If it Didn’t Rain: How I got into a prestigious scholarship program

It was a rainy evening in Davao, I was standing along with my co-journalists and coaches while waiting for the Southbound traffic to pass. We were waiting for public utility vehicles to get us to our quarters.

I came across a Facebook post regarding PHINMA National Scholarship (PNS) in my timeline and it was the last day of application.

I filled out the application under breezy air and with water droplets randomly slapping my face.

Little did I know that it was actually my ticket to a world of holistic growth and career opportunities.

PNS first believed in me before I entered my college life. Along with a SHS classmate, we attended the Final interviews and I remember it well that they asked “you seem to be well-decorated and with lots of experience, what value do you get from being a PNS Scholar?”

The pre-college Jemar is already “pabibo”, future-looking, bold, hungry.

PNS is my first boost of confidence that I am bound for greater things by being accepted into the program alone.

I already know that my future will be secured because I have a PNS support system in my back.

Scholar portfolios make us reflect on how we truly want to be happy and how we slowly crawl our way out of college. Having to write about our life highlight per month gives us the habit of being thankful and appreciative of live — — as it will never get easy.

One key growth driver is our Leadership Conference where we do in-house programs and team-building activities with our co-scholars. In the 3-day event, they reinforced the idea that leadership is not always being the best but bringing out the best in others.

Looking back, I answered the question with the line: “I am looking for holistic growth” and that their mentorship, leadership sessions, and morale-building initiatives on top of the monthly stipend are irreplaceable.

As PNS thrives in its 15 years, I am one in celebrating how this program by the PHINMA Foundation is building the nation, crafting one leader at a time.

I am a PNS scholar, I am the country’s future.

I remember that one rainy night in Davao. I remember that night where I tapped my way into holistic growth.

#KwentongPNS | #PNSat15 | #TatakPNScholar | #PHINMANationalScholarship | #MakingLivesBetter

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