As an old saying goes, it’s not your fault if you were born poor, but it is your fault if you do nothing to rise above your current situation.
John Kirt Reyes Baguio’s family takes immense pride in his achievements, as he not only placed in the top 10 of the November 2022 Civil Engineering Board Exam but also became the first engineer in a family where men usually work as construction laborers.
Kirt, a scholar supported by a mall, is the son of a construction worker and a vendor. According to an article published by SM, Kirt’s father always dreamed of having an engineer in their family. Inspired by this, Kirt pursued an engineering degree at Far Eastern University (FEU) Institute of Technology.
Photo courtesy: John Kirt Reyes Baguio (FB)
Fortunately, he was accepted into the mall’s scholarship program, which alleviated the financial challenges of his education. Determined to help his family break the cycle of poverty, Kirt also took on part-time work through the scholarship.
Tragically, Kirt’s father, who had long envisioned his son becoming an engineer, passed away before that dream could come true. He was unable to witness his son’s remarkable achievement.
“Ang biggest challenge ko po siguro ay ‘yong mawala si Papa. Pangarap ko ito, ngunit mas pangarap niyang magkaroon ng engineer na anak. On my last semester in college, kinuha na po siya ni Lord. Pero alam ko pong ginagabayan niya pa rin ako, so I continued our dream and heto na po ako ngayon,” he shared.
When Kirt graduated and began his review, his goal was not only to pass but to secure a spot in the top ten. He accomplished this by ranking in the top 10 with an impressive passing rate of 92.90%.
On November 29, 2022, after the board exam results were announced, Kirt shared his journey on his Facebook account. In his post, he made a heartfelt mention of his late father, who had inspired him to pursue a career as an engineer.
Photo courtesy: John Kirt Reyes Baguio (FB)
“Thank you papa! alam kong simula nung nawala ka, kasama pa rin kita sa mga panalo ko!” he said.
Congrats, Engr. Kirt!