30/12/2025
๐ช๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ด, ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐จ๐ฝ
Every long journey begins with a point of light. It is steady, distant, and unwavering. In the darkest moments of doubt and exhaustion, that light reminds travelers where they came from and where they are meant to go. A North Star, as some may say, guides even those who are on the verge of losing hope.
The path toward becoming a Registered Radiologic Technologist (RRT) is far from easy. It is a road filled with uncertainty and sacrifice, constantly redefining the meaning of defeat and triumph. The peace that follows success does not come from the title alone, but from knowing that every hardship endured had purpose. The long nights of studying, the tears, and the doubts all aligned under that same guiding star.
๐จ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
For Kurt Cyril Balanquit and Mark Jhon Siervo, success was never theirs alone. Their families became the burning flame that kept them going despite exhaustion and burnout. The flame may have flickered, but it never went out. As Mark Jhon shared, passing the Radiologic Technology Licensure Examination (RTLE) was the โfulfillment of a lifelong dream,โ not only his, but also his familyโs. Kurt Cyril echoed the same sentiment, saying that his achievement reflects all the hardships he and his parents endured throughout his journey to topping the board examination.
๐ป๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
As the night grows deeper, burnout and the weight of expectations can blur the path to success. There were nights during the review when quitting felt easier than continuing. For Kurt Cyril, his five-month review period was shaped by personal struggles โ moments of exhaustion balanced with rest and self-reflection. Still, his perseverance never faltered. As he firmly stated, โWe only fail in life the moment we choose to give up.โ
Mark Jhon faced similar challenges. Financial struggles, academic pressure, and self-doubt constantly tested his resolve. There were moments during the review when he stopped believing in himself, his mind trained to expect failure. However, these hardships molded him into the stronger, more patient, and compassionate person he is today. As he shared, โSuccess awaits at the end, and I must conquer every obstacle along the way, no matter what.โ
๐บ๐๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐ ๐ต๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐
๐
๐๐๐๐
Discipline, much like a North Star, does not suddenly appear during review season eโ it is formed long before. For both topnotchers, that guiding light was first seen at Pambujan National High School (PNHS). Mark Jhon proudly shared that PNHS taught him discipline, resilience, and the importance of dreaming big. His teachers and classmates played a vital role in helping him build the confidence and determination he needed as he pursued Radiologic Technology.
Kurt Cyril, on the other hand, found his foundation through sports. As a member of the PNHS volleyball team, he learned self-discipline and time management โ qualities that later became essential during his board exam review. More than that, PNHS taught him responsibility and the courage to face the consequences of every decision he made in life.
As they look back at their alma mater, both remind PNHS students who aspiring to pursue Radiologic Technology โ or any field โ to trust themselves, stay consistent, and educate themselves with discipline. With strong faith, perseverance, and hard work, they believe that students can achieve more than they ever imagined.
๐ป๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Looking back, just as companions appear like constellations in the night sky, their past experiences became the stars that led them to this moment. Mark Jhon, speaking to his younger self, shared words filled with healing and pride:
โAngkay, youโve made it. I can still vividly remember the words you heard during your elementary graduationโฆ These words could have been discouraging, but I am grateful that you used them as inspiration to work harder academically. Thank you so much, Angkay.โ
Meanwhile, Kurt Cyril expressed gratitude to himself for choosing not to give up, even when things became overwhelming:
โSalamat kasi despite my strugglesโฆ hindi ako sumuko. Salamat sa mga kaibigan ko na naging source ng support at faith. At higit sa lahat, salamat dahil naniwala ako at may Diyos sa buhay koโsiya ang lagi kong nilalapitan sa lahat ng struggles ko.โ
In the end, the North Star does not ask how loud the storm was or how long the night lasted โ it only asks if you kept looking up. For Kurt Cyril Balanquit and Mark Jhon Siervo, that star was faith when belief wavered, family when strength ran out, and PNHS when direction felt uncertain. Their journey proves that even when the path disappears, the light remains for those who choose not to look away. And for every PNHS student still searching for their own North Star, their story whispers a promise: if you stay true to your direction, no darkness will ever be enough to lose you.
Words by Rogielyn Adora
Ryne Brandon Suba
Layout by Earl Mathew Matic
