This demotivated engineering student from UPLB landed the top spot in Electrical Engineering Board Exam.
Who knew that someone who almost didn’t graduate on time would become an engineering topnotcher, let alone a Top 1?
But Engr. Rob Christian Caduyac, a demotivated engineering student, is living proof of this.
Be bested 5,567 Electrical Engineer Licensure Exam examinees to become #1 with a rating of 91.70%.
Ever since Rob was young, he had big dreams of becoming a mathematician.
He’s a known math wiz in school, and he loves playing with numbers all the time.
However, as he got older, he realized that having the title of “engineer” sounded cool.
He became especially interested in the field when his older brother took Civil Engineering at the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
Because of this, when it was his time to pick a course for college, he went with engineering, particularly a BS in Electrical Engineering, majoring in Electronics.
As one would expect, Rob was nailing all his math-related subjects.
His love for math became his biggest asset during his undergrad days as he finished one subject after another with flying colors.
He particularly enjoyed Machine Learning and Control Systems, both of which involved a serious number of skills.
Rob was not without problems during his college days, though, as there was a time when he almost got delayed.
It was due to an EE project in their electronics subject that comprised a large chunk of their final grade.
Without it, he would have to retake the subject.
Fortunately for him, he and his group mates managed to finish it just before the new semester started.
From then on out, the rest of Rob’s college days were pretty unremarkable until the pandemic happened.
He was among the unfortunate students who were affected by the sudden global lockdown a few months right before he was about to wear his UP Sablay.
While it did rock his world a little, he still rose on top of the unexpected hurdle and graduated right on time in August 2020.
Almost immediately after, Rob enrolled in a review center to prepare for the upcoming board exam.
However, the uncertainty brought about by the pandemic and the worsening economy took a toll on him.
He lost his motivation to study and became more inclined to work instead.
So in late 2020, he stopped attending his review classes and began hunting for jobs.
He was offered an instructor position at UPLB soon after, and for months, he dedicated most of his time to his work.
After all, he wasn’t really keen on taking the board exam after learning of the continuous postponement.
However, come September 2021, Rob had a change of heart.
The licensure exam for Electrical Engineers pushed through, making it highly possible that the next one (in April 2022) would be conducted just as scheduled, as well.
It was then that he decided to start reviewing again.
He enrolled in a different review center in December 2021 and prepared himself for four months of grueling studies.
There was a little problem, though.
Since Rob was still working, he wouldn’t be able to devote his full attention to the review.
Lucky for him, they were still following a remote setup, so he had a pretty flexible schedule.
In the mornings, he would teach online, attend meetings, and edit modules.
When he didn’t have any to-do for the day, he would squeeze in a little review time.
At night, he would typically spend two to three hours reviewing until 11 pm.
He made sure he still had enough sleep not just for his health but for his students, as well.
Balancing his review and his job for the first two months went pretty well for Rob.
He really stuck to his schedule and made good use of all his spare time.
However, in early February, when the second semester in UPLB started, he became incredibly busy.
Being an instructor, he had a lot on his plate, from editing modules to creating lesson plans.
He couldn’t dedicate as much time to his review as before.
But even in the midst of his hectic schedule, he always made sure to read his notes for at least one or two hours every day.
Despite Rob’s consistent effort, the actual board exam still wasn’t as easy as pie for him.
It was different from the previous board exams he practiced on during the review, and most of the questions were really tough.
He particularly struggled with Engineering Sciences and Allied Subjects (ESAS) and Electrical Engineering Professional Subjects (EE), two out of three of the subjects during the licensure exam.
When he finally submitted his paper on the last day of the exam, he had mixed feelings about landing a spot in the Top 10.
He knew he gave his all and was hoping he could manage to become a topnotcher.
But then again, the difficulty of the exam was a massive barrier to this goal.
A few days after the exam, Rob woke up to his mom telling him he had passed the licensure board exam!
He was nothing short of delighted at the news, but when he checked the list of the topnotchers, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
On the #1 spot was his name.
He made it!
GineersNow recently interviewed Engr. Rob and learned his story of success.
Read the full transcript below.
My Student Life
Why did you choose this course? Who or what was your inspiration?
When I was young, I really wanted to be a mathematician.
But when I got older, I realized that it’s cool to be called an engineer; that’s why I pursued Electrical Engineering when I applied to UPLB.
Also, another reason why I pursued the said course is that my older brother at that time was a Civil Engineering student at UPLB.
What are your favorite subjects in your entire engineering study? How about least liked subjects?
During my undergrad, my favorite engineering subjects were mostly mathematics-related.
In specific, it would be about Machine Learning and Control Systems as these subjects are heavily reliant on mathematics skills.
My least liked subjects are general education (GE) courses since I struggled a lot with them before.
Have you had any subject failures or disappointing academic performance, to the very least? If yes, what did you do about it? How did you cope?
There’s this EE project (electronics subject) that I felt was the most stressful part of my college life.
This is because I’ll get delayed if I don’t finish it in time.
Luckily, we finished it just before the next semester started.
What are your most difficult and most painful experiences during college life? What are your greatest struggles while in college?
I can say that I didn’t have any painful experiences during my college life.
I feel really blessed that I have my family and my friends that always support me in whatever decision I make.
Any topnotcher study tips or tricks that you think others should emulate from you?
I strongly believe that our main asset is our time.
So, if you are preparing for an exam, just make sure that you study as early as possible.
Also, make sure that you have a complete sleep for your brain to function well.
What is the best engineering school advice that you can give to other students?
The most important thing for engineering students when they are struggling is to remember why they enrolled in their degree course in the first place.
What was your goal in the first place when you enrolled in an engineering degree?
As long as they know the reason behind it, no matter how shallow it is, I’m sure that they will graduate and will become successful engineers.
My Board Exam Experience
Did you enroll in a center for your review? Do you recommend doing so? Which one did you go to?
Yes, I enrolled in Legit Multivector Review Center in October 2020, and I also enrolled in ACES Review Center in December 2021.
I really recommend enrolling in the review center since it will help you in refreshing what you learned during undergrad.
What were the greatest struggles that you experienced while preparing for the board exam? What did you do to overcome them?
When I started reviewing after graduation, I felt like I didn’t have the motivation to continue reviewing since I wanted to work already, especially since this was the 1st year of the pandemic.
That’s why in December 2020, I stopped attending the review center and started hunting for jobs.
In April 2021, I was accepted to be an Instructor in the UPLB
But I still lacked the motivation at that time to continue reviewing, especially when I learned that the April 2021 board exam was canceled.
So, there’s this struggle that I was not sure if I had to continue reviewing despite the continuous canceling of the board exam.
Fast forward to mid-December 2021; I got motivated to take the April 2022 board exam since.
Finally, the recent REE board exam at that time (September 2021) was not suspended.
How did you find the board exam? Easy, average, or difficult?
I find the April 2022 REE board exam relatively difficult, especially the ESAS and EE subjects, as compared to the previous board exam.
I believe this has something to do with the change in curriculum that will happen in September 2022.
What were your expectations after you took the board exam and before the results were out? Did you have a feeling that you would be at the top?
I have mixed feelings about whether I will be part of the top 10 or not because of the difficult exam.
But that time, I believed that I had done my best, so I was not worried about whatever the results will be.
What did you do the first minute you discovered you topped the board exam?
When the results came out, I was half-asleep when my mother called me to say that I had passed the boards.
After a few seconds, I decided to see if I made it to the top 10, and surprisingly, I saw my name in the top 1.
It feels surreal, and I am really thankful to God since this is my primary goal.
Who do you owe your success to?
I owe my success to God, to my family, and to my friends, who continuously believe that I am capable of doing the feat of being a top 1.
What incentives did you get from your university and review center after your board exam success?
I can’t share the amount since it is confidential. Anyways, I obtained a lot of recognition from my review center and from my university.
Share your most effective study habits.
Always study and work smart (not hard).
Also, don’t force yourself into studying if you feel the need to rest.
Lastly, always make sure to pray.
Give five important tips for future board exam takers who aim to become topnotchers.
Mindset
Have a proper mindset before you review. Know your motivation and goals for the board exam.
Schedule
Create a schedule for the entire span of your review. This must account for your current status (working or not working). Have proper time management.
Notes
Keep track of your notes, especially all the formulas, every time there is a lecture. You can write it on paper or make it digital.
Questions
Focus on the trend of the questions in the latest board exams since most of the questions in the past board exams also came from their preceding board exams.
Study
Study every day since our main asset during the review is time. To have continuous improvement every day is a huge thing, especially if you have a lot to review at the start, just like me.
My Family & Love Life
Describe your family, parents, siblings (and children if applicable)
I am the 2nd oldest child of my father, Raulito Caduyac, and my mother, Juvy Fabay.
My father retired from work last November 2020 while my mother was in our house monitoring my younger brother.
I could say that I am lucky to have my family since they are always on my side for whatever problems I have.
They are also very supportive of every decision I make, something that I can brag about anything.
Did your parents encourage you to study engineering?
Although my parents are not keen on mentioning that I should review, I obtained my work and study ethics from my parents.
When I was in elementary school, they kept pushing me to review even though I wanted to just play at that time.
So, I could say that the experience I obtained when I was a child had a significant impact on my study ethics today.
Are you in a relationship? Or is it complicated?
I’m not in a relationship or anything.
The Future
Describe engineering in one word.
Hope!
Why is engineering important in our society?
As a developing country, there’s still a lot of work to do in terms of research and development and infrastructure.
That’s why engineers are really important in our society.
I believe that maximizing the potential of our engineers in the country will be crucial moving forward.
Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
I can see myself being a successful researcher ten years from now. I have always dreamt of having a Ph.D. and being a university professor.
I know that there are still a lot of things to do, but with my motivation, I believe that I can accomplish my lifetime goal.
Positive Advice From GineersNow Editorial Team
How to bounce back if you are a demotivated engineering student?
If you are feeling demotivated in your engineering school career, there are a few things you can do to try and bounce back.
First, talk to your professors and see if they can provide additional support for your work.
Second, find a group or organization that you can join and contribute to.
Third, make sure that you are getting adequate sleep and eating well.
Finally, keep up with your coursework and stay focused on your goals.
Tips for a demotivated engineering student.
Electrical Engineering can be tough. Sometimes, a demotivated engineering student needs a little motivation to push through.
Get organized: This will help a demotivated engineering student stay on top of your work and feel more in control.
Set small goals: Breaking up your goals into smaller chunks will make them feel more achievable and motivating.
Take breaks: It’s important to give a demotivated engineering student time to relax and rejuvenate, or you’ll burn out quickly.
Find a mentor: A mentor can help a demotivated engineering student stay motivated and on track, and offer helpful advice along the way.
Don’t compare yourself to others: Every demotivated engineering student progresses at their own pace, so don’t get discouraged by what others are doing.
Find a role model: Look for someone who you admire and try to emulate their work ethic.
Set goals: Figure out what a demotivated engineering student wants to achieve and make a plan to get there.
Get organized: Make a schedule and stick to it.
Take breaks: Make sure to take some time for yourself, or you’ll burn out.
Stay positive: Don’t get down on yourself, focus on your successes.
Seek help: If a demotivated engineering student is struggling, don’t be afraid to ask for help from your professor or classmates.
Conclusion: Demotivated engineering student tips
Remember, everyone struggles sometimes. Just keep pushing through
