From Licensure Exam Topnotchers to Teachers of Future Teachers
Two Insular Foundation scholars topped the recent Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers or LET. Alyssa Jeanne C. Tamondong-Maala ranked first among the Teachers Board Exam’s topnotchers for Elementary Level, while Raven Louise D. Daguro ranked ninth in the exam for Secondary Level.
The topnotchers who both graduated from the University of the Philippine (UP) Diliman shared that goal focus, hard work, and faith in God helped them ace the exams.
For Alyssa Jeanne C. Tamondong-Maala, the Gold Eagle Scholarship encouraged her to dream big. The licensure exam topnotcher now teaches future educators as a national lecturer for a review center.
Alyssa earned her Bachelor of Elementary Education, Major in Special Education, degree with cum laude distinction. During her university years, Alyssa shared that the Gold Eagle Scholarship helped her family when they were having financial difficulties. But beyond the stipend, she noted that the Insular Foundation’s Career Readiness Summit encouraged her to dream big.
Alyssa noted that her 100-day preparations for LET was all about commitment to her goal, hard work in silence, and faith in God.
“In the world that is very loud and consistently getting louder, a lot of people think that they need to post everything on social media to make a buzz and make an impact. I wanted to challenge that. I also share this advice to my students during my lectures: work hard in silence and let your success make noise. Because when you are quiet about your goals, you are more intentional in achieving your goals with the help of God, of course,” she said.
Alyssa now teaches LET examinees as a national lecturer for a review center. “God gave me the gift of teaching and that I should use it to give Him glory. I thought I would be teaching children with special needs. But there is a broader way to make an impact and that is to teach the teachers,” she said.
Raven, for his part, shared that he is in love with teaching. He recalled teaching “ghost students” using a blackboard at home during his elementary years, helping his high school classmates with their lessons, and using online flashcards when he was preparing for LET.
But even as he focused on his goal of passing the licensure exam, Raven admitted doubting if he would succeed. His parents advised him to accept whatever the exam results were and accompanied him to Quiapo Church to ask for guidance and wisdom.
“Without His guidance, it would be impossible to achieve anything. Praying is a fool-proof way to succeed. Pero hindi araw-araw ay lucky day. Okay lang na madapa but focus on your goal. Get up and dream on. Always find ways to help yourself. I am blessed to have a strong support system – my family and friends, the university, and Insular Foundation,” he said.
Raven Louise D. Daguro considers his family, friends, the University of the Philippines Diliman, and Insular Foundation as his blessings.
Raven earned his Bachelor of Secondary Education, Major in Mathematics degree with Magna Cum Laude distinction. He said that through the Gold Eagle Scholarship, he was able to buy his own laptop and mobile phone at a critical time when UP transitioned to online learning during the pandemic. He added that the stipend served as his allowance and financial support for his maintenance medicines for epilepsy. And during his senior years, the Insular Foundation’s Career Readiness Summit helped him find and sharpen his edge as he prepares to enter the work force.
Raven now works as a national lecturer for a review center, mentor in a tutorial center, and private tutor. He hopes to teach at Cavite State University located in his hometown Rosario, Cavite. With this target work, Raven hopes to double the ripple effects of the teaching profession as teacher of future teachers.