His hands trembled as he stared at the computer screen, struggling to process what he had just seen.
While processing documents for his payroll account, Marc Andre C. Saberon also checked the results of the March 2026 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT). There, beside his name, was the rating that would change his life forever.
With an impressive 95.00% rating, the Cebu Technological University–Danao Campus graduate secured a Top 1 placement among the highest-ranking examinees in the Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) Generalist category, bringing pride and honor to the university community.
“Na-shock gyud ko and I was just so overwhelmed sa ka happy,” Saberon recalled.
“It still feels surreal until now. I even tried to pinch myself just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming,” Marc added.
Behind the remarkable achievement, however, was a journey shaped not only by discipline and perseverance, but also by fear, uncertainty, and self-doubt.
For Saberon, preparing for the board examination meant fully committing himself to a demanding daily routine. From the beginning, he viewed the LEPT as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—one that required his complete dedication and sacrifice.
“I studied until I was drained,” he said. “I wanted to do everything humanly possible.”
During the review season, a message from a priest during a prayer gathering became the mindset that carried him through moments of exhaustion and pressure:
“Do everything humanly possible, and then surrender the rest to God.”
Despite his determination, there were days when anxiety became overwhelming. Like many aspiring professionals preparing for one of the most important examinations of their lives, Saberon found himself questioning whether he had done enough.
“There were so many ‘what-ifs. I kept comparing myself to others and wondering if I was studying enough. It was mentally exhausting,” he admitted.
Yet amid the pressure and uncertainty, he found strength in the people who continuously believed in him. Saberon expressed heartfelt gratitude to his friends and his partner, whose encouragement helped him overcome moments of doubt despite their own struggles.
He also credited his grandmother and aunt for supporting him financially throughout his review journey, allowing him to focus entirely on preparing for the examination.
Beyond his personal support system, Saberon acknowledged the important role Cebu Technological University–Danao Campus played in shaping both his passion and commitment to teaching.
According to him, the university provided him with a strong academic foundation while helping him better understand the deeper purpose of becoming an educator.
“My time at CTU Danao really brought my passion for teaching to life,” he shared. “Seeing how passionate my instructors were made me realize why I wanted to pursue this profession.”
Inspired by his mentors and experiences, Saberon gradually gained the confidence to believe that he, too, could excel in the field.
Now standing among the country’s top-performing LET passers, he hopes to inspire students—especially those from rural communities—to believe that their background should never define the limits of their dreams.
“Sometimes, it is very easy to look at the massive, prominent universities in the main cities and think, ‘Sila ra jud ang naay chance mag-top,’ or lahi ra jud ilang training didto,” he said.
“But I want to prove that excellence is not exclusive to those institutions and that excellence knows no address,” he added.
For Saberon, success is no longer measured solely by awards, rankings, or recognition, but by the ability to inspire others through his story and future work as an educator.
“I want to be a living example that an ordinary person can reach extraordinary heights,” he said.
Through faith, perseverance, and unwavering determination, Marc Andre C. Saberon transformed self-doubt into success—proving that dreams are never too distant for those willing to work hard for them, and that excellence truly knows no address./Jhevey Yan Sadio, CTU Main BAL Intern