Average kung isalarawan ni Fritz Mari Sangalang Sendrijas, 26, ang kanyang pamilya.
Bunso siya sa apat na magkakapatid.
Tubong Davao City, si Fritz ang Top 1 sa June 2023 Licensure Examination for Architects.
May rating siya na 85.90 percent.
Nagtapos si Fritz sa Ateneo de Davao University ng Bachelor of Science in Architecture bilang magna cum laude noong April 2020.
Nakakuwentuhan si Fritz ng Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph) noong February 11, 2024 via Facebook Messenger.
Pagbabahagi niya (published as is), “Growing up, my siblings and I have experienced a rough but happy life.
“We needed to persevere to get academic scholarships to help our parents ease the burden of sending us to school.”
Ang kanyang ama ay 23 years nang contractual government employee sa Central 911. Full-time homemaker ang kanyang ina.
“I cannot deny the fact that we had to face and endure a lot of problems.
“Looking back, it definitely wasn’t an easy ride, but it was all worth the struggles and sacrifices.”
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ON CHOOSING ARCHITECTURE AS COURSE
Pagtatapat ni Fritz, hindi niya pinangarap maging architect noong bata pa siya.
“I had dreams of various professions which I believed could make a difference like being a doctor, military officer like my grandfather, businessman, teacher, an engineer, and an artist.”
Tadhana aniya ang nagbigay sa kanya ng direksiyon para kumuha ng architecture—bukod pa sa malaki ang interes niya sa math and arts.
“Despite not passing the requirements on time, a scholarship was miraculously granted to me.”
At kahit mag-apply siya sa ibang trabaho nang maka-graduate na, “An apprenticeship opportunity would unexpectedly present itself.
“It’s just fascinating how everything could have easily gone in a different way, yet fate seemed to work in mysterious ways.”
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ON BEING AN ARCHITECTURE STUDENT
Aminado naman si Fritz na hindi naging smooth and easy ang kanyang college journey, na aniya ay puno ng unexpected challenges.
“Particularly the loss of my grandfather during my first year of college.
“I was a lolo’s boy and this event deeply affected me and my family.
“I had to navigate emotional and financial difficulties with my family while still being a student.”
Very demanding din ayon kay Fritz ang kursong architecture.
“I needed to survive five years of sleepless nights and exhausting days.
“’Ika nga nila, papasok kang puyat, uuwi kang pagod.”
Nasagad umano siya dahil sa physical exhaustion, mental fatigue, emotional strains, and financial burdens lalo na noong mag-thesis na siya.
“Honestly, there were times when I felt lost, discouraged, and unsure of the path ahead.
“It was during those moments that I turned to my faith in God, seeking guidance, strength, and the courage to persevere.”
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THE 4 Fs in FRITZ's LIFE
Na-survive ni Fritz ang mga hamon ng college life sa pamamagitan ng 4Fs–Fate, Faith, Family, and Friends.
“My fate has taught me resilience, reminding me to stay positive and persevere even when faced with difficulties.
“My faith has empowered and sustained me, giving me the strength and courage I needed to navigate life’s twists and turns.
“My family has been my constant source of inspiration, providing unwavering support and unconditional love which motivated me and gave me confidence to pursue my career and face challenges head-on.
“Lastly, my friends have served as my life balancer, always keeping me grounded and sane.”
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ON CHALLENGES HE FACED BEFORE AND DURING BOARD EXAM
Nauunawaan din ni Fritz na hindi magiging madali ang kanyang pagkuha ng board exam, lalo pa at nag-graduate siyang may mataas na karangalan.
“However, what truly weighed on me during review were the family problems that emerged unexpectedly.
“These ongoing challenges not only tested my resilience, but also impacted our entire family, as problem after problem seemed to arise.”
Hindi na niya binanggit ang mga naging problema ng kanyang pamilya, pero napakalaking challenge iyon sa kanila at lalo na sa kanya.
“I can’t focus properly as my mind was preoccupied with a lot of things. I was taking care of my niece while on review as I also needed to support my sister.
“Balancing these responsibilities became an additional hurdle that I had to navigate during my review.”
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During the exam day, aminado rin si Fritz na nahirapan siya.
“To be honest, I was very worried right after the exam as I found it to be very challenging particularly the Day 1 PM exam [Area B] which was all about building technology, building utilities, and structural conceptualization.
Noong una ay nangarap din siyang maging topnotcher.
“I aspired to at least be part of the Top 10 which I think is a common ambition for many.”
Pero naisip niyang masyado niyang mape-pressure ang sarili at baka lalong maging counterproductive ang kanyang goal.
“The intense pressure to top the exam could sometimes hinder our ability to perform at our best. It might result to anxiety, self-doubt, and fear of failure which can impede our success.
“So instead of aiming to top, my mindset focused more on staying physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy.”
Ani Fritz, kung aalagaan niya ang kanyang sarili, mas magiging maganda ang kanyang performance sa board exam.
“Additionally, I redirected my efforts towards being prepared to become an architect, rather than solely focusing on achieving high scores.
“The emphasis shifted from quantity to quality, building a strong foundation of knowledge, skills, and confidence which fueled my consistency in studying and my willingness to learn more.”
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ON THE RESULT OF BOARD EXAM
Masayang-masaya naman si Fritz nang lumabas ang resulta, at siya ang Top 1.
“The experience was so surreal and overwhelming that it took me months to fully process everything.
“I never really expected to get a high rating, let alone topping the exam.”
Inialay ni Fritz ang tagumpay sa Diyos, sa kanyang pamilya, kaibigan, mentors, at community, gayundin sa mga tulad niyang nagsisikap na maabot ang pangarap sa buhay.
“I am grateful for the collective impact they have had on my journey, and I also acknowledge the importance of their contributions in my success.”
Sa kasalukuyan ay nagtatrabaho si Fritz sa Aidea Inc.
“As of now, I am still focused on building my career here.”
Plano rin niyang magturo.
“I want to help and mentor aspiring architects by sharing my knowledge and experiences.”
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Payo niya sa mga gustong kumuha ng architecture, “Taking up architecture will never be easy, you need to equip yourself with a strong faith, a determined mindset, and a healthy mind and body.
“Enjoy the journey but don’t forget your priorities. It may entail a lot of sacrifices, but it’ll always be worth it.
“Never give up on your dreams because if there’s one thing which I learned in my journey, it would be that everything is possible with faith, perseverance, and commitment.”
Ibinahagi rin ni Fritz na bukod sa kanya, dahil sa sakripisyo ng kanyang parents at determinasyon nilang magkakapatid, puro professionals na sila ngayon.
“My two sisters are now officers of the Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection.
“My brother is now a merchant marine officer, and I am now an architect.”
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