Interviewed by Armando Miclat

Kim Dompor and Delfin Villafuerte are two examples of, whether they will admit it or not, overachievers in their respective high schools. Academics wise, they are both hard to beat: Kim was their batch salutatorian, while Delfin went one better and was their batch valedictorian. More impressively, grades were not their only strong points. Kim was a noted debater, gold-medal winning fencer and stage actor in their school plays. Delfin has an even longer laundry list of accomplishments. He was sent to Australia as an exchange student, was active in the student council, was editor-in-chief of their school publication and won over 80 medals throughout the course of his academic life. Not only those, but he manages to still dance and sing very well!

What is most striking about these two guys is not their jealousy-inducing accomplishments, but their backgrounds. Kim comes from a little known high school in Cebu called CIE. On the other hand, Delfin is not a provincial person, but he did make the switch from La Salle Greenhills. Yes, that school.

So everything should be smooth sailing, as-you-were and all excellent and fine for these two lads. Right? Not exactly. Switching allegiances to Ateneo, coping with the rigors of ME subjects and trying to find their own organizations to belong in posed new challenges to even these two.

Okay, so why Ateneo and why ME?

Del: Well when I was a senior, like super early pa of the school year, around July-August, one of my good friends sales-talked me na into ME, and I was really nabenta to ME considering it had Math (which I love, oo nerd na ako) and business all into one. Plus the Ateneo campus was, for me, by far the best campus in the Philippines. And I’ve never been the La Sallian na tipong, “La Salle all the way!” I was really open to the idea of entering Ateneo for college.

Kim: Funny story, really. My dad’s from La Salle, and ever since we were kids, he brainwashed [my brother and I] into becoming La Sallistas. But when we got into High School, my dad started putting our best interests first. He kind of conceded that Ateneo’s the best in business, so he opened up the idea of us going to Ateneo. I haven’t thought of really going to any other university, other than Ateneo.

Del: Basta in the end, I chose Ateneo na, primarily because of the course (WOO GO ME), then the campus, the distance from my house, THE TRAFFIC, and a little bit because I wanted to try something else din.

Kim: As for ME…. It really wasn’t my first choice course. I applied for Management of Applied Chemistry, because at that time when I applied for Ateneo, I was a chemistry geek. Hahaha! However, after many long talks with my dad and consultation from my brother (also taking up ME,) I was convinced to shift into ME. I guess ME fit me, considering my skills!

You were overachievers in high school! But did you feel out of your depth in first year?

Kim: ME is a really competitive and demanding course. Back in high school, I only had to really compete with the eventual valedictorian and a fellow salutatorian. I guess you could say that I was a big fish in a very small pond (Hello, 43 graduates in my batch. HAHA!) When I got into Ateneo and ME, I felt very small. It took quite some adjustment, really. I felt like a huge goldfish being dumped into the vast ocean.

Del: HAHA YES. Well partly yes, partly no, but mostly YES. There, I answered the question na.

Very funny Del. Care to elaborate?

Del: When I was applying for the different colleges, of course everyone knows about the Merit, Star and Oblation scholarships, but I never really expected… Like what was on my mind was, “There are AT LEAST 50 people who are way smarter than me, hindi na ako aasang makapasok dun.” So I guess I wasn’t that shocked that I didn’t “shine” as much as I did in high school, especially in math class, where all the math-letes and valedictorians, salutatorians and whatnots were. And, my first math LT was just an 88 (It’s fairly high but yeah it’s a line of 8! But I didn’t realize then a line of 8 was already an achievement in Math in Ateneo!)

What did you do to adjust? Do you still continue to do the activities you used to do?

Kim: First of all, I had to hit the books. Academics in college is very, very demanding. Back in high school, I could breeze through tests just listening during class. As for activities, I wasn’t really active with any org last year. In high school, I was super Mr. Active: Class and School Productions, Sports…. so many activities. But as I got into college, these had to take a back seat. This year though, I have decided to become more involved with organizations. It’s a good way to showcase my talents and abilities beyond academics. It’s an education that goes beyond books.

Del: Hmm… Well not much really! I think I even slacked off more. Given na I have breaks in between classes, I usually tell myself that, “Ah, I have time naman tomorrow, I’ll do it na lang tomorrow.” Haha! But to adjust, well, I had to adjust to seeing more blue than green! And I didn’t know (and I still don’t know) the Ateneo alma mater.

Which leads me nicely to my next question! Did moving from La Salle affect you in any way?

Del: First of course my daily routine was different. THE CLOTHES HAHAHA I HAD TO THINK OF WHAT TO WEAR PA! Going to school and not knowing anyone the first day… So many not-so-familiar faces…Then of course there are girls na! I couldn’t wear any of my Lasalle shirts, pero, no drastic effects naman on me. I guess the main difference would be the academic rigors! But yeah since I have the most bestest, awesomest block (WOO BLOCK T SHOUTOUT!) I enjoyed the “shifting” into THE Ateneo!

Kim, did moving from Cebu affect you in any deeper sense?

Kim: Hmmmm… Tough one. Manila is much more fast-paced than it is in Cebu. Back at home, I had the luxury of chilling, but here it’s always “Go! Go! Go!” I guess I had to learn how to always be on my toes. As for homesickness, I didn’t really feel it. I stay in Marikina with my Aunt and her family, and it helps a lot too that my brother came to Manila before me and helped me a lot with adjusting.

Now that you’re in second year, can you say you have adjusted to ME life?

Del: YES! I mean, of course! I love ME life, especially the people. But yeah, adjusting to the ME life for me means spending early mornings cramming papers and requirements or studying. So I guess, yes, I indeed have adjusted to ME life na! HAHA! I actually can’t wait for SMEG sem!

Kim: I think adjustment is something done on a constant basis. In first year, I had to adjust a lot with Math, and I guess I did pretty okay there. This year, I’m faced with a different breed of “demon”: Accounting. I’m still making the necessary adjustments, and I guess I’m gonna have to make many more of these as I go along my journey in ME.

As a cheesy way to end, could you say you have enjoyed this, “Change of scenery?”

Kim: College is so much more fun! Haha! So much more demanding, yet in that same respect, so much more fulfilling once you’ve accomplished what’s required of you. I have more time in my hands, and I guess what college is teaching me is how to manage my time properly. As for the literal change of scenery, here in Manila, I’ve learned to remain grounded, always remembering where I come from and who I truly am, making it a point not to be overwhelmingly influenced by my new surrounding, but to imprint bits of my being and “origins” here.

Del: YES I LOVE ME AND MEA! Super, super love! Like, my whole college life will be composed of MEA memories – all my org stuff! And I don’t think I’ll even remember those moments like getting As in Math LTs or coding something properly in ITM or balancing stuff in accounting. But like when I’m old na, I think all I’ll remember clearly will be those memories I’ve had with the awesomest people in college. And whatever they say that college isn’t fun and HS is funner, THAT’S A LIEEEE! HAHAHA!