Licensure Exam for Teachers March 19, 2023: I passed!

Licensure Exam for Teachers March 19, 2023: I passed! Yes. I am thankful i did pass. However, I was kind of disappointed with my performance because I really aimed to be Top 1 for this batch. I know I might sound ambitious or too proud but I really worked hard and somehow assessed myself according to my skills and knowledge. 

November 2018 I started earning education units at the University of Mindanao. I worked 8am to 5pm and went to school 5.30pm to 9pm. At that time, I was informed that I belonged to Bachelor of Secondary Education major in physical sciences. I had high grades. The subjects for me were quite tolerable and understandable. I already thought in advance: if only my major was mathematics i might probably top the board exam. For the past years, mathematics major students kept on acing the board exams. And during high school and college, I showed excellence in most of my math subjects. So if my major would've been math, I might have a chance, right? 

I finished earning units early in 2020. I was planning to take the board exam on that year. However, covid happened (quarantines over the country and the world) and my birth certificate was processed for correction. I had to wait for 2022 to claim my corrected birth certificate, then request for my Transcript of Record, then start reviewing at FTRC. By that time, it was announced that our batch, the March 2023 takers, were the first to take the board exam for professional teachers in the new curriculum. I had no worries on whether the exam would be hard or easy because i trusted our review center. They produced lots of topnotchers for many years already. I was only worried that old curriculum students, like some of us earners, wouldn't be allowed to take the board exam for new curriculum. But then it was all settled because it was confirmed that we would be allowed. 

Anyway, reviews came. Those sessions were challenging because I had to work daytime and review in the evening. And lots of information were given really. I wasn't alone though because most of my classmates in the evening section were working students too. We shared the same struggle and supported each other. In the middle of my review days, I got a hint from a fellow chemical engineer who also took and passed the board exam, landed on top 7, Mark. He told me that my major was actually mathematics, not physical sciences, not general sciences. And it was also confirmed by PRC when I filed an application to take the board exam. By that time I made a firm decision in my mind to make it happen - to top the board exam. I calculated in my mind, "for sure LET math is not as difficult as engineering math, and i'm already an engineer!". and of course math is my forte. So from that moment on I had my eyes on the prize: to top the board exam. I studied as hard as i could. I focused on my weakness, professional education and still made time for general education and math problems. I attended our review sessions for math majors and honestly the topics were easy. There were also previous board exam questions discussed, and they were easy, as in. We needed calculators but some problems I can already solve mentally. So in my mind, I was on track. I prayed to God everyday. I know I can't study as much as full time reviewees, but I know nothing is impossible for Him, so I just asked Him for the top 1 place. I didn't mind if I'd share the top 1 place with other takers, as long as I can get the top 1, that's all that mattered to me. In my chemical engineering board exam, I passed but didn't top it. I was thankful though but quite disappointed with my grade that time in general mathematics. So i was thinking this is the opportunity to beat my score from my previous board exam. If I can perfect the math exam for LET, i will do it. I can do this! I kept repeating in my mind: March 19, 2023, Kristianne Ornieta, Top 1. So there.

The mock board exam came. To my surprise, I landed on top 2 for the general education and top 8 or 9 in the professional education. WOW WOW WOW. I was so happy!! Specialization was not included in the mockboard. To me this was another sign that i might actually make it to the top. Chances are indeed high. 

Days passed so swiftly. And everyday was a struggle to study and keep up with the information given to us. Everyone was stressed, even our review center was stressed. And they were so strict too. Finally the board exam day came. 1 day. March 19, 2023. I was looking forward to this day and I looked forward to acing the board exam. I just knew in my heart it's gonna happen.

8am to 10am. General Education. Very easy, although I wished there were more math questions. There were 100+ questions for this set.

11am to 2pm. Professional Education. The weather was quite hot and humid and it added to the difficulty of the exam. I had at least 20 unsure answers in 100+ questions of this set.

3pm to 6pm. Specialization: Mathematics. 120 items. probably there were 50 easy questions. 30 medium and 40 haaaaaard questions. At that part of the exam, i became nalibat (cross-eyed) because of many many hours of reading, comprehending and answering. My eyes were tired. Shading the answers in the answer sheet became difficult. I had so many unsure answers.

After the board exam, it's like i fell apart because i expected math to be the easiest part and i was wrong. I was so tired. I had dinner with my classmate, Blessie and we had truly been overwhelmed by the exam. So this was the exam for the new curriculum huh? I even got sadder when news came to us that Filipino majors and science majors found their specialization questions easy. Right then, I knew only a miracle could make me land in top 10 at least.

May 19 2023 came. The day of the results. Some were expecting it at midnight. I, however, expected it after work, past 5pm. But results came in the middle of my working hours. past 3pm!!! I got quite agitated. What if i didn't make it to top 10? What if, God forbid, I failed? I tried to keep my cool. After all, I was at work. Then the FB post came. The list of topnotchers was posted. I tried to find my name in the list of about 50 to 60 people. Mine was not written, unfortunately. I asked the Lord, "Lord, sa kadaghan sa names sa topnotchers, wala nalang jud nimo giapil akoa?" At that time, I already wanted to cry. But i can't. I'm not yet at home. I got really, really sad. At that point, I was not anymore sure if I passed at all. I was in agony.

Then my workmate Dea searched for the results in the internet and found my name. I passed. Thank You, Lord. Thankful still. I'm finally a licensed teacher. I'm gonna be okay though. I know, for sure, God has other plans. And the topnotchers deserved their spot, surely.

Kristianne Ornieta, Licensed Chemical Engineer, Licensed Professional teacher, at your service.

So help me God.

To God be all glory!!!