I wrote this essay for YoungBlood, the Philippine Inquirer's section for writers aged 30 and below.

1. A good education, ever-supportive parents, similarly purpose-driven comrades, a great
ambition in life, and with the odds on your side- a mix of all these ingredients and you know you’re
on your way to what everyone wants- a meaningful and successful life. But then again, from the
countless inspirational stories I’ve ever heard and read about, and I’m sure that most of what you
also believe is true- not everyone can have it all at once. That is why despite the difference in
circumstances, there is one common denominator in the success of these people we well admire.
It’s hard work.
A book that I recently finished, entitled What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20, captured it
so well that I felt the urge to share it. For one reason, we should all have our favorite success stories
that we can turn into our inspirations, our dreams, or shall I say, our “goals”. And I feel like this
will help you find yours. Apparently, this original, mindboggling, one-of-a-kind book is my
favorite. From this ingenious work by Tina Seelig, an Engineering professor in the University of
Stanford, I’ve learned that we continue to carpe diem because we have things that we have yet
tried, places where we have yet gone to- basically, dreams that we have yet fulfilled- and we all
try to burn the midnight oil to get there. We try to work hard. At some point in our lives, we even
try to push ourselves to the very limits. But then, trying to get there is not enough. There very well
is a huge difference between trying to work hard and actually working hard. Because from what
I’ve picked up from this inspirational piece, going for that aspiration of yours and having a little
bit of grit to actually do the “impossible” will take you places.
Let me share you a story. You must know that this story is about a young lady who dreams
so big that more than half of the people she knows says she is too ambitious. At times, even her
parents think she is. We begin her story from where most stories I’ve known of begin with- the
protagonist’s childhood. As a little girl, this young lady had this witty dream of becoming “world-
class” and she thought that joining small interclass competitions in school will eventually get her
there. The first real contest she’s ever joined was a Chinese Calligraphy writing competition. This
seven-year old then spent weeks of training to perfect the meticulous strokes of the characters, and
after giving everything she’s got on her first competition, she finally had a taste of triumph- her
very first. That one time when her name was announced as champion and when she was asked to
come onstage to receive the award gave her the drive to continue to take on risks, learn new skills,

2. and be victorious all the more. It gave her so much joy- a wonderful sense of fulfillment. And more
than anything, she felt a step closer to her dream.
Over the years, she had joined almost every single competition her school held- from both
English and Filipino composition, to storytelling, vocal solo, declamation, and extemporaneous-
you name it. At some point, she even tried out for her school’s swimming, football, chess, and hip-
hop dance team. She won some, lost some- but one thing that kept her going was her ultimate
dream. Eventually, she reached that instant during her years in High School when she was chosen
to represent her school in seminars, NOPSSCEA, and academic competitions. Yes, it sure is funny
how this kid couldn’t figure out which specific craft to focus on, but give it to her- she has managed
to keep an equal ratio of her sweet victories and heartbreaking losses. Don’t get me wrong. I
wouldn’t call her much of an academic achiever when she was in elementary and during her first
few years in High School. In fact, she was leaning more on the arts and sports. Her only favorite
subject was English. Truth be told, this was probably the one subject she was really good at. You
see, during sixth grade, she almost got a nine of seven in Math, and the year after, she got her first
“D”- an actual nine of seven- in Science. An 80 in Grade 6 Mathematics was tolerable, but an
almost-failing 70 something in Grade 7 Science was not. That day she received her first D was
both one of the worst and the best days of her life. Yes, it did give her great fear and humiliation,
but at the same time, it also gave her the determination to do better. It was the worst of days because
the first twelve years of her life had seen overwhelming success and little failure, and to receive
such low of a grade was crushing for such an ambitious young lady. On the brighter side, she also
considers it as one of her best. After all, if it weren’t for that mortifying “D”, she wouldn’t have
had maximized her potential. She wouldn’t have had leaped from that spot of her springboard.
That event wouldn’t have had told her to start pushing her skills beyond limit. Because from that
day on, she vowed that she would never get another nine of seven or even an almost-nine of seven
in her life. Ever.
Because of that promise she had made, she ran the extra mile by studying even harder than
she ever did. It was tough at times, but at the end of it all, she’s learned that all the great things
will outdo those tough times she’d had. And she sure is glad for all the sacrifices- both big and
small- that she had made. Today, she is a proud member of the Mathematics Trainer’s Guild
Philippines- the national team that sends young mathematically-inclined students to different

3. international Math competitions to represent the country. Armed with grit and whatever trainings
she’s tackled up, she went and took the exams. After the qualifying exams, she qualified again for
the YMIITP, the Young Mathematicians’ In-house Intensive Program, and by God’s grace, was
able to make it again to the MOSTP, the Mathematical Olympiad Summer Training Program. She
spent five weeks of her summer learning Math which she once thought was “impossible” given
her past grades, but nonetheless, she made it. She wouldn’t have been a member of the Philippine
Team if she didn’t have the grit to take the qualifying exams for the third time. And yes, you read
that right. Just literally like Miss Universe 2015, Pia Wurtzbach, she had also failed twice before
making it on her third shot. She first took the exams when she was in 5th
grade and took her second
the year after. It was only during her last year in Junior High when she decided to try again. And
today, this little girl, now all grown up, is more than happy for having made that decision.
What she still can’t get over with and what she finds amusing is her past aspiration when
she was 12. As you’ve read, she had once tried out for the swimming team, and was so passionate
about swimming then. Coincidentally, the Olympics that took place last 2012 stimulated her hope
to represent her country in the Swimming Olympics. Clearly, she was not able to pursue this. She
now finds herself instead, lined up for the “Math Olympics”. It’s funny how the universe conspired
to make this young lady’s dream come true. Nonetheless, her aspiration of becoming “world-class”
is now fulfilled. As of today, she is beyond grateful for the many blessings that she has been
humbled with and is now eagerly preparing for her first international competition which will be
held soon. She is also hoping that she will be able to bring home the bacon for her country, and be
able to motivate many people out there. For now, let this be the end of this ambitious young lady’s
story.
I guess that by now, you’ve already figured out that this young lady I’ve been well talking
about is none other than myself. Also, you might be pretty much laughing both mentally and
verbally at my guts my own “success” story. Believe me, I did too. But then again, this is one very
important lesson I’ve picked up from What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20: “Never Miss a Chance
to be Fabulous.” If you’ve got something good, don’t be afraid to show it! This lesson is perhaps
my second most favorite from the book. I’ve learned that when you’ve got the chance to do
something, always make it a point that you do your best to be able to showcase your talent and
skills. Now looking back to the road I took, I’ve realized that everything I’ve learned and read

4. about is true. The lessons I’ve picked up such as: knowing yourself and taking choices to make
meaning, being optimistic in everything you do, using failures as motivations to do better, and so
many others- have already been executed by myself unknowingly. You might have even done so,
too!
Now at sixteen, I’ve realized both by observation and experience, that most people out
there miss a lot of great opportunities because these opportunities are dressed in overalls. This
means, they require a lot of work. And boy, human as we are, do we hate it. In retrospect, only
those who have the drive to make life more meaningful than it already is are the ones who exert
so much of their willpower to love this work. Therefore, these people get to take on more
opportunities and therefore, they have a bigger chance to get to their ultimate goals faster than the
ones who’d rather stay in their comfort zones.
What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20 is a book that I’m more than grateful for having been
written. It is the kind of book that will make everything in this world fall into place once every
living soul gets to read it. It’s like chicken soup for the soul really, but for me, only better. To all
millennials out there, I encourage you to read this book and use it to your advantage. Let’s skip
the mistakes everyone else makes. Let us strive to make meaning in whatever decisions we make
for it is us who will soon take the lead in our nation. And lastly, dear reader, consider this a gift.
By reading this article of mine, you’ve saved about 8.3 dollars (415 pesos) to read a book that is
an international bestseller, and one that I strongly believe is a piece ought to be required reading.
Leah Cioco
Grade 11 student
St. John’s Institute, Bacolod City
16 years old