CEBU CITY, Philippines — Adrian Mendova’s journey to the highest started with an unsure selection one Monday morning. He arrived in Cebu from Catbalogan Metropolis, Samar, two weeks earlier than lessons began. He needed to scramble to enroll, with no explicit course in thoughts, and ended up selecting Pharmacy — the primary one which got here to his thoughts. He was unsure what lay forward however he was hopeful about it.
That last-minute choice led him to a spot he by no means imagined—Prime 6 within the April 2025 Pharmacist Licensure Examination. A victory he now shares along with his household, his family members, and his college, Southwestern College PHINMA.
Adrian Maverick Mendova
‘It was a last-minute choice’
Adrian Maverick L. Mendova, the third of six youngsters, hails from Catbalogan Metropolis, the bustling business coronary heart of Samar. As he neared the top of his senior highschool years, the query of which diploma program to pursue weighed closely on him.
For days, he wrestled with the choice, uncertain of which path to take. Though he knew he can be finding out in Cebu Metropolis, the Queen Metropolis of the South, the precise program had but to disclose itself—till time ran out, and he was lastly compelled to choose.
“I by no means actually meant to check pharmacy, it was a last-minute choice, however I had to decide on a program as a result of it was solely two weeks till the beginning of lessons at most universities, and I nonetheless haven’t determined. So I simply picked one program that SWU presents as a result of on the time my older sister was additionally finding out at SWU, and that program occurred to be pharmacy.”
At that second, Adrian by no means may have imagined that this last-minute choice would lead him to the highest of the nation’s pharmaceutical ranks. However typically, life’s most sudden selections result in the best outcomes.
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Adrian Maverick along with his mom, Rowehla L. Mendova and father Nicolas A. Mendova | Contributed Picture by way of Adrian Maverick Menodva
Overcoming doubts and uncertainty
The primary few weeks of Adrian’s school journey have been troublesome, particularly for somebody coming from a very totally different setting and a language he had but to be taught.
“After shifting to a spot the place the language is totally different, I discovered it troublesome to make new pals and I felt misplaced more often than not,” Adrian mentioned.
However with time, issues started to enhance. Because the assessment interval approached, Adrian confronted new challenges, together with the fixed strain and the ticking clock. Luckily, these obstacles have been eased by the unwavering assist of his mother and father and the love of his girlfriend, Desiree.
“Sure, throughout my assessment, I felt like I used to be consistently on the verge of breakdown,” he recollects. “However, the comforting phrases of my mother and father and girlfriend at all times stored me motivated.”
Although Adrian had no expectation of putting within the Prime 10, his onerous work and dedication paid off in the long run. When the outcomes have been launched, he discovered himself ranked sixth within the nation—an achievement that took him utterly without warning.
“No, I knew I used to be going to cross the board examination,” Adrian mentioned. “ However I didn’t assume I did sufficient to put within the Prime 10.”
Adrian Mendova along with his girlfriend, Desiree.
A victory shared with Southwestern College PHINMA
Whereas the popularity could belong to Adrian, his alma mater, Southwestern College PHINMA, takes immense satisfaction in his exceptional achievement.
Adrian’s success story stands as a reminder of perseverance, onerous work, and the sudden paths life can lead us on. His journey proves that even when issues don’t go as deliberate, the top consequence can nonetheless be extraordinary.
To delve deeper into the importance of Adrian’s accomplishment and the position Southwestern College PHINMA performed in shaping his journey, we reached out to the Dean of the Pharmacy Division, Marilou Basa, who has been main the division for 18 years.
“This latest achievement of manufacturing a topnotcher and being acknowledged because the 2nd prime performing college within the nation isn’t just a second of satisfaction for us, however a powerful motivation to proceed striving for excellence,” Dean Basa shared with CDN Digital.
Dean Basa additionally mentioned that your entire Pharmacy school transcend their work, and method college students on their wants particularly throughout assessment.
“To proceed supporting them throughout this essential part, we created a bunch chat the place they will simply attain out to me for any issues or steering associated to their assessment journey. As well as, we’ve got a web based teaching program designed to assist them self-assess their readiness, keep motivated, and really feel supported. This fashion, they know they’re not going it alone.”
A Message for Future College students
Adrian’s journey proves that it’s okay to not have all the things discovered. Typically, the perfect alternatives come once we least count on them—what issues is placing within the onerous work to remain on the right track.
When requested what his message to his first-year self can be, he answered…
“I’d inform my first-year self that you’re heading in the right direction, that you shouldn’t doubt your choice, and that all the things can be value it in the long run.”
For these nonetheless uncertain of their path, Adrian’s story is a reminder that typically, the perfect selections are those made within the second, with an open coronary heart and a willingness to be taught and develop.
