THREE weeks before taking the exam, Lorille Mae Gesultura Aguilar broke down when the struggles of juggling being a working mom, a wife to a seaman, a guidance counselor to young adults and desire to pass her exams took a toll on her.
"I had responsibilities at work, I had to take care of my kids' needs and I had to study. I was tired and mentally drained so I broke down and cried," said Aguilar, who is working as a guidance counselor at the University of San Carlos, where she caters to college and senior high students.
"But there is some catharsis that goes with crying and I brushed myself off and went on with my responsibilities. I told myself to try and pass the exams. That's all I wanted," said Aguilar, a 33-year-old mother to a gradeschooler and a two-year-old baby.
It came as a pleasant surprise when she finished Top 2 in the Guidance Counselors Board Exam held last August.
"It makes all the sacrifices worth it," she said.
Aguilar of Cebu Technological University-Main finished second in the exam with a score of 89.60. She is one of two Cebuanos who made it to the Top 10, the other one being Joan Paula Barliso Geniston of the University of San Jose-Recoletos, who came in at ninth place with 87.55.
Below is the full list of successful examinees.
(MCB)