"You Did It for Four Years. What’s One More Examination?": How UE Manila’s Engr. Jhames Ablan Overcame Setbacks and Burnout to Conquer the CELE

During his undergraduate years at the University of the East – Manila (UE Manila), Engr. Jhames Marck N. Ablan was the ultimate planner. As a student organization officer and an intercollegiate quiz bee contender, he thrived on structure, preparation, and having complete control over how things unfolded.

However, when the review season for the September 2026 Civil Engineering Licensure Examination (CELE) arrived, reality refused to follow his script. What started as a carefully laid-out plan to top the boards turned into a raw, deeply human test of resilience, detours, and learning how to work with himself rather than against himself.

When Plans Fall Apart: Navigating Unforeseen Trauma

Engr. Jhames initially kicked off his review in April right after his college term ended, aiming to become a topnotcher. However, heavy personal struggles and an unexpected traumatic event completely derailed his timeline.

Midway through his preparation, the phone his parents had given him as a graduation gift was snatched.

The incident was so distressing that I completely stopped reviewing for an entire month,

he recalls.

It also left me feeling uneasy and traumatized, to the point that I found it difficult to return to Manila and continue my review there.

It wasn't until July that he was finally able to consistently devote his time to studying again. With so much time lost, the perfectionist in him had to make a crucial pivot.

Eventually, I learned to let go of my initial expectations,

he shares.

Instead of constantly chasing the idea of being at the top, I decided to focus on what mattered most, passing the board examination and, along the way, allowing myself to enjoy the review journey.

Ditching the Strict Routine: TikTok Problems, TV Shows, and Peer Teaching

Rather than forcing himself into a rigid, military-style study schedule to make up for lost time, Engr. Jhames threw the schedule out the window.

If I were to describe my daily routine, it would be fairly simple: wake up whenever I want, condition myself to study, and study whenever I feel capable of doing so,

he explains.

Through this experience, I realized that discipline doesn't always have to mean following a strict schedule. Sometimes, it means consistently showing up for yourself while recognizing when you need to take a break.

To make the grind sustainable, he leaned into unconventional habits that worked for his brain:

• Multitasking to beat monotony: Carrying over a habit from college, he studied while watching movies or TV series, and frequently hopped between different cafés over a cup or two of coffee to keep his environment fresh.

• Learning from everywhere: Beyond review center handouts and reference books, he practiced solving board exam questions posted in Facebook groups and on TikTok.

• Going back to the basics: Whenever a topic felt impossible, he followed a former college professor's advice to master the fundamental why behind a concept before attempting to solve problems.

• Teaching others: Whenever peers messaged him for help with a lesson, he took the time to explain it to them, using teaching as a tool to organize his thoughts and test his own mastery.

"You're Not Behind, You're Rebuilding"

Even with a flexible routine, the emotional toll of the board exam caught up to him. A self-described "crybaby," Engr. Jhames wasn't afraid to cry his heart out whenever frustration and self-doubt crept in, using tears as a reset button before rewarding himself with weekend trips to his province, the cinema, or the beach with friends.

His lowest point hit just two weeks before the actual board exam. Completely burned out, he found himself unable to solve practice problems he had already mastered weeks prior. Forced to step back and rest at the beach, he was suddenly consumed by the guilt of not studying.

While unwinding by the shore, he stumbled upon a coin-operated fortune machine. He dropped a coin in, and received a slip of paper that read: "You're not behind, you're rebuilding."

At a time when I was constantly blaming myself for taking a break, that little message reminded me that maybe I wasn't wasting time after all,

he reflects.

Maybe I simply needed time to recover before I could continue.

When he got home, he thought back to his first-year college self—the freshman full of dreams who had worked tirelessly to reach the finish line.

I wasn't just reviewing for an examination anymore; I was trying to fulfill a promise I had made to the younger version of myself,

he says.

The 10-Minute PSAD Miracle and Advice for Future Engineers

For future takers currently drowning in pressure, Engr. Jhames boils his advice down to three core principles: learn when to take a break, romanticize and enjoy your journey, and pray.

He witnessed the power of that third tip firsthand during the grueling Professional Specialized Applied Design (PSAD) subject of the board exam. With only ten minutes left before papers had to be submitted, he paused to pray.

While I was praying that time, I suddenly felt the urge to revisit two questions and recompute my answers,

he recounts.

When I checked them, I realized that my initial answers were wrong. I had fallen into a trap. I erased my previous answer, shaded what I believed was the correct one, and prayed once again. I remember saying, 'Ikaw na bahala sa akin, Lord.'

As someone who hated hearing the phrase "Kaya mo 'yan" during review season because it only added to his pressure, Engr. Jhames leaves future examinees with a much more grounding mantra:

You did it for four years. What's one more examination?

For four years, you've already taken and passed hundreds of examinations,

he reminds current reviewees.

You've answered countless problem sets, met deadlines, and prepared for exams while dealing with personal hardships, exhaustion, and all the challenges that came with college life... You've done this countless times before. You just have to show up and do it one more time. Show up. Take the examination. Do it scared.