When 26-year-old John Michael Ausejo first entered college, he didn’t know that it would take him 10 years to finish his degree.
He was in for another, though more pleasant, surprise after he took the February 2021 Geologist Licensure Examination. Despite delays, Ausejo ranked fourth among 108 examinees with a score of 84.1%.
“I only applied for the exams on the day of the deadline because I faced several challenges beforehand. I also didn’t expect to be a topnotcher since I only prepared for two months. But maybe the victory was really meant for me,” Ausejo said.
Ausejo, a native of Dumaguete City, graduated from the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU), one of the six universities offering a geology program in the country.
Rough start
Although it took him a decade to earn his college degree, Ausejo proved that education is not a race.
His college journey was off to a rough start. Following his mother’s suggestion, he initially enrolled at the University of Southeastern Philippines as a civil engineering student. He failed most of his math subjects for two consecutive semesters and later realized that the program wasn’t meant for him.
He transferred to NORSU in 2011, but first took general courses to obtain the weighted average quota needed for his desired program: geology. He got interested in after he found out from his uncle’s yearbook that NORSU is the lone university in Central Visayas offering the program.
In 2012, just when he thought he was set for a fresh start as a geology student, his family faced financial difficulties that affected his studies and personal life. Ausejo failed several prerequisite subjects that rendered him unqualified for internship.
He decided to quit school and worked as a call center agent in Dumaguete City in 2014 . When he returned a year later, Ausejo admitted that he failed most of his subjects due to his laid back attitude in studying.
Disappointed with himself, he went to Metro Manila and worked for a call center company in Alabang for almost 8 months. After earning enough money, he returned to his hometown in 2016 to continue his education. Unfortunately, he flunked his subjects again.
“I was confused during those times. I would always ask what I really wanted to pursue in life. Should I continue with what I started in school or just move on?” he said.
What he did differently
After his younger sister graduated in 2017, Ausejo felt even more left behind and started to compare his journey to others.
Ausejo, who grew up without his Jordanian father, remained grateful that he had his mother during his moments of doubt. His mother used to be a domestic worker in Qatar.
“Maraming beses na awang-awa ako sa sarili ko. Umabot nga sa point na sabi ko huwag sabihin na hindi pa ako naka-graduate. Pero lagi niyang sinasabi na proud siya sa ‘kin,” he said.
(I often pitied myself. It even reached a point when I told her not to tell anyone that I haven’t graduated yet. But she always reassured me that she’s proud of me no matter what.)
Motivated by his mother’s support and his sister’s success, Ausejo took his third shot at college in August 2017. This time, he promised to do his best by developing new habits and focusing on his studies.
“I developed a habit of reading lessons a semester ahead. I read every day and teach my lower classmen to reinforce my learning,” he said.
Ausejo’s renewed passion for learning even provided him with unexpected opportunities such as participation in national research presentations, a student exchange program in Singapore, and campus journalism training, among others.
His co-authored research on certain cretaceous rocks located in Siquijor was lauded at the 2020 Annual Geological Convention for its contribution to the geological history and evolution of the Central Visayas region.
“I realized that once you’re passionate about what you do, everything becomes easier. I never thought I would appreciate geology this much,” Ausejo said.
Later in 2020, amid the pandemic, his 10-year journey towards getting a bachelor’s degree paid off through a virtual graduation. He said that this did not diminish the value of his achievement.
Ausejo said he used to regret and resent the delays in his journey. But he learned how to move forward, hoping that he would eventually obtain his degree.
Future goals
Even after topping the licensure exam, Ausejo said that his curiosity and passion for Philippine geology had only just begun.
He was recently admitted to the University of the Philippines Institute of Geological Sciences for his graduate studies, a new adventure that will lead him to more research work and a career in academe.
“I want to work with esteemed geologists who are incorporating the field of geosciences in the country’s disaster management programs. Given that we’re prone to natural disasters, giving premium to research will save resources and lives,” Ausejo said.
The registered geologist knows that he still has a long way to go before achieving yet another dream, but his experiences in the past decade have equipped him for this new pursuit.
“I learned to take things one step at a time and not to pressure myself that much. When you rush things, you might overlook the opportunities waiting for you. I also learned to be passionate in the work that I do and move forward despite failures,” he said.
With Ausejo as the latest addition, the Negros Oriental State University has produced seven topnotchers in the Geologist Licensure Examination since 2003. – Rappler.com
Vincent Verzola is a Rappler volunteer from Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Accountancy at the University of Saint Louis – Tuguegarao. He is the lead organizer of TEDxTuguegaraoCity and producer of the Pag-Usapan Natin ‘Yan podcast.