5 years of hard work pay off for top UP grad

THE FUTURE holds unlimited possibilities for 21-year-old Alexander John Cruz, one of UP’s best and brightest this year. photo by Lyn Rillon

Five years after he first entered the University of the Philippines (UP) as an eager-eyed graduate of a provincial science high school in Cabanatuan City, Alexander John Cruz will be graduating at the top of his class this Sunday.

With a 1.16 grade average, the 21-year-old Chemical Engineering student from UP Diliman will be one of this year’s summa cum laude, a victory made all the more sweet because it did not come easy.

Life was a bit more difficult for Cruz; he said his mother Jennifer raised him by herself while he has yet to meet his father.

“[My mother] had a career ahead of her, but she chose to go back to the province and raise me on her own. I owe it all to her,” the Talavera, Nueva Ecija, native said.

As a scholar of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Cruz was exempted from paying tuition. He also received a P4,000 book allowance per semester on top of a P4,000 monthly stipend.

However, the money was not enough since he always sent part of it to his mother and 12-year-old half-sister.

“At first, I was not sure if I could afford living in Metro Manila, but when the chance [of studying at UP] presented itself, I grabbed it,” Cruz said.

To help finance his studies, he took on tutoring jobs and worked as a student assistant.

In his first years at the state university, he taught math, physics and chemistry to Ateneo high school students for P150 an hour.

Later on, he became a student and research assistant at the UP College of Engineering  since it paid more money at P3,600 a month.

Juggling his side job and studies made for quite a hectic schedule yet Cruz managed to excel in class, earning a “university scholar” status every semester, an honor given to students with an average of 1.45 or better.

The secret to his success, he said, was his very specific daily schedule.

On the days he had no classes, he watched TV series on his laptop, read fiction or went out with friends just like any other college student. Whenever he wanted to reward himself for a job well done, he treated himself to ice cream or a meal at Rodic’s, a popular eatery on the Diliman campus.

To stretch his money, he did not buy or photocopy books: He borrowed them from the library instead.

In March, Cruz and his two classmates won the BPI-DOST science award for their undergraduate research on alternative sources of renewable energy using water and sunlight.

“I could say I was focused on my goal. At first, I just wanted to be a top executive and earn a lot of money. But now, I want to do that and give back as well by going back to the academe,” he said.

Cruz said he is thankful that his mother, whom he fondly calls “Ate Jeng,” was always supportive of him and his plans.

“When I think of my mother and how hard it was for her to raise me, I realize that I am not close to being as strong as she is,” he added.

Despite his father’s absence in his life, Cruz stressed that he never felt that he was less loved as he has lots of aunts and uncles on his mother’s side who let him grow up in a happy home atmosphere in the province.

“They more than made up for [my lack of a father figure],” he said.

At the same time, he expressed his gratitude to his friends who were always ready to help him in his studies. “It really comes to the point that sometimes, you cannot do things alone,” he said.

Cruz told the Inquirer that he enjoyed and found fulfillment in teaching his fellow students while reviewing for exams together.

Even though he professed to be grade-conscious, he was surprised when he learned that he would be graduating with summa cum laude honors after five years.

His mother cried upon hearing that her first-born would be marching with the university’s top students on Sunday.

“She didn’t expect it, too, that I would finish summa cum laude,” Cruz said.

His life may just be beginning as he steps out of the university’s halls, but five years of difficulties and friendships have taught him that he is not alone.

“If we are at our lowest, there are always people around us to help us if we ask for it. Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” he said.

Asked if he had something to say to his mother, Cruz smiled shyly and added: “I don’t want to sound too sentimental. But I’d like to say, ‘Thank you. This is for you.’”