No Medals, No Quiz Bee Achievements, No Latin Honors: How Engr. Angelo De Jesus Cabungcal Nearly Topped the Board with an 89.00% Average
Some achievers start with a clear direction. Others discover their purpose along the way. For Engr. Angelo De Jesus Cabungcal, what began as uncertainty transformed into discipline, growth, and an inspiring pursuit of excellence - one that brought him close to topnotcher-level performance. Engr. Angelo describes himself as an “average student.” No medals, no quiz bee achievements, no Latin honors.
Engr. Angelo De Jesus Cabungcal
Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
Some achievers start with a clear direction. Others discover their purpose along the way.
For Engr. Angelo De Jesus Cabungcal, what began as uncertainty transformed into discipline, growth, and an inspiring pursuit of excellence - one that brought him close to topnotcher-level performance.
Humble Beginnings
Engr. Angelo describes himself as an “average student.”
No medals, no quiz bee achievements, no Latin honors.
But he carried something more powerful than natural talent: consistency and discipline.
A graduate of the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Engr. Angelo chose a largely online learning setup. It was a mode that demanded independence and maturity, teaching him to manage his own time and learning pace.
“Studying this way shaped my discipline and mindset,” he shares.
Growing Into Civil Engineering
Choosing civil engineering wasn’t driven by a childhood dream. Angelo admits he simply picked the course because he felt he could handle it and because others around him were choosing the same path.
But slowly, he found meaning in the field: the creativity behind designs, the responsibility of shaping communities, and the satisfaction of solving real-world problems.
He also discovered a passion for teaching, helping others understand complex concepts—something that deepened his own mastery.
Strength Through Solitude
One of Angelo’s biggest challenges was reviewing mostly alone. Without classmates or tutors to consult in person, he often had to figure out difficult topics independently.
Instead of letting this hinder him, he innovated:
He relied heavily on self-study.
He used AI as a tutor, guide, and explainer.
He taught fellow reviewees online - strengthening his own understanding.
This combination of independence and generosity became the backbone of his learning.
Motivation, Pressure, and Near-Topnotcher Performance
Dreaming big wasn’t always easy. Angelo once aimed to be a topnotcher—but pressure, burnout, and moments of self-doubt made the journey tough.
There were days when he questioned his capability.
Days when motivation felt out of reach.
Days when he had to pause and postpone his review.
But he kept showing up.
“I relied on discipline, not motivation,” he says.
“I kept going even on days I didn’t feel strong.”
And in the end, his hard work paid off - he finished with a score close to topnotcher level with an average of 89.00%, a remarkable achievement for someone who once saw himself as “just an average student.”
He may not have earned a rank, but he earned something deeper: proof that consistency can bring you within reach of excellence.
A Message to His Past Self
“Stop doubting yourself. Meanwhile people are wondering how you do it so effortlessly. Give yourself credit.”
For Future Civil Engineers
Angelo leaves a message that resonates far beyond the exam room:
“The future belongs to the consistent—not the talented.
Not the lucky—but the one who shows up.”
You don’t have to figure everything out right away.
You don’t need to be gifted.
You just need to stay steady, humble, and willing to learn.
Every late night, every difficult topic, every stumble—it’s all building you into a stronger engineer and a stronger person.
Keep going.
Keep showing up.
Your breakthrough is already in motion.
Personal Journey
Can you tell us a little about yourself and where you studied?
I’m a civil engineering graduate from Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology. I reviewed mostly through an online setup, which required me to become very independent with my learning and time management. Studying this way really shaped my discipline and mindset. I was just an average student—I didn’t receive awards, I wasn’t a quizzer, and I don’t have Latin honors—but I’ve always believed that consistency beats talent.
What motivated you to pursue civil engineering?
A: To be honest, I didn’t have a strong motivation at first. When it was time to choose a course, I didn’t have a clear direction and felt I could handle any field. I ended up choosing civil engineering partly because of what people around me were choosing. Over time, though, I discovered the creative and problem-solving side of the field—the way engineers can shape communities and bring ideas to life. I also realized that teaching and helping others understand these concepts became one of my passions, and that simple decision slowly turned into a serious commitment.
Mindset and Challenges
What were the biggest challenges you faced during your student journey?
A: One of the biggest challenges was being a solo online reviewee. I didn’t always have someone to ask when I didn’t fully understand a topic, so I had to rely heavily on self-study. I didn’t let this be a hindrance—I utilized AI as my own mentor, tutor, and coach, helping me understand the principles behind concepts through simple analogies and clearing up misconceptions. I also took the opportunity to teach some of my fellow reviewees through the online setup, and I’m grateful that I was able to help them improve—teaching them also reinforced my own understanding and helped me learn even more.
How did you stay motivated and focused despite burnout, pressure, or self-doubt?
What kept me going was my dream to become a topnotcher. There were times when I told myself that just passing would be enough, but I always thought that since I was already here, I should finish what I started. I saw it as a smart risk — I felt like I didn’t have much to lose, only something to gain. Teaching and helping others also motivated me, because seeing them improve reminded me of my own progress. On top of that, knowing my family and others who believed in me—and that I was capable of more than I sometimes realized—gave me the strength to keep pushing forward.
Did you ever experience setbacks or low points? How did you bounce back?
Yes, I had a lot of low points, especially when I had to pause my review and delay taking the exam. There were moments of burnout, anxiety, and self-doubt—I even questioned whether I could truly become a topnotcher or if I deserved to be one. I bounced back by sticking to discipline instead of waiting for motivation. I learned to keep showing up even on days when I didn’t feel strong. I’m grateful that, despite everything, I finished strong. I may not have become a topnotcher, but I’m proud of the journey I completed and the growth I achieved along the way.
Advice to Future Civil Engineering Students
If you could talk to your “student self” a year ago, what would you say?
I would tell myself to stop doubting yourself, meanwhile people are wondering how you do it so effortlessly. Give yourself a credit.
Any final message to inspire future civil engineers?
“The future belongs to the consistent not the talented. Not the lucky but the one who shows up.”
Even when it's hard. You don’t need to have everything figured out at the start. You don’t have to be perfect. What matters is that you stay consistent, humble, and willing to learn. Every difficult topic, failed quiz, and long night is shaping you into both a stronger engineer and a stronger person. Keep on fighting because you’re already winning. One day you’ll be glad you didn’t give up along the way.