MANILA, Philippines – Like thousands of other students, Genesis O. Rivera wanted to study at the University of the Philippines (UP), but he failed to make it. While he cried for days after that failure, he was able to grow from the experience and even topped the November 2023 Nutritionist-Dietitian Licensure Examination (NDLE).
In an interview with The Electron, the official English student publication of his alma mater, Quezon City Science High School (QCSHS), Rivera shared, “When I saw my name at the very top of the list of passers, I took a deep breath and sighed in relief. I was very satisfied realizing that this was already the fruit of my hard work.”
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| Genesis O. Rivera happily poses with his certificate and medal from the PRC for topping the ND board exams. Photo credit: Genesis O. Rivera |
Yet his journey to the top wasn’t easy.
Growing up in Caloocan, his interest in Nutrition and Dietetics began after realizing at 9 years old that “vegetable junk foods” enjoying much success with their clever marketing aren’t healthy at all. Even at a young age, he was able to correctly determine that the junk foods didn’t actually have the nutritional value their manufacturers claimed they had. He was in Grade 3 at the time.
This curiosity led him to study at Quezon City Science High School.
There were times when he felt scared over his failing grades in Math and English, but he managed to overcome these hurdles to graduate from the prestigious high school.
While he worked as an intern at the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD), he was shocked when he wasn’t able to pass the admissions test.
He admitted, “Araw-araw ko yun iniyakan (at the time)... Nakakahiya kasi galing ka ng science high school tapos hindi ka pumasa ng UP. (At the time, I would cry daily over that failure. It was embarrassing that I graduated from a science high school but didn’t pass UP.)”
Thankfully, he managed to once again overcome that hurdle. Even when the pandemic hit and classes had to be done online, Rivera was no longer fazed. He even claimed that the online classes may have prepared him more for the board exams.
Doing online classes motivated him to develop good study habits. Instead of just waiting for his professors to discuss the lessons, he would study in advance. He read books. He researched.
He aimed to top the board exams - and he actually managed to do it, ranking as No. 1 with a rating of 92.60%.
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| Photo credit: PRC |
He detailed his arduous journey in his speech during the ND oathtaking ceremony. Watch it here:
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
