From Failing Subjects to Signing "RCE": How Engr. Zle Yee Turned Past Stumbles Into CE Board Exam Victory
To the outside world, seeing Engr. Zle M. Yee, RCE on the September 2026 CELE pass list looks like a clean, triumphant finish line. But look closer, and you’ll find a journey paved with retaken subjects, sleepless nights, and quiet battles against self-doubt. This isn't a story of flawless academic talent; it’s a story of unapologetic perseverance. If you’ve ever looked at a failing grade and felt like your engineering dream was slipping away, Engr. Zle’s story is here to remind you that an academic setback is just a chapter in your story—never the ending.
I did it scared. I did it tired. I did it full of doubt. But I did it anyway.
To the outside world, seeing Engr. Zle M. Yee, RCE on the September 2026 CELE pass list looks like a clean, triumphant finish line. But look closer, and you’ll find a journey paved with retaken subjects, sleepless nights, and quiet battles against self-doubt.
This isn't a story of flawless academic talent; it’s a story of unapologetic perseverance.
If you’ve ever looked at a failing grade and felt like your engineering dream was slipping away, Engr. Zle’s story is here to remind you that an academic setback is just a chapter in your story—never the ending.
1. Failing Is Not the End of Your Story
In college, Engr. Zle faced some of the heaviest academic hurdles in the engineering curriculum: failing Physics, Integral Calculus, and Structural Theory.
There was a time when walking the graduation stage alongside friends felt completely out of reach. But instead of letting those back-subjects define the future, Zle chose to take the risk—retaking the subjects over the summer with twice the pressure, locked-in schedules, and zero room for error.
Lesson for CELE Takers: Failing a subject or struggling with foundational concepts during college does not make you unfit to become an engineer. Every mistake in the classroom is simply a lesson in disguise, preparing you for the rigor ahead.
2. Doing It Scared, Tired, and Full of Doubt
Taking the September 2026 CELE just four months after graduation was another massive leap of faith. With a tight review timeline and the memory of past academic struggles lingering in the background, doubt was a constant companion.
Yet, Engr. Zle chose to press on regardless.
Board exam preparation isn't about feeling 100% confident every single day. Most takers enter the testing site with trembling hands, second-guessing whether four months of review was enough. The difference between giving up and crossing the finish line isn't the absence of fear—it’s choosing to show up and solve the exam anyway.
3. Turning Fuel Out of Friction
The journey wasn't just an academic fight; it was an emotional one. Beyond the heavy workload, Zle had to protect their peace during review—turning harsh words, external pressures, and moments of isolation into motivation to keep going.
Instead of letting life’s pressures become anchors that hold you down, you can choose to make them the fuel that propels you forward. Every late-night review session, every retaken exam, and every moment of doubt can be transformed into the fiercest reason to succeed.
4. Anchoring on Your Support System
No engineer builds a bridge alone. Throughout the grueling four-month review in Cebu, Zle found strength in family—a dad (Louie) and brother (Xwi) who made sure they were never alone—and friends like Dale and a solid support system who kept them grounded when the days grew heavy.
Lesson for CELE Takers: You don't have to carry the weight of board preparation in isolation. Let your loved ones remind you of who you are on the days you forget your own strength.
A Message to Future CELE Takers
If you are currently feeling behind, struggling with your review scores, or fearing that your past academic hiccups will hold you back, remember the words of Engr. Zle Yee:
It’s okay to take risks.
It’s okay to fall behind.
It’s okay to fail.
And it’s okay to start again.
Every calculation you struggle with today, every tear you shed over a difficult practice set, and every risk you take on yourself is paving the way to your license.
Your journey doesn't need to look perfect to end in victory. Trust the process, do it scared if you must, and keep going—your turn to say "CIVIL ENGINEER NA KO!" is right around the corner.