Journey to the Top: When Faith, Love of Numbers Intertwine

"We should not make permanent decisions based on temporary seasons, and remember not to let your short-term discomfort compromise your long-term life goals. Even if we fail at something, we should not give up on pursuing our dreams.” – Jeremiah B. Ferrer, Class Valedictorian This profound wisdom guided Mr. Jeremiah B. Ferrer, a 22-year-old BS Statistics from San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, who will graduate as Summa Cum Laude and the class valedictorian after achieving the highest academic GPA of 1.14 during the 72nd Commencement Exercises on July 19, 2024. Growing up, Jeremiah was greatly influenced by the religious environment led by his father, Mr. Sonny G. Ferrer who is a pastor in their local church. Together with his mother, Mrs. Arlene B. Ferrer, they instilled a strong sense of faith and devotion in him and consistently provided unwavering support and care, playing an instrumental role in shaping his values and character. “Yung Papa ko po ay isang Pastor, kaya lumaki ako na every Sunday, nasa simbahan kami at nag-aayos ng mga kailangan tuwing may service. Palagi nya din kaming pinagbabasa ng bible, kaya naman talagang tumatak sa akin yung mga turo nya pati na rin ang kahalagahan ng pagkakaroon ng pananampalataya,” said Jeremiah. Just like all the other graduands, he faced different challenges in his academic life, including academic dilemmas, expectations, and self-pressure. Jeremiah considered these things as his losing moments that gave him the strength to persevere and reach the top, specifically his goal to graduate with a Latin honor. During his senior year in High School, Jeremiah's statistics teacher opened his eyes to the beauty of numbers and endless calculations, shaping his perspective on life’s unpredictability and inspired him to really pursue Bachelor of Science in Statistics. He believes that life, similar to a statistical model with inherent errors or residuals, is filled with uncertainties and unexpected challenges. He also realized that having shortcomings does not mean the end, but just a fragment of one’s bigger success in the future. “Mistakes and random errors are inevitable. Talagang magkakamali tayo sa buhay pero ang mahalaga ay hindi natin nakakalimutan ang mga pagkakamali na ito, bagkus ay nagiging daan natin para magkaroon tayo ng pagbabago sa ating sarili. Mistakes can lead to significant and positive changes in our lives," Jeremiah added. With his unwavering faith, determination and support from his loved ones, Jeremiah attained this academic achievement proving that in an unpredictable world, a clear vision and a purposeful effort towards one’s goal will always lead to success.