A determined 52-year-old woman named Daffodil Sagucio has achieved a long-awaited milestone, becoming a licensed civil engineer after passing her board exam on her 11th attempt, more than three decades after graduating from university.
Beyond her achievement being emotional, her journey reflectd persistence in mastering complex engineering concepts, continuous learning over time, and the discipline required to succeed in a highly technical licensure exam.
Daffodil's Story and How {She} Did It
Daffodil’s journey began in 1993 when she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University, Illinosis.
Although her initial dream was to study criminology, she followed a different path based on her parents’ guidance and successfully completed her engineering degree. However, her real challenge began after graduation.
Determined to become a licensed engineer, she repeatedly sat for the Civil Engineering board exam, but every attemot did not yield success. She attempted the exam multiple times, facing failure after failure. Yet, she refused to give up.
As the years went by, life became even more demanding. She got married, raised three children, and balanced work responsibilities, all while still holding onto her dream.
Daffodil recalled how studying became increasingly difficult, especially with age and the long gap since her graduation.
She admitted that remembering formulas and adapting to changes in the curriculum were major challenges. At times, the pressure of managing family, work, and academics felt overwhelming. Still, she pressed on.
Her turning point came when she enrolled in a structured review program. With the support of her family, especially her husband, who helped her with problem-solving, and her children, who constantly encouraged her, she gave the exam another shot.
This time, everything aligned. After failing ten times, Daffodil finally passed on her 11th attempt.
When she first received a congratulatory message, she was in disbelief. Having experienced repeated setbacks, she assumed it was another false alarm. But when she saw her name on the official results, the reality sank in.
She broke down in tears. After 32 years, she had finally earned the title of a licensed civil engineer.
Daffodil credits her success to God, her family, and the support system that stood by her through every attempt. Today, her story serves as a powerful reminder that success does not always come quickly, but with persistence, it will come.
Advising other people who may in her kind of situation, Daffodil urges them to keep going. ” You don’t fail when you fall short, you only fail when you stop trying,” she said.
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