If you’re someone who has experienced so many failures in life or is too afraid of failing,

then the inspiring story of this Filipina teacher might just change the way you see
failures.

Despite facing several challenges back in college, Aimee Chavez Octaviano didn’t allow
these to get the best of her. In a viral post on Facebook, the University of the Philippines
(UP) alumna detailed how she was able to overcome failures.

Just like many college students, Octaviano, who took up BS Mathematics and Science
Training at the UP- Los Baños, also had a hard time passing some of her subjects.
During her first year at the university, Octaviano experienced failing an exam for the first
time.

“When I first failed an exam, I called my mom crying and she said "Ano ba 'yan Aimee,
iniiyakan mo yan? Exam lang 'yan. I know you can do better" and those words kept me
going for three more years. I passed all my subjects in the first year.”

But come her second year in college, Octaviano failed to pass two difficult subjects:
Biology 30 and Chemistry 40. The following semester, she managed to pass Biology 30
but still failed to get a passing mark in Chemistry 40.

Determined to graduate on time, Octaviano decided to take the path less taken and
“overload” for the next semesters. She also took midyear classes and waived subjects
which had prerequisite courses she hasn’t taken up.

Several students tried to discourage Octaviano from taking too much subjects but failed
to prevent her unwavering spirit.

“There were actually people who told me ‘Overload? Hindi mo kakayanin yan’, ‘Ang
hihirap ng subjects na kukunin mo’,‘Ay nako natry ko na yan believe me susuko ka rin,
babagsak ka.’”

Through hard work and determination, Octaviano managed to pass Chemistry 40 on her
third take and was even included among the topnotchers of the exams. Even if many
expressed their doubts, Octaviano earned her diploma and sablay just in time.

Today, she teaches Mathematics and Science and had successfully passed the
September 2016 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LET).

“Never let your failure define you. Cliché but true. Never let your failure make you lose
track of your dreams and aspirations. You're on the right track. FAILURES ARE PART
OF YOUR JOURNEY. USE THEM TO MAKE YOURSELF STRONGER. FAILURES
ONLY MEAN YOU HAVE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT!”

Read her full story below.

--Mini, The Summit Express

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Justine Lei Ramos topped the January 2019 Architecture licensure examinations (ALE)
with a score of 83.80%. A graduate of Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U)
in Cebu City, she bested 1,120 passers in the board exams held last January 25 and
27.

The young lady admitted that she did not expect to top the licensure exams as she was
only hoping to pass and get a license so she can build her dream house for her family in
Alegria, their hometown in southern Cebu.
 Photo credit: Delta Dyrecka Letigio / Cebu Daily News

But it was her dad who pushed her to aim higher, telling her to try making it to the Top
10 so that if she failed that part, at least she would still pass.

Determined to Pass

Ramos had set her eyes on that dream house for her family and to also make her father
proud.

According to Ramos, she was determined to pass the exams to give back to her father
who used to be an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) to send them to school and provide
a better life for their family. However, her dad was recently retrenched from his job.
“My greatest inspiration was my father who worked as an OFW (Overseas Filipino
Worker) in Saudi Arabia and who was recently retrenched from his job. When he lost his
job, I knew I had to pass that exam,” Ramos shared.

With a goal to pass and make her father happy, Ramos deactivated her Facebook
account to focus more on preparing for the Architecture licensure exams. She also
spent as much as 14 hours at the 24/7 Cebu City Library, studying her lessons and truly
making sure she would come prepared for the tests.

Photo credit: Cebu Daily News

Her hard work and dedication paid off. She exceeded everyone’s expectations; not only
did she pass the board exams, she’s the topnotcher!

Her secret to success?

“Try to dream big and don’t be afraid to take risks,” Ramos said.

SEE ALSO: Architecture licensure exam topnotcher's notes-filled room impresses

netizens

From MedTech to Architecture

But Ramos surprised everyone by sharing that Architecture had not been her first
choice in college. She started out as a MedTech student; however, though she passed
the course, she didn’t enjoy the subjects and didn’t find pleasure in conquering the
challenges being offered by the course.

With a passion for drawing and making designs, she shifted to Architecture and found
her true calling.

“When I started taking up architecture, I realized this is where I was meant to

be,”Ramos shared.

For making the school, the topnotcher will receive a cash prize from CIT-U; though the
amount was still undisclosed as of press time. The school has also offered her a
teaching job; though Ramos said she’ll think about the offer first as she just wants to
relax for a couple of months at her hometown before seeing what direction her life
would go according to God’s plan.

— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express

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Engr. Mark Daniel Ibañez, RMP, LPT ranked top 10 in the 2018 September Licensure
Examination for Professional Teachers. He graduated with a BS degree in Civil
Engineering, took up a Certificate in Professional Education, and is currently a student in
MA Urban and Regional Planning, all in the University of the Philippines Diliman. He’s also
currently coaching MindGym LET reviewees with his specialized knowledge in Math in their
18-Day LET coaching program.
Multi-hypenated coach Mark’s story below is a fine example of pushing yourself to the best
that you always can! Read on to find out why.
My LET Story by Mark Daniel Ibañez
It was May 2017 that time, five months after successfully achieving the required 18 units of
Professional Education by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). I was debating
with myself whether to study on my own or to enroll myself in a review center as I was
planning to take the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) by September of the same
year.

At that time, I’ve been engaged with a lot of commitments – a full time work, gym training
sessions, Church activities, master’s degree classes, and quality time with my family and
friends. Having said this, it appears that I actually have little to no time to review for the LET.
Hence, I was firm on just accepting the fact that I had to do buy myself some review books
from the bookstore and those being sold outside PRC, then study on my own. I thought that
maybe, I will still do well since I also passed the Master Plumber Licensure Examination in
2016 without enrolling in a review center.

But that was not the case. I don’t want to just pass the LET. I wanted to TOP the LET.
One evening, I tried looking for LET related review books online and the first result Google
gave me was about MindGym Warm-Ups book. I decided to get one so that I’ll have an idea
on what items to expect on the LET.
When I opened the book, I found really helpful articles, not to mention the success stories of
LET topnotchers which are very inspiring. What frustrated me is the fact that I can’t answer
the sample test items given in the book most especially those concerning Professional
Education. I realized that it would be difficult for me to digest all these education concepts
since I was not an Education graduate.

MindGym came as a savior. What caught my attention in the MindGym website was
the MyReviewCoach. This online LET Review platform was very suitable to my situation
with a very busy schedule. There, they uploaded review notes and provided timed drills that
reviewees can answer after reading the notes. I studied hard during my break time in the
office, while traveling on my way to the office and back home, and even while resting after a
tiring site visit in a province. I disciplined myself and utilized my time very well keeping an
eye on my goal.
In addition, I became a member of their Facebook group which allowed me to interact with
the Coaches and with my co-reviewees. Coaches actively responded to my questions most
especially to those items which are not very clear to me. I found myself fulfilled by helping
my co-reviewees answer their questions and providing solutions to Math Problems they
post in the group. I saw my progress, and it was really satisfying.

To ensure my success in the LET, I also attended MindGym’s Specialization coaching.

Being a Math major, I had to brush up my skills in the subject since there are topics that I
may have forgotten already.
Mark at MindGym’s Math Specialization small group, with coach Emjoy in white and coach Alice in black
True enough, there are Math concepts which appeared new to me as they were never
taught during high school and in my undergraduate subjects. The specialization workbook
was really helpful as it provided me with a summary of what I need to learn and re-learn,
and lots of drills that I can work on. These made me more confident in taking the
specialization exam.

Moreover, the sessions were filled with activities and fun games which allowed me to meet
new friends. After the specialization class, Coach Alice, MindGym’s very kindhearted and
hands-on mom, approached me and mentioned the Mock LET and Power Coaching which
will boost my confidence more in taking the LET. I was hesitant at first since I had to take
another leave of absence from work, but I did it anyway since Coach Alice asked me to
attend and said, “Minsan ka lang naman magtatake ng LET, i-maximize mo na.”
One of the best things that MindGym offers are these Power Coaching Sessions. I took their
Mock LET during this course and ranked 7 among other reviewees. That’s great news for
me since I was really aiming to be on top. The mock exam also gave me an idea on which
topics I must focus more on and set more time to study for the remaining weeks. Here, the
mock LET answers were discussed, and we were given more drills to answer.
Apart from these, I realized how awesome MindGym is as compared to the review center I
enrolled in when I took the Civil Engineering Licensure Examination. MindGym prepared me
physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. In fact, during one of the sessions where
the whole community prayed, I found myself in tears. I realized how I wanted this so badly,
that after everything I’ve been through, here I am, just a few steps away from my dream.
MindGym made sure that their reviewees are comfortable and are well taken care of. They
made sure that all questions are answered, and all worries and anxieties are reduced. Most
importantly, they gave me a gift of a new family – something I can call “my MindGym
Family”.
 Mark with his MindGym Math majors group (interestingly where 2 other groupmates in this photo also topped the
LET)

Also in MindGym, I never thought that I will meet very inspiring and motivating Coaches. In
fact, I wanted to become one of them. I also wanted to be a Coach to help future teachers
pass and top the LET. I am also honored to have met some of my co-Math majors I had a
chance to review with days before the LET. Funny as it may sound, we were called the
‘Clingy Batch’ among all top bets. Even after the LET, we still see each other to bond and
spend time together!
I am proud to say that MindGym gave me everything I needed to pass and top the LET.
With the help of MindGym, I topped the LET, and it has opened a lot of opportunities for me.

Now, I am honored to be called “Coach Mark” by new MindGym LET reviewees, and I am
now a full pledged teacher – yes, dreams really do come true. I am very grateful to
MindGym and its staff and Coaches, to those who believed in me and prayed for me, and of
course, to the Almighty God, the Source of everything. I testify that indeed:

“Everything is possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23)

Coach Mark, now on the same educators’ stage as with MindGym’s coaches Albert and Alice
Mark at the PRC Oath-taking for the 2017 September LET, with Math major groupmate RM Operanio (Top 6). Check
out more pictures at our Facebook page photo album.
Mark with MindGym LET coaches in a 2018 May review session