Apart from financial assistance, STEM SFE also offers opportunities for personal development, internships, and employment—building a bridge that connects scholars’ dreams to reality.
One of STEM SFE’s current scholars shared how he is now closer to achieving his childhood dream, thanks to the scholarship and the support from GBF. Jeffrey Nacional, a fourth-year student taking a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of the Philippines – Diliman, has dreamed of becoming an electrical engineer since he was young. “Electrical engineering is what I would write when asked about my dream when I grow up, and I'm happy that this is the course I'm taking now.”
Jeffrey got introduced to the world of electrical engineering through the books he read when he was a young kid, which inspired him to pursue a related course in college. Upon learning he passed the exams to study electrical engineering in UP, he knew this was the path he should take.
Even though studying in UP didn’t require a tuition fee, Jeffrey used the financial assistance from STEM SFE to pay for his laboratory equipment, his dorm fees, and his daily expenses. "I was also surprised because I passed, especially since there are many others in my institute who applied," he said.
He also shared how the scholarship has helped his family, particularly his stay-at-home mom and his dad, who works as an OFW in Saudi Arabia. “They’ve worked hard their entire lives for me, and they check on me constantly even though I’m far away from them. I remind myself that what I’m doing is for them—that’s why I’m studying far from home. I want to repay all the sacrifices they’ve made for me.”
At the moment, Jeffrey takes things one step at a time. “My dream right now is to finish my studies. After that, take the board exam, then find a job to truly help my parents,” he shared.
Through its scholarship programs like STEM SFE, GBF will continue to help students turn their dreams into reality. By nurturing the aspirations of future STEM professionals, GBF not only transforms the lives of the STEM SFE scholars but also uplifts their families, communities, and, in the long run, Philippine society.
