing the importance of pressure, rejection, and failure in personal growth.

I initially thought that publishing one research paper would be enough. However, the fire within me encouraged me to write and publish more. My experiences fueled my passion and love for research, leading me to encourage more students and teachers to write and publish their work through research conferences, seminars, workshops, and colloquia. By sharing my own experiences, I was able to effectively inspire them. As a result, many of them have successfully presented their papers and had them published in various local journals.

This momentum led to my increased participation in international conferences, where I garnered awards for Best Research Paper and Best Presentation. These achievements earned me recognition as an outstanding citizen in the fields of research and education in my country. Consequently, I have been appointed as a high school principal in the Philippines, a lower secondary vice principal in Myanmar, and now serve as the Dean of the Institute of Liberal Arts at Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Dasmariñas, a locally funded academic institution. I firmly believe that my education at USTC contributed significantly to these accomplishments.

I hold a Master's in Public Administration and am a proud USTC alumnus from the Philippines. I believe that once a USTCer, always a USTCer—someone who values excellence, works for quality, and uses innovation to benefit the community. I will be forever grateful to USTC, the Chinese Scholarship Council, and China for providing me with the opportunity to witness the heights of academic success and realize my full potential. As I continue to make contributions to academia, I will always carry its teachings and fundamental principles with me.