When I left home to begin a new chapter of my life in Singapore as an ASEAN scholar, I carried with me a heart of eagerness and a suitcase filled with hopes and dreams.
Jewel Changi Airport November 5 2024
The Leap of Faith
Here’s how it all began. Back in the Philippines, I was an 8th-grade student at DLSZ-BRafeNHS in the A.Y. of 2023-2024. It was nearing Christmas when my school informed me that I was eligible to apply for a School-Based Scholarship to a secondary school in Singapore. The scholarship would last from Secondary 3 (9th Grade) to Junior College 2 (12th Grade) and includes an annual allowance and provision of a hostel and meals.
When I learned about it, I knew in my heart that I wanted to attain it, no matter what. My dream, even at a young age, was to study abroad. With the opportunity right in front of me, I knew I couldn’t pass it up. I told my parents about it, and well, they were reluctant at first. But, eventually, they got around to the idea. So, with my parents’ approval, I went through with the application process. I passed the initial screening, and the administrators of the school I applied to flew to the Philippines to meet with me, my parents, and three of my classmates who were also applying. They informed us about the details of the scholarship, entertained our queries, and told us that studying in Singapore would be extremely challenging. At that point in time, I wasn’t really convinced, but rather more focused on my resolution to achieve the scholarship.
After that, I submitted my application online in February 2024 with my credentials and background. Following that, I had to take a written selection test in March that consisted of three categories: Mathematics and English, which were two hours long respectively, and the General Ability Test, which was an hour long.
I still remember the night before the exam, doing last-minute revision, unable to sleep, just rolling around aimlessly in bed and staring at the ceiling, fully aware that this exam could decide my future. I prayed to God and asked that He would bestow upon me the knowledge, guidance, and wisdom I needed. Whether or not I passed, I knew that God’s plan for me was far greater than mine, even if I couldn’t understand it at the time. With a heavy heart and an anxiety-induced ache in my stomach, I forced myself out of bed early in the morning to head to the exam venue.
Right after I completed the Mathematics test, I fell into despair. I did so horribly on the exam that I was convinced I wouldn’t pass and get the scholarship. Despite my distress, I reassured myself and persevered. Next was the English test which comprised two parts, namely, Comprehension, which lasted one and a half hours, and Writing, in which we had to write an essay on the provided topic within 30 minutes. I managed to perform relatively well on both the English and General Ability tests, and that gave me a slight sense of hope.
After what felt like the longest, most nerve-wracking month of my life, I received an update through email in April. I was sitting unknowingly in class when my other classmate who had applied approached me, his voice neutral and monotonous. “The results are out,” he whispered. At that moment, my heart skipped a beat. I rushed to open my email, my heart pounding as I desperately wanted to know whether I had passed.
An email with the subject “Invite to School-Based Scholarship interview” caught my eye.
I passed the exam somehow. Excitement and celebration instantly flooded my mind, as I turned to my other classmates who applied, hoping to see the same reactions on their faces, only to be met with quiet disappointment.
I realised that out of the four of us who applied, I was the only person who had moved on to the next stage of the application.
That night, I told my family the news, and the realisation that I actually had a chance to study in Singapore dawned on me. I was one step closer to realising my dreams.
Finally, I went through the last stage of the application process: the interview. The interviewees were administrators of the schools I had applied to: St. Joseph’s Institution (SJI) and National Junior College (NJC). Due to my anxiety, I performed a lot worse than I had expected. My mind felt like it was going blank, and I ended up giving mundane and generic responses to their questions. Once again, exactly like how I felt right after my examinations, I believed I had no shot. I went home that day thinking I had flunked the interview. Despite my pessimism, there was still the tiny glimmer of hope that I would obtain the scholarship through a miracle. So, I prayed to God. I knew that if the scholarship was truly meant for me, He would grant it and open the door for me. I chose to trust that whatever happened, He knew what was best.
A week later, I received an email from one of the interviewees on the outcome of the interview. I opened the email, preparing myself for the worst, and the first sentence hit me like a truck.
I was rejected from both the schools I applied to.
A wave of disappointment washed over me, and I just sat there, staring at the screen in silence, feeling the weight of it all settle in.
But then, directly beneath the first line, I saw something that changed everything. Despite the rejection, they had still recommended me for the ASEAN Scholarship, which had the same benefits as the School-Based scholarship, with the only difference being the Ministry of Education would post me to a different school.
I blinked, reread it, unsure if I misunderstood. Despite not getting into either of the schools I applied to, they had seen something in me, enough to give me a second chance.
I had actually gotten the scholarship.
God had answered my prayers in a way I didn’t see coming.
The Weight of the Journey
Before I knew it, a few months flew by in the blink of an eye. It was the 5th of November, the day a new chapter of my life would begin. With my suitcase in hand, I bid farewell to my friends and family and stepped into the unknown.
To help me settle into life in Singapore, my mom and aunt accompanied me and stayed in Singapore for two weeks. It was everything I had dreamed of, new faces, new routines, and the real feeling of independence. From buying groceries to exploring my home for the next four years, every little moment made me feel like I was where I was meant to be. I was finally living the life I had imagined for so long, meeting people from all walks of life and learning to stand on my own two feet.
But, the day my mom and aunt left brought a new reality. It was then that I truly understood I was doing this on my own. Being alone at a young age in a different country brings a different kind of pain, one you only fully comprehend during the silent nights in your dorm room, wondering whether you made the right decision. The nightly calls with my parents during those first two months only made me miss home even more. I sought home in the little things: the food I ate, the people around me, each and every thing only worsened my homesickness.
I missed home in ways I never expected to and didn’t know I could.
When the school year began in January at my school, Swiss Cottage Secondary, the academic pressure came crashing down on me. The environment was nothing like back home. There was such a strong emphasis on excellence, and everyone seemed incredibly smart and capable, more so than I. I struggled to keep up and felt overwhelmed by the pace and expectations.
It felt like I was drowning while everyone else was effortlessly swimming.
The more I struggled, the more I missed home. I started questioning why I even got the scholarship in the first place and why God had set me on this path.
Was I really smart enough to be here?
Doubt crept in like a shadow, whispering that maybe I didn’t belong. Those feelings made the loneliness and homesickness harder to bear.
But looking back now, I realise that if I hadn’t taken this scholarship, I would have never met the incredible people who have become a part of my life, nor experienced the beautiful moments that have shaped me. It has also strengthened my love for my family and deepened my appreciation for home in ways I never thought possible. I will admit, even though I’m still struggling both academically and personally, I know I’m growing every day. This journey isn’t merely about grades or tests; it’s about becoming the person I’m meant to be. At the end of the day, I’m fighting for my future, and I wouldn’t trade this opportunity for anything. If I had the chance to choose again, I would still accept the offer.
I may not always see the bigger picture, but I trust that God placed me here for a reason.
This path may not be the smoothest or most straightforward, but it is part of His plan for me, a plan that is greater than I could ever imagine.
With faith guiding me, I am willing to face whatever lies ahead.
Courtesy visit with Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon
Ruffy Biazon. “Isa sa mga bumisita sa akin this Monday morning (March 17) ang nakakaproud na Muntinlupeñong si Marc Galerio, isang ASEAN Scholar na currently ay nag-aaral sa Singapore…” Facebook, 21 Mar. 2025.
Written by Marc Matthieu Bolo Galerio
sojcfoundationph.com 