Bago mag-seventh grade, ang tanging pangarap ni Theodore Rosero Tulod, Jr., mas kilala bilang Theo, 23, ng Cataingan, Masbate, ay maging isang seaman.
Nang mag-high school na siya, na-in love siya sa science, at dahil doon, nagbago ang kanyang gustong maging karera.
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Pangalawa si Theo sa limang magkakapatid,
Ang kanyang ina ay isang guro sa elementarya. Ang kanyang ama naman ay may room-for-rent business.
Nagtapos siya ng kursong Bachelor of Science in Geology sa University of the Philippines-Diliman sa Quezon City noong July 28, 2024 bilang magna cum laude.
Top 7 naman si Theo sa November 2024 Geologists Licensure Examination.
May rating siya na 82.50 percent.
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THEO TULOD'S MAJOR ADJUSTMENTS DURING COLLEGE
Nakapanayam si Theo ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last November 28 via Facebook Messenger.
Kuwento niya, “Geology ang kinuha ko dahil narito ang nais kong gawin in life—which is to pursue science while having fun.
“Since studying geology is mainly done on the field, it gives me a sense of adventure which I really love.”
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Grade VIII nang unang mai-introduce kay Theo ang geology.
“Agad-agad nakuha nito ang interest ko—and from that point, alam ko nang magiging geologist ako.”
ONLINE LEARNING TO FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES
Part si Theo ng batch na ang unang taon sa kolehiyo ay panahon ng pandemic.
Dahil dito, naging challenging para sa kanya ang buhay-college.
“Third year na ako nung mag face-to-face kami, and adjusting to that set-up was very tough.
“It was the pacing of an actual college life schedule that got me.”
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Nahirapan siyang mag-adjust.
At dahil doon, “My first semester during third year was my worst semester ever.
“Failed exams, late outputs, and many other miserable things.”
Nangyari iyon kahit hindi siya pabayang estudyante.
“Pero ang overwhelming ng semester na yun.
“Thought I could never recover.”
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Fixing Study Routine
Nang sumunod na semester, nag-introduce si Theo ng mga pagbabago sa kanyang routine.
Ang ginawa niya, “Instead of cramming, I tried working consistently on a daily basis even though very small progress lang na nagagawa.
“Small wins lead to big ones was my mindset that time.”
Nakatulong din ang kanyang support system.
“This was the time I started socializing more even though I don’t do much socializing before.”
Ang naging resulta, “Grades got better, how I approached college got better.
“And more importantly, it made me realize that as long as you don’t quit and you go through the process, you will learn to adapt eventually.”
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ADVICE TO REVIEWEES
Gaya ng ibang kumuha ng board exam, dumaan din sa maraming predikamento si Theo nang magsimula na siyang mag-review.
“The biggest challenge—one that I was not able to figure out until the end—was how to consistently have the discipline in reviewing and keeping an optimal routine.
“It did not help pati that there were a lot of distractions, i.e., video games, social media, etc.”
Hindi rin siya nakaiwas magkasakit habang nagre-review.
Kaya mahigpit na paalala niya sa ibang reviewees, “Necessary talaga na hindi mapabayaan ang kalusugan.”
Aminado si Theo na mahirap ang exam.
“Definitely. Three months prior, I told myself na a week before the exam, no more reviewing na.
“However, many things happened and at the very last day, I felt that my review was lacking.”
Ang ginawa niya sa mga nalalabing araw ng review, “I slept for only two to three hours just so I could sneak more information in my already tired brain.”
Ang nangyari, “I took the exam tired and sleepy kaya nahirapan ako sa exam.”
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THEO TULOD ON BECOMING A TOPNOTCHER
Hindi umasa si Theo na magiging topnotcher siya.
“Ang worry ko lang after the exam ay kung papasa ba ako o hindi.
“I slept na lang agad after the exam since ayoko nang ma-stress sa kakahintay sa results.”
Kaya gayun na lang ang gulat niya noong araw na lumabas ang resulta.
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“Pagkagising ko, aroung 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., bumungad na lang sa akin na topnotcher ako!
“Definitely one of the biggest surprises in my life!”
Ginising umano si Theo noon ng kanyang girlfriend na nakapasa rin sa naturang board exam.
“And me, who was still half-awake, could not grasp kung totoo ba ang mga nangyayari or if it was just a dream.
“Nagpa-pinch pa ako sa kanya kasi hindi talaga ako makapaniwala.”
Nang tuluyan na siyang magising, agad niyang tinawagan ang kanyang pamilya sa Masbate.
“Hindi ko pa sila agad ma-contact since tulog na pala sila.”
Tuwang-tuwa naman si Theo nang mga sandaling iyon.
“Me and my girlfriend were all smiles as both of us could not believe that we passed.
“Nagising ang parents ko a few hours later, and it made me very happy seeing how proud they were at that moment.”
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ADVICE TO STUDENTS: "TAKE GEOLOGY"
Inialay ni Theo ang kanyang tagumpay sa mga magulang, mga kapatid, at girlfriend.
“Their sacrifices made all of this possible.”
Ibinahagi rin niya ang kanyang career plan.
“I’m looking forward on working in the mining or energy industry in the meantime.
“I plan to gain lots of experience wherever I land.”
Pagtitiyak niya, “Siyempre my heart remains in science.
“Looking deeper into my future, I still see myself working in the academe.”
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Ang payo ni Theo sa mga kabataan, “To anyone who loves the earth and the people living in it, take geology.
"It’s full of fun adventures and at the same time, it’s one of those fields where we have the opportunity to serve the people.
“Here in geology, we get to appreciate the connectedness of everything in this world and learn to act with this principle in mind.”
Dagdag pa niya, “It’s not just the subject that makes it fun and worthwhile, but also the rockstars in this field.
“Blessed to have met some of the most wonderful people [geologists] on Earth.
“Rock stars tayo rito sa geology!”
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