A remarkable student from UP Rural High School in Laguna, Carl Audric Guia, has received a full scholarship to study astrophysics at Harvard University.
This achievement follows Carl’s victory in an international astronomy contest held in the US in 2022.
Carl’s interest in astronomy was sparked by an encyclopedia gifted to him by his grandmother. His passion for the subject led him to explore opportunities in the US, despite financial constraints.
“I know full well we wouldn’t be able to afford especially if I want to study abroad,” Carl said in an interview on My Puhunan: Kaya Mo!
His family’s financial struggles initially discouraged him, but they also pushed him to aim higher and seek a scholarship.
“Medyo discouraging po siya at first. But it just pushed me to aim higher and aim for a scholarship talaga abroad,” he added.
Carl’s determination and the lack of astronomy facilities in his school in the Philippines didn’t deter him from standing out in his application to Harvard.
“They really saw it in my application that it got me so far as flying to the US, and ‘yun talaga nag standout,” he remarked.
In sharing his story, Carl hopes to inspire others to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams.
“I hope they have a little trust in themselves, kasi it might make all the difference,” he said.