“You can never go wrong if you chase and work on your passion.”
Natuklasan ni Jerome Formaran na Geology at hindi ang una niyang course na kinuha ang kanyang passion. Nagdesisyon siyang sundin ang nasa kanyang puso, at naging smooth ang pagsungkit niya sa tagumpay.
Noong bata pa si Jerome Garcia Formaran, mahilig siyang manood ng mga balita at documentaries tungkol sa ating planeta, partikular sa mga kalamidad gaya ng bagyo, lindol, at pagputok ng bulkan.
Napukaw ang kanyang interes dahil sa mga kuwentong narinig niya noong sumabog ang Mount Pinatubo at lumubog ang kanilang lugar sa Mexico, Pampanga, dahil sa lahar noong 1991.
Nakakuwentuhan si Jerome, 23, last February 19, 2024, via Facebook Messenger.
Pagbabahagi niya, “I got fascinated and intrigued kung paano nangyayari yung mga processes na yun. I am also a geek sa geography.
“Kuwento nga ng mama ko, hilig ko raw mag-draw ng mapa ng Pilipinas since I was six years old.
“This led me to make a decision to pursue something related sa Earth Sciences.”
Nagtapos si Jerome ng Bachelor of Science in Geology sa University of the Philippines Diliman noong July 30, 2023, bilang magna cum laude.
Top 1 naman siya sa November 2023 Geologists Licensure Examination, kung saan nakakuha siya ng rating na 84.70 percent.
A SHIFTEE FROM PHYSICS TO geology
Nang magkolehiyo si Jerome, wala sa plano niya ang mag-enroll sa UP.
Ang dahilan, “We couldn’t afford it. Finances talaga yung biggest challenge namin since minimum wage earner yung papa ko at that time.”
Hindi sapat ang sahod ng kanyang ama para matustusan ang pag-aaral niya at ang iba pang gastos dahil kailangan niyang mag-stay sa Metro Manila.
Nagkataon namang nakapasa siya sa scholarship ng Department of Science and Technology.
Ani Jerome, “Sinubukan ko na ring makipagsapalaran sa UP.”
Kumuha siya ng BS Physics.
“I initially planned to take it as a preparation for Meteorology which is only offered as a master’s degree sa UP.”
Naging wake-up call sa kanya ang naging desisyon.
“Aside sa first time ko na bumagsak sa mga major exams, I didn’t feel like my passion was truly there.”
Naisalba naman umano niya ang kanyang semestre.
“But I still felt the need to address my dilemma. Parang I don’t see myself doing the same kind of thing for the next few years.”
Makalipas ang ilang buwan nang malalimang pag-iisip, “I finally decided to try Geology.”
Napakaraming applicants for shiftees and transferees, at masuwerte si Jerome na mapabilang sa limang tinanggap sa UP-National Institute of Geological Sciences (UPNIGS).
At natuklasan niyang napakahirap pala ng Geology.
“Noong high school, nadalian ako sa Earth Science kasi halos memorization yung approach sa subject na yun.
“However, Geology involves a lot of observation and analysis to make sense of our planet.”
Paliwanag pa niya, “Geology is an interdisciplinary course that integrates physics, math, chemistry, biology, and other fields of science kaya extra challenge talaga.
“And it is also more of an applied program that you will appreciate more sa field and laboratory settings kaya lalo itong naging mahirap when we had our online classes noong pandemic.”
COLLEGE LIFE
Dahil kapos sa budget, naging praktikal si Jerome sa kanyang mga gastusin sa kolehiyo.
“I prioritized saving some money from my allowances and scholarship.
“I tried to be proactive sa mga posibleng mangyari along the way, and it really helped me, especially during pandemic.”
Noong huling taon niya ay natapos na ang kanyang scholarship kaya lalong naging challenging ang kanyang pagkokolehiyo.
“I considered other options to sustain my finances, pero thankful ako that some of my friends and relatives helped me.”
May mga organizations at study groups din na nakatulong sa kanya.
“I appreciate them especially when I have mental and emotional breakdowns because college life can get very overwhelming.
“I think the most important thing of all is that I was able to find my passion in Geology; learning Geology felt natural to me.
“Kaya kahit napakahirap ng mga lessons, I still appreciate it because I enjoyed what I was doing.
“I didn’t expect na yung decision ko to shift would be the best and most consequential decision that I’ve made until now.”
REVIEW STRATEGY
Thankfully, wala namang masyadong naging challenges kay Jerome sa pagkuha niya ng board exam.
“Before I graduated, I already joined the review sessions na ino-offer ng isa sa mga organizations namin sa UPNIGS.
“The difficult part is actually reviewing for the board exam. Geology is a very diverse and complex field.
“Sa boards, they could just ask for anything related to Geology up to the minute detail, even if random fact pa iyan.”
Aniya, hindi oras ang crucial sa pagre-review kundi ang kanyang focus.
“Mahirap ding kalaban ang antok. Kaya I only dedicated a limited amount of time to review per day, and I also prioritized taking time to sleep and rest para mas ma-retain ko yung mga inaral ko.”
Para mabawasan ang stress and pressure, nanonood din siya ng teleserye, naglalaro ng online games, nag-eehersisyo at lumalabas para mag-unwind.
BECOMING A TOPNOTCHER
Aminado si Jerome na may mga bahagi ng exam na talagang nahirapan siya.
“Hindi rin ako nakatulog nang maayos sa sobrang anxious, kaya I was very sleepy habang nag-e-exam.”
Medyo confident naman siyang maganda ang kanyang performance sa unang dalawang araw ng exam.
“I was able to study some of the questions na lumabas sa boards.”
Pero nabigla siya sa ikatlong araw.
“Halos wala talaga yung mga naaral ko sa exam. Kumapit lang ako sa mga context clues and some educated guesses. Yung iba, talagang hinulaan ko na lang.
“Mapapadasal ka na lang talaga to pass that day. It was the lowest score out of the three, but I still managed to pass.”
Hindi naman nangarap si Jerome na maging topnotcher, “Let alone being the first place.
“The funny thing is that many of my friends are expecting me to become one of the topnotchers, ako lang yata ang hindi nag-expect.
“It’s not because I don’t have any confidence in myself. Of course, the idea also crossed my mind, but I never entertained it because do not want to add unnecessary pressure on myself.
“Basta sa akin lang, I always focused on doing what I do best and let my work speak for itself.”
Bumibili si Jerome ng dinner noong araw na lumabas ang resulta ng board.
“When I got back sa unit, my friend casually told me that I topped the boards.
“For a moment, hindi siya nag-sink in sa akin, and when it finally hit me, it was a surreal and overwhelming feeling.
“I immediately called my family to surprise them with the news, and they were overwhelmed with joy nung malaman nila.
“There was also an outpouring of greetings from my social media accounts.”
Inialay ni Jerome ang tagumpay una sa Diyos at sa kanyang parents.
“I believe that everything that has transpired is a gift from God. It is through Him that I have the strength, motivation, and hope to move forward.
“I also dedicate it to my family, lalo na yung mama ko. They are the primary reason why I continuously strive to improve and work hard.
“Providing them with a better future is my way of honoring their sacrifices.”
“WORK ON YOUR PASSION”
Sa ngayon, affiliated si Jerome sa Energy Development Corporation bilang Technical Portfolio Engineer for Geothermal well drilling.
Payo niya sa mga kabataang gustong maging geologist, “This is an emerging profession in our country, and we need more geologists in the future.
“If you are interested in studying the Earth, our environment, rocks and minerals, resources, natural hazards like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and even yung mga fossils, then Geology is the right place for you.”
Dagdag pa niya, “You can never go wrong if you chase and work on your passion. Have the courage to take some calculated risks.
“You cannot just give up your passion because you are afraid that you might fail. If you want to become a Geologist, you have to be persistent.”
Paalala rin niya, “For those who don’t feel like themselves in their current degree program, it might be good to reflect on it and consider your options.
“For me, shifting to Geology brought me back on the right path.”
