Joseph Emmanuel Reyes
Application Essay
At five years old, I stood on a broken cabinet door, pretending it was a stage. A comb in my hand became a microphone, my stuffed toys were my audience, and melodies poured straight from my heart. Then suddenly—CRKKK! The cabinet gave way beneath me. Yet even then, all that mattered was the dream of performing at church like my parents did. I wanted to feel their pride, hear the cheers, and make them proud. I guess I consider that experience as my first performance, and that I haven’t stopped since.
From my elementary school music club to high school, I’ve always seen performing as part of who I am. Performance has never been limited to singing; I’ve realized that I perform in different ways, whether it be through music or academics. Along the way, I’ve also learned that true performance requires discipline, resilience, and giving your best even through challenges. At the same time, I worked hard to excel in my academics, striving for high grades while balancing my other commitments. There were restless nights and times when I wanted to give up, but I realized that, like a song, life has highs and lows, and every note is worth finishing.
My growth also continued through my involvement in Himig Scientia and the Science Club. Serving as an officer in Himig taught me leadership, patience, and the importance of supporting others. I realized that I don’t always need to be in the spotlight to perform; sometimes, performing means stepping back, being the foundation for harmony, and helping the team succeed on the sidelines. All of my experiences have reshaped the way I view both performance and responsibility.
To me, the ANI scholarship is more than financial support; it is also a chance to pursue my dreams while honoring the values my parents and experiences have instilled in me: perseverance, humility, and dedication. Shakespeare once said, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” I’ve embraced my role not as someone who has it all, but as someone who makes the most of what life gives.
I am still performing, just like that five-year-old with a comb for a microphone, only now, life itself is my audience.
Exit Essay
Perhaps in every high school journey, every student faces a major hurdle, whether it is academic struggles, personal relationships, or financial instability. But despite all of those hurdles, everyone finds a way to move forward and carry on. My personal high school journey has been riddled with unexpected challenges. From losing my grandmother weeks after receiving the news that I got into Kisay, to dealing with unemployment and debt during the Pandemic. My story in Kisay hasn’t been the smoothest nor the easiest, but I’m glad I was able to survive it despite it all.
I still remember the first few months of returning to face-to-face classes back in the 9th Grade. It was the first time I had ever stepped outside of home and experienced actually going to the campus I’ve only seen in pictures. There were times when we had to wait until 7 pm just to have my father pick us up, to save on expenses. My father had been unemployed and had faced short job stints even after the pandemic. My parents have always tried their best to sustain our needs through various buy-and-sell businesses and “rackets”. But I often felt that we were living on the edge, barely surviving. My siblings and I faced many ups and downs together in Kisay, but we persevered and got the best grades we could.
When I first learned of the ANI Scholarship when Rhycka recruited me, I realized this could be the opportunity for me to ease my family’s burden and gain more freedom when it came to handling my academics. Beginning last July 2025, the ANI Scholarship has been more than just financial aid; it has become an opportunity for me to continue my studies without thinking of how I’ll be able to go home every day. There were also times when I didn’t have to worry about what to eat when I was in school, or how I could catch up with my friends’ activities, all thanks to the ANI scholarship.
Through ANI, I was able to pay for coach sessions in Himig Scientia that I otherwise would have thought would have been a bother if I had asked my parents. During Campus Ministry Choir rehearsals, my sister and I would feel hungry after a long day. Because of the added support of the scholarship, I was able to go buy food at Jollibee to get us through the night. Through the coach payments that ANI paid for, I was able to lead the choir and have a victory within the QC Youth Chorale Competition, where we proudly won the 1st Runner Up title! Similarly, during the ‘TV5 Tinig ng Pasko Chorale Competition,’ the scholarship covered our transportation and rehearsal expenses, allowing us to reach the semi-finals. These opportunities helped me grow holistically, gain new perspectives, and experiences that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Thanks to the ANI scholarship, I was able to find a more stable footing handling numerous activities at once. When it came to studying for both my grades and college entrance tests, I was able to focus solely on finding the right place to learn and finding quality review materials. This school year, I was able to get a With High Honors standing, ranking 28th among my batch, getting merit awards in UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society and Politics), CPAR (Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions), EAPP (English For Academic and Professional Purposes), 21st Century Literature, and PEH (Physical Education and Health). I also received an award in Work Immersion and Leadership. Truly, I feel blessed that I was given the support to be able to do my best not just with my academics, but also with my extracurriculars.
My college application results also didn’t come short-handed; I was able to pass all of my college entrance tests, which include UP, Ateneo, DLSU, UST, and many more. I was able to secure all of my priority courses and even securing a 100% scholarship to study BS Psychology at Ateneo.
But even through all of my extracurricular and academic achievements, life has a way of challenging me even further. Recently, my mother was found to have a tumor in her spine, just right next to her spinal cord. She had been struggling to walk for a while now, and that tumor explains all the pain she’s been suffering. We were only able to pay for the treatment due to my father’s new Job having benefits, asking for donations from close friends and relatives, and, of course, what ANI was able to provide. I remember the relief our family felt when, for once, we felt that we were secure enough to handle the medical bills; all we had to really endure were the recovery treatments to follow. Currently, I’m enjoying the summer with deep contemplations about which college to attend, while also trying to take care of my mother as she deals with the complications that come with Stereotactic Radiosurgery. She hasn’t been able to move that much and needs assistance whenever she goes to the bathroom or simply switches rooms. But despite this hurdle, I know that she’ll be able to have a full recovery in time and be able to walk with me to my University, in Jesus’ name.
I doubt that all of my achievements would have been possible without ANI’s help. Thank you so much to all the Titos and Titas for your unwavering support. What I will remember the most about my experiences will be our gatherings, where I got to know more about your life during and after Kisay. As someone who has always been interested in learning about someone’s experience or the history of a place, I was fascinated when I learned that you experienced the Kisay that didn’t have buildings, and even what college was like under Martial Law.
I am motivated by my dream of one day being able to give back the generosity and the blessings I have received during my education. I will carry the life lessons that my donors have taught me and live with new perspectives in mind. I hope to achieve even more in college and eventually use my degree to serve people. Once again, I am very thankful for the support and opportunity you have offered, and I hope to see you again very soon.
