Life surely brings surprises. Often, children you wouldn’t expect to achieve great feats would do it.

Engr. Francis has experienced skipping classes to play computer games, had difficulties with the mathematics subject, and even chose his course because of it having no entrance exams – but he, the student, Civil Engineer LE Top 1 receives incentives from alma mater.

Civil Engineer LE Top 1 Receives Incentives from Alma Mater

The University of Cebu (UC) Main Campus gifted a brand-new car to Engr. Francis Charles Lauta for achieving the top rank in the November 2024 Civil Engineer Licensure Examination (CELE).

Engr. Lauta will also receive a cash prize of P100,000 from the review and training center where he prepared for the licensure exam.

He Skips Classes to Play Computer Games

In an interview, he shared that he struggled with a lack of focus during his early college years but began prioritizing his studies in his fourth year—a decision that paved the way for him to excel and top the recent Civil Engineering Licensure Examination.

Lauta humbly admitted that he wouldn’t consider himself a “good student.”

“Dili ko tarong nga pagka estudyante. Typical, kusog mo-cutting (classes), duwa computer,” he said, which translates to “I wasn’t a good student. Typically, I would often skip classes and play computer games,” he said.

Joined an Engineering Program Without Entrance Exams

Initially, Lauta dreamed of becoming an architect, but his late college enrollment and learning about the entrance exam requirement led him to explore other options. Upon inquiry, he discovered engineering programs without entrance exams and decided to pursue civil engineering.

In his fourth year, Lauta decided to fully commit to his studies, dedicating a year to intensive preparation at UC and the Gillesania Engineering Review and Training Center (GERTC) under the mentorship of Engr. Diego Gillesania.

How He Overcame His Early Difficulties with Math

Through the patience and support of his review instructors, Lauta overcame his early difficulties with Math, eventually finding the subject more approachable and manageable.

“When I started ranking first in the pre-board review exams, being part of the last batch, I thought, ‘Maybe there’s really a chance, right? What if I just give it my all? What if I give my best?'” he said.

Lauta attributes his success to a combination of his hard work and his strong faith.

Congratulations and kudos, Engr. Lauta!