“Compete with yourself, not with others.”
– Renz John Bryan Espinosa, LPT
4th Placer, March 2023 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) Topnotcher
From Who He Was to How He Did It:
The #RedSuccessStory of CNU’s 2nd Summa Cum Laude and Topnotcher
“Kinsa diay na si Renz?” This was the question that started it all. From nearly perfecting every single major quiz and exams to his journey in topping the dean’s list and licensure examination, the answer came more visibly clear.
Cebu Normal University has found itself another once-in-a-century type of a brilliant mind in the form of Renz John Bryan Espinosa – a summa cum laude and a board topnotcher with a big heart who dreams and inspires.
For Renz, success isn’t just simple. “ Dali isulti pero lisod i-achieve. It takes a lot of time and effort with a lot of factors involved.” He believes that for one to succeed, one must have a goal, be determined, and have faith with action. He believes that success is not just for yourself but for others. Success that was inspired and dedicated to his loving family, his supportive friends, other people who silently rooted for him, and to himself.
However, the 23-year-old’s #KwentongTagumpay journey was nothing short of a lengthy but rewarding process – like that of a scientific breakthrough.
Renz’s prominence began in his early freshmen years where he would nearly perfect major quizzes and exams in chemistry and physics. His shining success would only continue from there as he placed first consistently in his batch’s Dean’s List and even bagging a prestigious award for his university in a national research competition where they placed 2nd.
Truly, one could say that Renz is truly gifted—a once-in-a-century type of student. The only thing that’s left for him would be to go on and graduate – even with the goal to simply graduate with flying colors regardless of what the award would be.
But this journey towards the top wasn’t a walk in the park even for someone who’s naturally gifted. He had his own dragons to conquer first inside the crimson and gold walls.
When the pandemic struck, Renz faced greatest challenge wasn’t someone or something else but rather it was himself. Like many students, he was left anxious with the pandemic’s uncertainties and isolated as he learned alone. Renz also felt like he was inefficient in adjusting to a new learning modality as it did not suit his learning style.
However, these challenges didn’t set him back as he forged on with his heart in his sleeve and relentless determination for his dreams – which would later become a reality that he couldn’t ever believe.
“Dili ko katuo. Di jud nako deserve. I went through a denial stage kay dili jud siya ma absorb sa akoang mind. Akoa jud ni?” He wistfully recalled during the moment he was announced that he is awarded with highest honors as his batch’s lone summa cum laude.
The name Renz John Bryan Espinosa became even more profound as CNU had just produced its second summa cum laude. Renz’ historic achievement made him the first summa cum laude to come from the Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education Major in Science.
When he walked the aisle during the face-to-face graduation for the College of Teacher Education, he still couldn’t believe he had done it. People were clapping and cheering him on telling him he deserved it.
Even his mother cried during graduation day – as it was only then that she knew of her son’s achievements and that he would be graduating as summa cum laude.
With consistency and his love for learning, the goal to graduate with flying colors became Renz’ reality.
However, this success also brought him great pressure with another mightier dragon to conquer – topping the board examinations. But Renz knew better than to make people’s expectation to fear failure. He used this as fuel and motivation to soar.
Renz’s brilliance was recognized not only by the school but even owners of a review center who gave him a full scholarship. This motivated him more to ensure that this opportunity would not go to waste and began a meticulous process of preparing.
From preparing all his review materials that he has compiled since his first year of college to making sacrifices and following a sleepless 16-hour daily review schedule. He had one goal as he took the exam, and with every shade on his answer sheet he was determined to make it happen.
Months after, the days of sleepless nights, rigorous studying in the review center, and even overthinking alongside his prayers, would all be determined to this moment.
Wearing the same white long sleeve that he wore during the exam on the day the results were published, it was then that all his hard work paid off when he saw that he did not only pass the licensure examination but also ranked 4th in the entire country out of the thousands of board exam takers.
“Nakahilak ko pagkakita nako sa results. Di ko katuo. Daghan ug nag-chat and gi-congratulate ko. Until now, di ko katuo naabot nako ani nga point.” He recalled it emotionally.
For Renz it was an amazing feeling as it wasn’t just happiness for himself but for others as well because his success wasn’t just for him but also for others. As a graduate of the pioneering batch of a new curriculum who was also struck by the pandemic, this success was the beacon of inspiration for a new generation of learners.
Renz then chose to change his profile picture with his graduation portrait from Red Media with a caption of his own #KwentongTagumpay journey both during his graduation day and when the board examination results came out.
He recalled how he chose the studio as most of his seniors would recommend the studio such as his seniors and the discount that the studio provided. He was amazed by the studio’s efficient service, the friendly staff, and even how he had the opportunity to choose his final photo and its quality.
“Na amaze ko sa ila service. Super dali. Makagwapo. Friendly and open sad [sila sa] ilang clients. Mao sigurong daghan ug customers.” He recalled his experience with the studio.
With all his successes combined, Renz is now looking forward to being a part of the stories of success of others in producing more topnotchers as a lecturer at the review center he reviewed in.
He looks forward to teaching in the Department of Education, getting a master’s degree for his professional development, and ultimately go back to his alma mater, the Cebu Normal University, to teach as a professor.
The summa cum laude and topnotcher’s story of success has made people not ask who he is but rather how he did it. Thus, he advises college students to compete with themselves and to always give their best so that looking back on their college journey, they won’t have any regrets.
“Be competent, not competitive. Compete with yourself not with others. For every step you take, ihatag inyong best kay di namo kabalik sa inyong giagian. So that when you look back, di mo magmahay.”
