Exclusive - From 'Bobo' To Cum Laude: UPLB Alumni Shares His Worst Years At UP! This is Inspiring!

There are some people who criticize you for what you’ve done, who you are, what you look like and so much more. However, it's how you react to critique that matters so much more.

This guy from University of the Philippines Los Baños did something amazing with the criticism that was given to him by his blockmate.

Nol Montalbo, an alumni of UPLB shared his story on Facebook.

Being one of the laziest student in his block, nobody wanted to partner up with him during class projects. According to him, everyone knew that he would not contribute anything.

After one of his laboratory classes, one of his blockmates compared his exam score to his: “Ang BOBO mo kasi!” When his blockmate told him that, he said it felt like boiling water was poured onto him. He was embarrassed because his blockmate said it loudly for everyone to hear. That’s the time that he told himself, “Hindi pwede ‘to.”

He studied hard and pushed himself to do his best.

While studying, he worked at Wendy’s, was given lead roles in most of theatre performances and was also awarded Best Thesis by 5 institutions and many more!

As a result of his hard work, he and his blockmate graduated Cum Laude. However, Montalbo finished college first. In just 3.5 years, he accomplished BS Biology major in Genetics. He also got the "Distinguished Alumni Award 2016".

So like Monatlbo, let no one stop you from achieving your goals and reaching for your dreams. Don’t let criticism define you.

Read his full story story below!

#UPLB, maraming maraming salamat po! ❤️

University of the Philippines Los Baños

Distinguished Alumni Award 2016 🏆

Noong freshman, ako na siguro ang pinakatamad at walang kwenta sa block 22 BS Biology batch '96. Late ako pumasok, nangongopya ng assignments, delayed ang submission ng projects, palpak ang exams at kung ano ano pa. Inaaway nga ako ng blockmates ko dahil wala akong gana mag-aral. Ayaw nila ako maging ka-group sa projects kasi alam nilang zero contribution ako. Feeling ko nga dati, hindi ako tatagal sa UP at sooner or later, ma-kick-out ako. Basta first 2 semesters ko, waley.

Hanggang sa isang araw, pagkatapos ng isang laboratory class, nagka-compare ang mga blockmates ko ng scores sa exam. Syempre hindi ako nagsasalita kasi ako ang lowest. Hindi ko maalala kung bakit nakita ng isa kong blockmate ang score ko. Itago na lang natin sya sa pangalang "Einstein". Bigla ba naman sinabi na:

"Ang BOBO mo kasi!"

Hindi yun pabulong. Malakas, malutong at ang daming nakakarinig. May mga classmates pa ako na tumawa. Napahiya ako ng sobra. Sa loob loob ko, pareho lang naman tayong pumasa sa UP. Pareho tayo ng course. Ang pinagkaiba lang, lagi syang top sa exam. Mas kilala ang high school nya kesa sa school ko sa probinsya.

Para akong nabuhusan ng kumukulong tubig. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, hindi pwede to. Hindi pwedeng ako ang talo at mas lalong hindi ako bobo. I have to change.

Chem 40 is Organic Chemistry. Noong panahon ko, napakataas ng student mortality dahil mahirap sya. Maraming nagte-take 2. Isa sya sa subjects na kinuha ko on my second year and sa totoo lang kabado ako. Kailangan ko syang ipasa. I studied hard, I pushed myself further.

Noong kuhanan ng grades, I got a flat 1.0!

I can still remember singing worship songs while holding my classcard. May talino naman palang binigay si Lord sa akin, ako lang ang hindi kumikilos. Hindi ko ginagamit ng maayos.

That was the start of big things. For every achievement, I pushed myself even further - I joined 5 student organizations, worked in #Wendy's, became the lead role in several theater performances, was awarded Best Thesis by 5 institutions and the list went on and on.

Katulad ng blockmate kong si "Einstein", pareho kaming grumaduate na #CumLaude. Ang pinagkaiba lang namin, mas nauna ako. Natapos ko ang BS Biology major in Genetics ng 3.5 years lang.

Ang lesson:

#Insults can either hurt you or change you. In my case, wrong words brought me to the right places. Kapag may masasakit kang naririnig sa iba, just be quiet, baka nga totoo. Kung hindi totoo, prove them wrong.

Let them break you for a while but heal fast and mend strong. Turn those piercing insults and criticisms into lasting compliments.

Salamat blockmate. 😇💕