He fondly reminisces the time he and his two best friends first set foot in National U. In 2014, they decided to enroll in NU because they were amazed with the facilities. They all took up Civil Engineering, attended the same classes and graduated together in 2019.

Although his best friends decided not to take the exam yet due to the pandemic, he excitedly shared that his girlfriend, Judith Santos, a fellow Nationalian, also passed the licensure exam. He further mentioned that “Nagbunga na po yung mga pagpupuyat namin saka araw-araw na pag-aaral, wala pong palya”.

A son of an OFW and a jeepney driver, Engr. Selga said that his motivation during the review and exam was his family, especially his mother, “Ito na yung last shot ko para masuklian lahat ng sacrifices ng parents ko. Simula grade school, nag-OFW yung mother ko para masuportahan kami financially. Ang father ko naman po ay jeepney driver pero nahinto dahil sa pandemic”.

His father passed away due to aneurysm last November 2021, “Sobrang inaantay din po nya itong board exam ko, kasi dapat May 2020 magte-take na ako, kaya lang hindi natuloy dahil sa pandemic”.

With an excellent board exam finish, Selga confessed that during his college life, there was a time that his biggest hindrance was his own self. “Naging hindrance ko po sarili ko mismo, yung hindi po ako nage-effort mag aral during my first two years in college. Wala pa po akong self-realization kung gaano po talaga kahirap at hindi biro ang kinuha kong course. Na-realize ko lang po noong bumagsak po ako nung 1st year sa solid mensuration”. One failed subject was his wake-up call, it made him strive harder and set aside the hours spent playing Dota in computer shops.

His secret to passing the board, “Consistency and hard work po sa pag-aaral. I always look for the easiest and simplest solution for every problem. I do not stress myself and waste so many hours on questions that I cannot answer. He also said that one of the strategies was to follow the trend in the past examinations, study and focus on the favorite topics of the examiners.”

He further shared that he already lost count of the moments that he failed in life, but never once lost hope, “I did not complain, I always looked at the brighter side and believed that there will always be room for improvement”. He has been very inspired with his favorite bible verse, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.

Five years from now, he sees himself working as a structural engineer in a well-known company and pursuing a master’s degree in structural engineering.