MANILA, Philippines – At 14, Joy Olga Paciones was already working to pay for her education, never knowing that years of sacrifice would one day lead her to top a national board examination and pass two licensure exams in just three months.
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| Photo courtesy: Joy Olga Paciones |
Today, the 24-year-old from Quezon, Palawan has become an inspiration after passing the April 2026 Real Estate Brokers Licensure Examination and emerging as a national topnotcher in the July 2026 Real Estate Appraisers Licensure Examination.
In an exclusive interview with The Summit Express, Paciones opened up about the years of sacrifice, sleepless nights, and quiet determination that turned what once seemed like an impossible dream into a life-changing reality.
She began supporting herself at just 14 years old, learning early that dreams often demand courage long before they reward persistence.
While taking up Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Management at Philippine Christian University-Cavite, she managed one full-time job, two part-time jobs, and a demanding academic schedule.
"There were days when I walked into my classes with little to no sleep—not because I lacked discipline, but because I was doing everything I could to keep my dream alive," she told The Summit Express.
Despite the pressure, she graduated as Summa Cum Laude, Batch Salutatorian, and consistently ranked first in her department while earning university honors and Dean's List recognition from her first year until graduation.
Whenever exhaustion tested her resolve, she held on to three reminders that became the foundation of her journey.
"Be persistent for you to get it, be consistent for you to keep it, and be grateful to attract more of it," she said.
She also carried another belief that pushed her through life's toughest moments.
"If you don't sacrifice for what you want, what you want becomes the sacrifice," she shared.
Preparing for two board examinations within the same year eventually changed her understanding of success.
She realized that lasting achievements are built not by burning yourself out, but by showing up every day with consistency, purpose, and balance.
"I didn't succeed because I was the smartest or the strongest," Paciones said. "I succeeded because I chose to keep showing up, one day at a time."
Her review sessions focused on active learning instead of simply reading notes.
She explained every lesson aloud as though she were teaching someone else, memorized thousands of flashcards, and repeatedly answered practice examinations until every concept became second nature.
"Whenever there was no one to teach, I talked to the wind because I believed that if I could explain a topic clearly, then I truly understood it," she recalled.
When the examination results were finally released, the years of sacrifice caught up with her in a flood of emotions.
"I cried and cried because by God's grace, I passed two board examinations within just three months and, as a bonus, I became a National Board Topnotcher," she said.
For Paciones, the victory was never measured by rankings alone, but by the person she became through every sleepless night, silent prayer, and difficult decision.
Her guiding principle is captured in the Latin phrase Fac Si Facis, which means, "Do it, if you're going to do it."
"Do it scared, do it alone, do it lonely, and do it even when your hands are trembling," she said.
As she looks ahead, Paciones hopes her story encourages others to believe that impossible dreams can become reality through persistence and faith.
"It wasn't talent. It wasn't luck. It was the decision to never quit," she said. "Dreams don't come true for those who simply wish for them; they come true for those who choose them every single day, no matter how difficult the journey becomes."
— The Summit Express
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