Garnering a rating of 86.90 percent, Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) Master of Science in Psychology graduate Angeli Lou P. Orquia, RPm, RPsy, ranked fifth among 373 passers in the recent Psychologists Computer-Based Licensure Exam held in August 2024.

Orquia told Atenews that she dedicated six months to preparing for the board exam, taking a two-month break from her work as a teacher to focus on her studies full-time.

“When I finished my thesis last January, I started contemplating my decision to take the board exam. I started studying in February while also balancing my duties at work… [Ultimately], I decided to take a break from teaching for 2 months to dedicate my time to studying full-time. I am also thankful to our department head for allowing me to take a break.”

Despite her success, Orquia faced challenges such as self-doubt, fears about not passing, and balancing other responsibilities.

“However, I did not allow this to stop me from pursuing and persevering every day. If you want something, you must work hard for it. This entails sacrificing your leisure time and time to bond with family and friends. I had to set my mind on my goal and not worry about what people might say,” Orquia said.

When asked what tips she could offer to those planning to take the same exam and aiming to top it as well, she emphasized how critical it is to prepare thoroughly.

“The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle… Reading books, reviewing, listening to lectures, and taking numerous tests have helped me. Joining communities of examinees is also helpful as you learn from one another, and you can share notes and ideas while also motivating each other.”

Orquia believed that she could not have achieved this success without the support around her.

“They are part of the reason for this success. I am also thankful to NDMU and the AdDU community, as they have molded me into who I am today,” she added.

Moving forward, Orquia, who is an Assistant Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at Notre Dame of Marbel University, has resumed teaching after the exam, with the aim of inspiring her students and sharing the insights she has gained over the years.

“I hope to inspire them by imparting my knowledge so they, too, can become mental health professionals someday. Further, I also plan to work as a psychologist and be able to help more people.”

Orquia became a registered psychometrician in 2018 and earned her Master of Science in Psychology in December 2023.

The passing rate for all AdDU takers reached 94.4 percent, with a 100 percent passing rate for AdDU first-time takers.