When I was getting interviewed for a job, my interviewer took a look at my CV and was actually interested with my educational background. Then he asked me if I knew so-and-so, who went to school at Cebu Technological University. I went to Cebu Institute of Technology (now with -University), which apparently to non-Cebuanos, was pretty much the same school.

“No, I’m sorry, but I don’t know him.” I said.

“Are you sure? He placed 4th in the exam.” He insisted.

“No, I really don’t know him.”

I’m not the type of person who actually cared about getting to know you for your accomplishments. Sure, placing 4th in an exam is admirable, for having worked so hard and you can have my respect, but I wasn’t the type of person to actually check the newspaper or any news sites just to find out who you were, unless of course if we have met. Then I’d be interested if you passed the exam or not.

I have been surrounded with people having placed in exams, but they were neither better or worse human beings. They weren’t anybody special. In my eyes, they were still my friends. A lot of them were book smart, but I guess to me, being book smart doesn’t mean you’re going to be a good human being or good at something else in life. I know plenty of non-placers who are actually doing a lot better than the placers.