Every structure begins long before the first beam is raised.
It starts with a blueprint—a vision carefully drawn, measured with precision, and shaped by the hope that one day it will stand tall. Yet even the strongest designs are rarely built without revision. In the end, a structure is remembered not for how quickly it was built, but for its strength to endure.
Dreams are built much the same way.
The rustle of togas, the echo of applause, and the warm cheers of loved ones fill the air as graduates cross the commencement stage, one name at a time. Cameras flash, proud smiles spread across the audience, and years of sacrifice culminate in a single walk that celebrates perseverance.
Behind every diploma is a journey. For aspiring civil engineers, that journey begins with one lesson: every measurement matters. Long before they are entrusted to build structures, they learn that precision shapes every outcome. Life, however, follows no exact scale. It redraws plans, delays timelines, and demands adjustments that no blueprint could have predicted.
For Engr. Jherica G. Dulosa, success was measured not by how quickly she became a Civil Engineer, but by the strength she gained through every setback, every sacrifice, and every decision to keep building the future she envisioned.
Drawing the Blueprint
Her journey began in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic transformed classrooms into computer screens and uncertainty became part of everyday student life. Like many freshmen, she entered college filled with hope, but her path soon took an unexpected turn.
She was initially enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (BSABE). Although grateful for the opportunity, she eventually realized that the path she was following no longer reflected the future she envisioned. Her heart had always been set on Civil Engineering—a dream she could no longer ignore.
Choosing to shift courses meant rewriting the plans she had already begun to follow. It meant adjusting to a new curriculum, leaving behind familiar faces, and accepting that graduating on time might no longer be possible. Still, for Jherica, chasing the career she had always envisioned was worth every challenge that came with it.
Determined to catch up with her original batchmates, she overloaded subjects semester after semester. “Akong goal ato is makasabay ko sa akoang mga kabatchmate, na mo graduate four years ra," she recalled. Pursuing that goal, however, came with its own set of challenges. Civil Engineering proved every bit as demanding as she had expected—filled with complex calculations, difficult theories, and countless hours of studying. At the same time, she was navigating the transition from online learning back to face-to-face classes, making every semester feel like another uphill climb.
Cracks in the Foundation
Then came the moment that tested her the most. She failed one of her major subjects, the first failing grade she had ever received. More painful than the grade itself was watching her classmates continue moving forward while she remained behind.
Reflecting on her experience, she said, “Pinakauna na heartbreak nako sa college.”
For a while, she questioned whether shifting courses had been the right decision and whether she truly had what it took to become an engineer. Yet the heartbreak that once made her doubt herself eventually became the lesson that strengthened her the most. Instead of giving up, she enrolled in the subject again and passed it on her second attempt. More importantly, she proved to herself that one setback could never define her future. Although the delay remained, so did her determination to keep moving forward.
The challenges did not end inside the classroom. Like many engineering students, Jherica also faced financial struggles throughout college. There were days when the burden felt overwhelming, but through every difficult season, her family's unwavering support never changed. Their sacrifices became the quiet strength that reminded her why she could not afford to stop.
After years of balancing academic demands and personal challenges, the finish line finally seemed within reach. She completed her on-the-job training (OJT), finished her thesis, and fulfilled the demanding requirements of the Civil Engineering Correlation Course— the university's intensive preparation for the licensure examination. Everything pointed toward graduation.
Then life asked her to wait once more.
After falling short of passing her Civil Engineering Correlation Course, she received an Incomplete (INC) mark, delaying her graduation with her batch in July 2025. It became another painful chapter in a journey that had already demanded so much. While many of her classmates celebrated one of the biggest milestones of their lives, Jherica found herself watching from the sidelines, wondering why her own path seemed longer than everyone else's.
Describing how she felt at that time, she shared, “Naa feel ko na na-left [out], murag na-biyaan ko.” She recalled how much she wanted to graduate alongside her batchmates, saying, “Ganahan yud ko na mo sabay nila ato ba, mao bitaw nang nag sige kog overload, so mao to, murag di ko kasabay nilag graduate. Na feel naho ato is na left-behind.”
Back to the Drawing Board
Despite the delay, Jherica credits her instructor, Engr. Marcelo Abrera Jr., who gave her an Incomplete (INC) instead of a failing grade of 5.00, giving her a second chance to complete the course and continue pursuing her dream. After completing the remaining requirements, she officially earned her degree during the university's Summer 2025 term on August 4. Although she had already graduated and met the requirements to take the licensure examination, there was no commencement ceremony for summer graduates. Instead, she would have to wait another year before finally walking across the stage she had long envisioned.
Looking back on that difficult time, she acknowledged that continuing was not an easy decision for her. “Dili sad siya sayun jud na decision kay ato na time mo-give up na sad unta ko. Pero I’m thankful na grabe akong support system especially my family ato na time. Gi-encourage jud ko nila, ako sad mga friends,” she shared. Through the encouragement of the people around her, Jherica realized that she was not facing this challenge alone. Their support gave her the strength to keep moving forward.
And when the chance to take the March 2026 Civil Engineering Licensure Examination came, she knew she could not let it pass. Instead of dwelling on the delay, Jherica chose to focus on the opportunity before her. As she explained, “One time ra na mo knock sa imo door na opportunity, so mao to— ako jud siya gi-grab.”
With that conviction, Jherica devoted the next five months to preparing for the March 2026 Civil Engineering Licensure Examination. Every delayed semester, every sleepless night, every lesson learned from failure, and every sacrifice made by her family became fuel for the dream she had carried since the beginning.
The Final Calculation
When the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) released the results of the 2026 Civil Engineering Licensure Examination on April 7, years of sacrifice came down to a single list.
Somewhere among thousands of names lay the answer to years of waiting, quiet sacrifices, and the countless detours that had shaped her journey.
Her eyes moved carefully across the page, tracing each line with quiet hope until it stopped at one name.
Jherica G. Dulosa.
The dream that had weathered revisions, endured delays, and stood firm through every test had finally taken shape.
She was now a Licensed Civil Engineer.
For many, passing the board examination marks the end of years of hard work. For Jherica, it became something even more meaningful. It was proof that every setback she once believed had delayed her dream had, in fact, been strengthening the very foundation upon which it would one day stand.
The Pillars
With this achievement, she gives all the glory to God, believing that every blessing and every opportunity came through His guidance. She also dedicates her success to her family, whose unwavering love and sacrifices carried her through every difficult season. Among them was her older sister, Michelle G. Dulosa, who became one of her greatest pillars of support by helping her financially throughout college. Her generosity and constant encouragement allowed Jherica to continue pursuing the dream she had worked so hard for, even during the most challenging times.
Today, one of Jherica’s greatest joys was standing beside her older sister as the second engineer in their family. After all the delays, struggles, and moments when she questioned whether she would reach this point, finally achieving her dream felt like a moment of closure. “Murag fulfilling kaayo siya, na finally, kay wala man ko kapaso last year. Karun, mo-paso ko not just [with] a diploma but also naa na koy license,” she reflected.
For Jherica, earning her license represented more than just completing another milestone. It symbolized overcoming the setback that once delayed her journey and honoring the sacrifices made by her older sister and her parents. Her achievement became a shared triumph with the family who stood beside her through every setback, celebrated every small milestone, and continued to believe in her even when she doubted herself.
Where the Structure Holds
When Jherica finally walked across the graduation stage, the moment carried a significance unlike any she had imagined years ago. She finally experienced the walk she had long dreamed of. By the time her name was called on stage, she already carried the title she fought so hard to earn — Engineer Jherica G. Dulosa.
Looking back, she now understands that the delays she once feared became the very experiences that shaped her. They taught her patience when success seemed distant, resilience when giving up felt easier, and faith when the future appeared uncertain.
In a world where success is often measured by how quickly people reach the finish line, how early they achieve their goals, or how many accomplishments they collect along the way, Jherica's journey reminds us that true success is not defined by speed or by the timeline others expect. It is defined by the courage to keep moving forward, even when the road becomes longer than planned.
For every student who feels left behind, discouraged by delays, or uncertain about the future, Jherica's story is a reminder that setbacks do not define a person's potential. They are simply chapters in a journey that is still unfolding. As she said, "Every setback is a setup for a greater comeback."
Every dream is built on its own foundation. Some structures rise quickly; others take years before the final beam is set in place. Neither is less worthy than the other, for each is strengthened by the challenges it endures.
In the end, everyone arrives at the different finish line, in a different way, and at the right time.