Graduating high school student Hannah Ragudos from Alaminos, Pangasinan has been accepted to six colleges abroad.
On her Facebook, Hanna looks back on how she managed to pass six universities abroad.
“Two years ago, in 10th grade, I hoped I could also get the opportunity to apply to different universities in Manila, especially to my dream university for Senior High School at least, but I couldn’t. So I stayed. I promised myself I would prove myself and regain my energy for the College Admission season and receive acceptance letters for my dream course from the universities to which I would apply. Insha Allah,” she said.
One of Hanna’s reasons on why she wanted to apply abroad is because she wants to see her grandmother who’s residing in Arizona, USA.
“Year 2020, overwhelming events happened. I finally found my grandmother Patty R Cusenbary residing in Arizona, USA, one of the reasons why I am eager to apply overseas for me to see her. Year 2021, the chaos started. I fell down and got hurt. I was in despair due to some personal circumstances, yet I remembered who I was before and who I should be.”
“So I moved forward. Striving hard in studying, participating in various school events, and applying to different colleges with my best friends became my coping mechanism. Alhamdullilah.”
Hanna passed college admissions at the Arizona State University, Chatham University, Florida Institute of Technology, New England Institute of Technology, Pennsylvania College of Technology, and University of Arizona.
“Two years after, currently in 12th Grade of ACNHS Senior High School, I fulfilled my promise to myself. I passed seven college admissions in prestigious universities at Estados Unidos with a monetary scholarship amounting to almost four million pesos. I also got accepted to seven universities in the Philippines and passed the DOST-SEI Scholarship Merit Award.”
However, the student won’t be continuing with any of those even though some of them have affiliate scholarships, due to lack of funds that should come from her to finance her studies.
At the University of Arizona, she passed two courses.
Associated with her college admissions are scholarships worth nearly P4 million.
However, she still can’t afford to study abroad, the student disclosed.
According to an ABS CBN report, Hanna did not pursue the scholarship due to its fees which cost P2M per academic year.
“Since financially incapable pa rin po kahit may scholarship po para tustusan po ‘yung fees, almost P2 million po per academic year sa US po, kaya hindi ko na po pinush,” Hanna said.
Fortunately, she was also accepted to seven universities here in the Philippines.
“Though I fall down and am hurting, my dream is ahead, so I will keep on sailing,” Hanna said.
As an aspiring software engineer, she chose to take the BS Computer Science course at the Saint Louis University in Baguio City.
Hanna is a student film maker and considered a Film Ambassador by the Film Development Council of the Philippines(FDCP).
Her films such as “Ana Bikhayr” and “Decalcomania” have won various competitions abroad.