From Setback to Top 3: How Engr. Justine S. Ahammed Turned Failure into Board Exam Excellence
Behind every board exam topnotcher is a story of discipline, struggle, and growth. Engr. Justine S. Ahammed, who placed Top 3 in the November 2025 Civil Engineer Licensure Examination (CELE), is no exception. His journey shows that success is not always about getting everything right the first time—but about how you respond when things don’t go your way. This article shares his personal story, study strategies, mindset, and advice for future examinees. For aspiring engineers, his experience serves as both a guide and a reminder that excellence is built through consistency, patience, and the willingness to improve.
A Humble Beginning: From Mapúa Student to Board Exam Topnotcher
Engr. Justine S. Ahammed is a graduate of Mapúa University. His academic life in the university has been marked by both challenges and realizations. Being an engineer, he has experienced the usual academic pressures that come with being a student. However, there is one moment that he considers crucial in changing his academic preparation.
In his preboard examination, he did not exactly get the results he expected. With 70% in MSTC, 85% in HPGE, and only 33% in PSAD, he learned a valuable lesson. Although this experience could have been a setback for him, he took this experience as a challenge.
Turning Failure into Fuel: A Shift in Mindset That Changed Everything
His failure in the preboard exam was a turning point in his journey. It was then that he learned that studying to pass was not good enough. From then on, he decided that he was going to study for more than a pass.
He started studying by trying to understand concepts, especially in areas where he was weakest, such as in structural engineering. Instead of studying to pass, he was studying to be the best. This forced him to study for more than a pass, even studying for a top spot in the board exam.
A Different Approach to Studying: Discipline Over Fixed Schedules
While others strictly adhered to time, Engr. Ahammed adopted a different strategy. There were days when he studied for only two hours, and there were days when he could study for as long as twelve hours. The only thing that mattered was not how long he studied, but how much he accomplished.
He concentrated on completing his books and solving as many problems as he could. To Engr. Ahammed, every problem was important. He believed that one problem from his books could be enough to make a difference in his actual exam. In fact, it helped him to be exposed to various problems and improve his problem-solving skills.
Facing Pressure and Overcoming Mental Challenges Along the Way
Just like any other person who has taken a board examination, he had moments of pressure and stress. There were moments when the stress became overwhelming, especially when faced with certain topics and the pressure that came with it. At some point, he even had a panic attack while in the middle of an examination and had to stop.
However, instead of letting the situation get the best of him, he had learned how to manage the situation. He would stop and take a walk or simply give himself some time to calm down mentally. To him, the management of mental health is as important as studying.
Lessons for Future Engineers: Simple but Powerful Advice to Remember
For aspiring board exam takers, his advice is clear and practical. First, master the fundamentals, because most board exam questions are built on basic concepts. Second, solve as many problems as possible to become familiar with different question types and strategies.
He also emphasizes the importance of valuing every point. When aiming for the top, even a single mistake can make a difference. More importantly, he encourages future engineers to adopt a mindset of excellence—study not just to pass, but to truly understand. According to him, passing the exam becomes a natural result when you focus on mastery.
The story of Engr. Justine S. Ahammed is a reminder that failures do not determine your future; they actually define it. He went from failing a pre-board exam to becoming a Top 3 Passer in the board exam.
To every aspiring engineer out there, the message of Engr. Justine S. Ahammed is that no matter what, always believe in the process, be consistent, and always strive to be more than what you are today. Because in the end, the outcome will be a reflection of the process you put in and the kind of engineer you became.