21/06/2025
𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 | Their Final March: Stories from Irregular Paths
“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston S. Churchill
There is a distinct kind of relief that comes with graduation season. The long, exhausting days, the sleepless nights, the battles with self-doubt, and the constant temptation to quit. And for some, those difficult moments linger even longer.
At the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, you’ll often find them spending time with lower-year sections or enrolled in just a single class for the semester — these are the irregular students. Varied by many causes but bound by the same experience, five students across different campuses offer their stories to inspire— stories of hope, grit, and success.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮-𝗯𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗿𝗼: 𝗔𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼
For an education student, Aimee Noreene Bauto shared that it is odd to finish their program within five years, because with enough focus and priority one can graduate on the ideal four-year timeframe. That's why, even though drained of motivation, in the final stretch of her college journey, “kailangan ko nang makatapos” stayed afloat on the top of her head.
Hailing from San Isidro, the Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English alum started her sail in 2020. And a year after, when pandemic struck, she hustled taking her aunt’s offer to become a part-time barista. She grabbed the opportunity seeing how free and loose hybrid learning modality is when it comes to schedule and requirements. Despite it being challenging on one hand, it also helped keep her busy in times where distraction was prevalent through gadgets as medium.
The aspiring teacher is also a baker and Kpop fan. These hobbies alongside hanging out with friends who also went through delays helped her cope during the crucial times. Like the moment where she felt insecure watching her batchmates pass the board exams while she’s in internship. That is not to say that it was a sullen track for Aimee, this high spirited independent woman shared that she survived college through learning how to connect and communicate with unfamiliar students from lower year.
As time passed her by, self-growth dawned on Aimee in terms of prioritizing herself and her time alone far from her old selfless character which put others first. “Okay lang kahit wag muna sila, ikaw naman,” said Aimee.
If given a chance to speak with non graduating irregular students, Aimee advised them to not be demotivated. Saying that unbeknownst to them many others are in a similar situation. Although facing different cases, they are not alone.
“It was draining yet remarkable,” that is how Aimee described her college years. What she anticipated to be a difficult and active social life may have been punctuated by the pandemic for a bit but the struggle she was able to overcome and the growth beyond the textbook that she has garnered can stand for the fact that she is one step closer to her definition of success— comfort and stability.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗖𝗘 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗯: 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗽𝗶𝗻
Six years in the making, finally a degree holder. Mark Christian Capinpin is a go-with-the-flow student who loves to travel. He took up Bachelor of Science in CIvil Engineering fearing that it’s a program with no easy way out. But at the end of the day, he proved that it’s up to the student to end their journey with a diploma.
Mark’s time in college was also interfered by the COVID-19 pandemic having started in 2019. His study habits shifted. What was suited for his learning style in face-to-face classes was made easier but in a negative scope. He shared how the accessible notes, formulas and modes of complying to their requirements took a toll afterwards.
“Nung online ang daming distractions, so hindi ko napansin na lumalayo na yung loob ko sa pag-aaral,” he added. Saying that he lost the will and focus he weaponized early on.
This led to the heartbreaking part of his journey— becoming an irregular student.
In-person classes resumed and it was yet another challenging adjustment. Mark said that his foundation on the subjects were not built at best due to shortcuts and easy routes he practiced prior. Self-doubt started to rise for the fourth year student. “Kaya ko ba?”, “Matatapos ko ba ‘to?” to name a few.
Despite acknowledging his own shortcomings, Mark could not help but still feel sad sometimes. “Nakikita ko yung mga ka-batch ko na gagraduate na ganyan tas makikita mo ikaw maiiwan,” he said.
Instead of mourning for the lost time, Mark fueled his drive with the moments of despair, his family’s sacrifices and with the comfort of his friends— knowing that he’s not alone, may it be in a failed score or in their college journey.
Mark’s advice to those who face the same sentiments, “Kung hindi ka titigil, kung lalaban ka, ga-graduate ka.”
He further emphasized the essence of never giving up. How one should be able to take breaks but never permanently. And that it is not a race with others to be conscious about. “Hindi ka nahuhuli, dahil may sarili kang oras, may sarili kang laban, at may sarili kang tagumpay,” he added.
The new Mark who learned to stand on his own and fight his own battles believes that he already caught success. Because for him, success is his continuous choice to fight for the things he wants to achieve. And graduating is definitely a cornerstone for it.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗼𝗻: 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘀
Rachel Anne Matias had every reason to give up—but she never did. A future educator and the only Science major in NEUST Gabaldon Campus, Rachel quietly carried the weight of responsibility, loss, and unwavering resolve throughout her college journey.
Rachel began her college life dreaming of becoming a teacher, inspired by a deep love for learning and a heart ready to serve and teach. But life, as it often does, gave her a harder path. During her studies, her older brother fell seriously ill. His condition quickly worsened, and being one of the few who could step up—as a daughter, and a younger sister. While others were completing their requirements, Rachel was walking around, doing “palibot-sulat”—a handwritten letter quietly passed from home to home, asking for any form of help to support her brother’s treatment.
All this happened during the pandemic, when most students were learning to cope with the challenges of online classes. But for Rachel, the burden was heavier. Between online deadlines and her brother’s worsening condition, her focus slipped, not out of laziness but out of love. And when he passed away, the grief didn’t just interrupt her studies—it shattered her rhythm, her spirit, her sense of time
“Hindi ko alam kung kaya ko pa ba,” she admitted. Unable to keep up, Rachel reduced her load and helped her family by selling Baguio products at the market. It was her way of holding on—rebuilding herself quietly. Rachel didn’t return to class right away—not until her heart was ready. Each day she chose to try again was an act of courage. What others might call delay; she calls survival. What others might see as weakness; she sees as wisdom.
Her journey wasn’t about speed—it was about strength. “Bawat hakbang, mabigat man o magaan, bahagi 'yan ng kwento mo,” she says with her firm voice embracing her scars as part of her resilience. She wants to remind everyone that success isn’t measured by how fast you finish, but by how deep your courage runs.
To students who feel behind or broken, Rachel’s story reminds us: “Huwag mawalan ng pag-asa, [sa] bawat araw may dahilan, may mga pagkakataon para magsimula—lumaban ulit” Her journey may have taken longer, but every step was honest, brave, and deeply meaningful. As she graduates, she carries not just a diploma—but the story of someone who kept going, even when it hurt.
She lost time, she lost loved ones, but she never lost her fire.
And that fire lit the way forward.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝗸𝗶 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗯: 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗲𝘇
Rich Ian Christian Valdez had every reason to give up—but he didn’t. A student of the College of Architecture in NEUST Sumacab, Rich didn’t expect his college journey to stretch over seven years.
According to him, he didn’t try to stand out but somehow, people still remembered him. Loud, jolly, always ready with a joke, and passionate about learning. When he entered the College of Architecture at NEUST Sumacab in 2018, he was full of energy—excited to learn, eager to design, and determined to become the first architect in his family.
But life, as he would come to learn, doesn’t always follow the plans we draw. When the pandemic hit, things shifted drastically. Remote learning, online classes, overwhelming requirements collided with personal problems became too much for Rich. “Nahihirapan talaga ako i-absorb ung turo that time, that’s when I started to struggle” he admitted. He was burned out to the point that it caused him to fail a major subject. “I wasn’t used to failing,” he says quietly, and it broke something in him.
The pressure, the disappointment, and the comparison to others pushed him into isolation. He stopped joining group chats. He withdrew from friends. Days passed where even getting out of bed felt impossible. Depression crept in silently, and for a while, he disappeared.
But a single conversation changed everything. It was a simple question from a friend, but one that echoed: what future awaits if he gave up now? With that he realized he didn’t want to stop. More than anything, he wanted to make things right—for himself, and for his family.
After failing once, he picked himself up with determination. From then on, he planned everything carefully where each subject and semester was mapped out with precision until he finally reached his fourth year, second semester. It was supposed to be the final step before entering to thesis writing and preparing for graduation. Just when he thought he had regained control, life reminded him that nothing is ever truly predictable. He failed again, and that one subject changed everything. He could no longer proceed to fifth year. Forcing him to stay behind for another year, watching the timeline he once rebuilt and held firmly begin to fall apart.
It did not stop him—it challenged him. Fueled by a desire to help his family and lessen their financial burden on his academics. Rich chose to try again but this time he will pour his absolute best to redeem himself. In his final year, he rose—quietly, steadily. He earned a spot among the Top Three Thesis in Design 9. Not because it was easy, but because he chose to keep going even when it was hard.
To students who feel like they’re behind or broken, Rich offers this, “Tapusin mo ‘yung sinimulan mo. Kahit gaano katagal, Hanggat may nagpapaaral, magaral… Success is not something you can achieve easily, you have to work for it… and when your best is not enough , that’s reality that’s when you make bawi and do redemption”
For Rich, becoming an architect was never just about personal achievement—it was about giving back to the people who never stopped believing in him. “Gusto kong bumawi sa pamilya ko,” he said, and every struggle he endured was rooted in that dream. He is not just as a student who finished his study, but as a son ready to honor every sacrifice made for him.
His success is their success.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗞𝗶𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗲𝗻. 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼: 𝗘𝗱𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮
“Ang college, ‘di siya step-by-step [sakin],” he says. “Madami siyang twist and turns—setbacks—breakthrough, pero at the same time thrilling, exciting, at frustrating.” Edward knows this well. His journey didn’t follow a straight path—but in the chaos, he found clarity, and in the pause, he found purpose.
From the very beginning, he dreamed of taking Fine Arts. His heart was set on the world of creativity, where colors and ideas came alive through design. But dreams, no matter how true, often have to bend to reality. When it came to choosing a course, he looked for what was nearby and covered by free education. That brought him to BS Architecture—it was the closest he could get, or so he thought.
As a freshman in Arki, his heart was full of hope. Every sketch brought joy, every design blended beauty and meaning. Finally, he thought, this is where he get to be creative. He felt like he was in the right place. But as the subjects became more technical, rigid, and intense, the spark slowly dimmed. He still tries making it work, believing that maybe he could make it work.
But in the end, he failed, and the weight grew heavier. “Biglang lumalim ‘yung kailangan ko akyatin—para sa Arki pa ba ‘ko? Kaya ko pa ba ‘to?” he asked. Surprisingly, even with that doubt, he fought for four years—helped by small wins and org achievements. But eventually, the delays piled up, and the pressure became too much. “Naging critique ko ‘yung sarili ko… parang hindi na ako makausad… nasa loop ako ng self-sabotage.”
So Edward made the brave decision to shift to BIT Drafting in Gen. Tinio. It wasn’t easy, but it was right. In his new course, he began to breathe again. He excelled in academics, started freelancing, and supported himself through commissions and editing work.
He found rhythm—not by avoiding failure, but by learning from it. In fact, it opened his world. “Pag irreg ka, failure ka,” he says, quoting a common myth—then gently disagrees: “Halos lahat ng irreg na kilala ko, magagaling. Minsan, ‘di lang nag-a-align ang timing at chances—or di pa nila nahahanap ‘yung gusto nila.”
College still brought moments of burnout and doubt. But drafting gave him space to grow. A lyric from Ebe Dancel’s “Bawat Daan” marked him deeply: “Maligaw man at mawala…May patutunguhan ang lahat. Ang mahalaga, umuusad at nakakabalik sa sariling landas.” He also added to take your time, but spend it wisely, delays may give you time to navigate your mind—use them to grow.
Edward is like a seed—planted in one field but meant to grow in another. For a while, he fought against the soil, thinking something was wrong with him. But he simply needed different ground. Now, he’s thriving—in a field he cultivated himself.
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Much like a whirlwind ride in collegiate drive, students carve their steps to triumph unguaranteed and may trip along the way. But it will take tenacity to persevere.
Many students face irregularities and delays which are often stigmatized, getting their stories buried in memory. But these stories prove that they are not setbacks—they are proof that success takes many forms.
Aimee found strength in small joys, balancing work and dreams one coffee cup and pastry at a time. Mark learned that self-doubt can’t win against persistence. Rachel turned grief into grace and purpose. Rich faced failure more than once, but never let it define him. And Edward discovered that success isn’t about staying in the same lane—it’s about finding where you’re meant to fully become yourself.
Only if you dare not to stop when it's hard, like Aimee, Mark, Rachel, Rich and Edward. They didn’t just survive college; they transformed through it.
In a world that often rushes to celebrate only the fastest and most flawless, it’s time we break the stigma. Irregularity isn’t a failure—it’s simply a different rhythm, a quieter kind of strength. Whether shaped by personal hardships, academic setbacks, or evolving dreams, these delays don’t take you off course.Every student walks on different paths but what's waiting down the road is the sweet scent of your name etched in that diploma.
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✒️ Jubelle Salvador, Mharby Gail De Leon
💻 Aaron Jacob Bautista
