Dropout tops exam for high school teachers

MANILA — A high school dropout topped the latest Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET) in the secondary level.

In an interview with DZMM, Michael Prince del Rosario, who got 92% in the LET, said that he was not able to graduate from high school due to his addiction with an online game.

“Hindi po ako grumaduate ng valedictorian, hindi nga po ako grumaduate ng high school,” del Rosario said.

Del Rosario remembered that his obsession with an online game started when he was in first year high school.

He became so fascinated with the game that he decided not to attend his classes, and he eventually dropped out of school.

“Hindi na po talaga ako pumapasok, sobrang lala po ng ka-addict-an to the point na wala na po. Nag-drop-out ako tapos ang masama pa niyan hindi ko kayang sabihin kina Mama, tinago ko po muna,” the topnotcher recalled.

Del Rosario said that while his parents thought that he was in school, he was spending the pocket money that they gave him for computer shop rental.

A redirection

However, del Rosario, in his supposed-to-be senior year, had a redirection when he saw his batchmates looking forward to their graduation and planning for college.

“Unti-unti ko na pong nakikita na pa-graduate na po ‘yung mga ka-batch ko, na ang ganda-ganda na ng plano nilang mag-college, na ang sarap ng mga dreams nila for their family. Sa isip ko, pa’no ako? Pa’no ko ibibigay ‘yun sa family ko?” said del Rosario.

Fortunately, del Rosario had a chance to have a high school diploma through a program of Department of Education (DepEd) called Alternative Learning System (ALS).

He said that he was given a module that he reviewed. He then took an exam, passed it, and got a diploma to proceed to college.

A realized dream

When asked if del Rosario really aimed for the top spot in the LET, he admitted that he really wanted it to fulfill her mother’s dream to be interviewed on television.

“Opo, kasi po pangarap ko po talagang ma-interview po ‘yung nanay ko sa TV. Sabi ko para mangyari ‘yun kailangan number one ako, so ayun po natupad na po ‘yung pangarap niya kanina. Tuwang-tuwa siya,” del Rosario narrated.

Prior to the LET, Del Rosario also bagged the eighth top spot in the board exam for nurses.

However, he feels that he is not yet ready to take responsibility for someone’s life so he taught in a review center instead.

Now, he plans to teach a science subject in a public provincial secondary school to inspire students with his story.

“Para mai-share ko naman ‘yung experience ko noong high school ako, para marami ring maging katulad ko na noong una nadapa, noong una nagkamali, noong una parang wala nang pupuntahan, pero nakakabangon at nakakabangon basta may pangarap,” del Rosario said.