MANILA, Philippines – What used to be a classroom nickname has become a badge of honor for Brian Ray Minerva, a graduate of Central Philippine University (CPU), after he landed Top 4 in the August 2022 Mechanical Engineering Licensure Examination (MELE) with an impressive 93.70% average.
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| Photo courtesy: Brian Ray D. Minerva/Facebook |
Brian, who graduated summa cum laude in 2020 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, became a standout not just for his academic performance, but for a label given to him by his classmates—"alien." But it wasn’t meant to mock. Rather, it was a nod to his extraordinary talent, especially in Mathematics.
A Math wizard, indeed!
His peers often noticed that he could solve even the most difficult Math problems; questions that left the rest of the class, and sometimes even their lecturers, stumped.
“There were times when no one else could answer a particular [math] question, and I was the only one who could,” Brian shared, according to a news by Radyo Bandera-Bacolod City/Negros Occidental.
“Sometimes, I could even solve problems that our instructors couldn't immediately solve.”
In a social media post following the release of the board exam results, Brian wrote, "I was blitzed by congratulatory messages from different people from different walks of life, be it a friend or a past friend. I was also asked a ton of questions. ‘How did you do it?’ ‘What were your preparations?’ ‘Are you an alien?’”
His humorous yet humble response to the nickname reflects his personality—brilliant but grounded, focused yet approachable. For Brian, the term “alien” became symbolic of what it means to stand out in a world that often rewards conformity.
Now a licensed mechanical engineer, Brian serves as an inspiration to aspiring engineers and students everywhere, proving that passion, consistency, and embracing one’s uniqueness can lead to extraordinary results.
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express