Why Tiffany Uy is not your typical geek

She made headlines for recording the highest postwar weighted average grade at the University of the Philippines, but summa cum laude Tiffany Grace Uy made sure that she did not deprive herself of the simple pleasures of college life.

Despite a very hectic academic schedule, Uy said she also had a very healthy social life in school by spending time with friends, who made tedious scholastic tasks bearable.

“I met so many wonderful people in UP Diliman. You can’t really survive school unless you have people that you can cry and curse with,” Uy said in an interview with ANC Headstart.

READ: Biology student breaks highest grade record in post-war UP

The BS Biology major also recalled how she occasionally attended parties and drank alcoholic beverage, like any other ordinary student.

“There was a field trip when we had to climb Mt. Banahaw for Rizal Studies. And in that class, we had a party at night. We did karaoke and I drank a bit of gin,” Uy said.

Despite getting a nearly perfect grade of 1.004, receiving 1.00 in all subjects except Art Studies where she recorded 1.25, Uy said she does not consider herself a genius.

“I don’t know my IQ but a lot of people I know say I don’t have common sense, I don’t have spatial knowledge, I get lost in buildings,” a humble Uy said.

READ: Grade just a number for No. 1 grad in UP’s post WWII history

The 22-year-old fresh graduate also shared how she had to go two pre-schools when she was a kid, and how she could not understand subtraction.

“It’s such a blessing that P.E. isn’t included in the calculation of the grades. Wala talaga akong nai-uno na P.E. except for P.E. lecture,” she added.

Uy, who is set to enter the UP School of Medicine, also recalled how a childhood accident inspired her to pursue her dreams: “I got out of a surgery wanting to be just like her (doctor).”

But despite an almost spotless scholastic record, she said she was not immune from pressure.

“The one thing that really hits home is that huge responsibility, the expectation of all these people that I hope to fulfill in many more years,” she said. “I guess the pressure is that I graduate and pass the board exam and of course serve the Filipino people.” AU