For many students, reviewing for the board exams feels like putting life completely on pause. Days become a blur of formulas, practice problems, coffee runs, and pressure. But for newly licensed engineer Marc Zendrijk Valdez Pasumbal, topping the latest Civil Engineering Licensure Examination (CELE) with a score of 94.10 percent was never about sacrificing every part of himself just to study harder. Instead, the Mapúa University graduate approached the CELE with something many young people are still trying to master: balance.

In an interview with Manila Bulletin Lifestyle, Marc shared his journey and study habits to acing the exam that would change his life.

Before becoming one of the country’s top CELE examinees, Marc described himself as “just a simple guy” who dreamed big and genuinely enjoyed challenging himself. During review season, he still made time for walks, movies, anime, dates with his girlfriend, and dinners with friends after class. That mindset became one of his biggest strengths throughout the review process.

Marc realized early on that productivity was not measured by how long he sat at his desk.“Studying harder doesn’t always mean studying longer,” he said. “I tried to focus more on sustainability than intensity.”

Instead of glorifying all-nighters, he prioritized sleep and rest. Whenever he felt his focus dropping, he stopped studying without guilt instead of forcing himself to continue. His routine also included small rewards. After weekly assessments, he would treat himself to comfort food. During meals, he watched anime episodes to mentally reset before diving back into studying again.

Marc also shared that he used study helpers as hacks. One of those is Quizlet, flashcards filled with formulas, concepts, and engineering terminologies to warm up his brain. Quizlet eventually became one of his most essential tools.

“I wouldn’t say memorization is my strongest suit, so flashcards became extremely helpful for active recall and long-term retention,” he explained.

He also created a carefully organized notebook filled with summarized lessons, color-coded formulas, and highlighted topics that repeatedly appeared during review sessions. For organization, he used Microsoft To Do to schedule weekly goals. Even AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini became part of his study routine whenever he needed help understanding difficult concepts or solving problems.

Among all his study habits, one strategy stood out most. Marc trained his body clock around the actual board exam schedule. Since the CELE runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., he conditioned himself to stay mentally active during those exact hours. He avoided heavy reviews before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m., and even skipped afternoon naps so his body would not associate exam hours with rest. It was less about chasing motivation and more about building consistency.

Despite eventually topping the boards, Marc admitted that his review season was far from perfect. As someone from the province, staying in Manila for nearly three months became emotionally draining. There were moments when he found himself thinking more about finally going home than becoming a topnotcher. A few weeks before the exam, he also experienced serious self-doubt.

What helped him recover was the encouragement of the people around him. Friends, mentors, classmates, and family members continuously reminded him that they believed in his abilities even when he struggled to believe in himself.

“My family gave me the privilege of focusing entirely on the board examination,” he shared. “I never felt pressured in a negative way because I always knew they would be proud of me regardless of the outcome.”

Looking back now, Marc believes future board exam takers should avoid unhealthy comparison and unmanaged social media use. More importantly, he wants students to stop treating rest as laziness.

“I strongly believe that one of the biggest factors in board exam success is conditioning,” he explained. “Your ability to absorb information depends heavily on how well-rested and mentally prepared you are.”

Now officially a licensed engineer, he hopes to pursue construction management or structural engineering while also applying as a part-time lecturer at Mapúa University to help future students reach their own dreams. And for young Filipinos chasing academic goals, his advice is refreshingly realistic.

“You don’t have to win every single day,” he said. “You just have to keep coming back the next day and continue.”