Ken Divina

Application Essay

I aspire to be a person that could contribute not only to my family but also to the community that shaped who I am today, the Scientian community. The challenges and victories I experienced during my time at Quezon City Science High School have been instrumental in my personal and academic growth. With the many extracurricular activities that I participate in, I plan to repay the Scientian community by leading projects and events that can advance my school into a better technological state through teaching interested Scientians how to program software applications, renovating the QCSHS website, and much more tech-related activities. These lofty goals of mine for the community reflect my loyal heart and soul towards my future alma mater.

However, the financial state I’m in has negatively affected the scope of these projects since technology is hard to afford for me and my family. The amount of bills that pile up every month has taken a toll on the possibility of me pursuing my dream of studying computer science in a prestigious university, making me rely on striving for the batch valedictorian for the scholarships it entails. With my grade 11 grades and ranking, I have a shot at being the valedictorian yet it’s not guaranteed. The cost of being a Scientian despite QCSHS being a public school is still too big of a burden for my family. Performance tasks, costumes, printing research papers, participating in competitions, club projects, everything combined is expensive. This hidden cost is hard for my family’s meager wage to swallow. Being financially in need is a struggle that affects my education. Even as I’m writing this essay, the faulty roof above my head continues to drop rainwater from Typhoon Carina into the half-filled bucket on my desk.

If I were to be awarded this scholarship, all of my dreams for myself, my family, and the Quezon City Science Community would be closer to my reach. The financial worries I have that affect the quality of my personal education will no longer distract me from focusing on my academic and extracurricular endeavors. Through this scholarship, I am determined to overcome the financial obstacles in my path towards contributing to the Sciantian community and beyond.

Exit Essay – Beyond Grateful

I am beyond grateful for the support and believe you’ve given me. Even though it’s only been one school year, I have accomplished a lot of things thanks to the financial support and the community that the ANI scholarship has created. As a member of this scholarship, it urged me to carry myself through many challenges and strive for accomplishments with the resources I generously received from the ANI scholarship. Looking back before being a scholar, I remember seeing Chesca’s post on twitter telling everyone about a scholarship solely offered to scientians in need of financial support and was shocked that such scholarship exists. After clicking the link attached to her post, I was redirected to the ANI Scholarship website and started reading through the website. Initially, I was again shocked to see a picture on the website with students wearing blue t-shirts that was identical to the one that I got from being a participant at a weekly workshop when I was an elementary student. Me and other selected participants were assigned to listen to lectures and activities led by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. After finishing the workshop, the institute gave out the blue t-shirts with the text “I <3 Nuclear Science & Technology” and my experience studying with the institute gave me a massive push to even pursue studying at Quezon City Science High School. All of these memories with the workshop and my passion for studying science came back when I saw the t-shirt at the website. Then a decision that I will never regret was solidified in my head – I am going to apply.

Yes, the application process was rigorous, especially getting a recommendation from a school teacher. But it was all worth it. The scholarship has not only impacted my academic life but also influenced a massive part of my personal life. Instead of worrying where I’ll get the finances to help my family, I was able to provide a substantial amount of money to lessen my parents’ burdens.

From being the SY 2024-2025 Batch Rank 4 to even passing UP Diliman BS Computer Science, Ateneo De Manila University BS Computer Science with 100% free tuition, and University of Santo Tomas BS Computer Science, all of these accomplishments would have been so much harder to achieve without the help and support that the ANI Scholarship community has given me. Attached are certificates and college admissions for my priority program that I received as I end my high school life.

I am deeply sorry for the wait that I caused due to the delay of my exit slip. I’ve been planning to writeand send an exit essay since graduation however anxious thoughts about which college (UP or Ateneo)to choose have really filled up my days with stress and restlessness so I’ve regrettably been delayingwriting this essay. But the hard decision aside, I am honored to have the privilege of being admitted totwo of the best colleges without worrying about the tuition fees. I give my sincere thanks to the ANIScholarship for helping me reach my current state in life.

I am beyond grateful to be a scholar of the ANI Scholarship.