Teacher aspirant turns engineer: ‘Many expected me to fail’

MANILA, Philippines – For Engr. Feliciano P. Mendoza, Jr., the road to becoming an engineer was never part of the plan—but it became the path that changed his life.

Photo courtesy: Engr. Feliciano Mendoza Jr.

In September 2022, he successfully passed the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineer Licensure Exam, joining the 832 passers out of 1,968 examinees nationwide.

“I never imagined myself pursuing engineering,” Mendoza told The Summit Express. “I actually wanted to be a social studies teacher, but circumstances led me to a different path.”

During college enrollment, he came across BS Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, a program he knew little about but decided to try. “My father is a farmer, and I thought, maybe becoming an engineer would make him proud,” he said.

The journey, however, was far from smooth. “Engineering wasn’t my first choice, so I often doubted myself,” he shared. “But I told myself, I finish what I start, no matter how hard it gets.”

That principle was tested again when the board exam arrived. Despite suffering from high fever and headaches, Mendoza showed up determined. “I remembered that I wasn’t doing this for me alone,” he said. “I was my family’s hope for a better life.”

Even while working after graduation, he carved out time for self-study and review. “Many expected me to fail,” he revealed. “But that only pushed me to prove them wrong.”

Today, Engr. Mendoza stands as proof that perseverance opens doors. “You don’t have to start with passion—you just have to start,” he emphasized. “With faith, hard work, and determination, success will follow.”

— The Summit Express