ONCE A quiet student who did not stand out, the Artlets alumna who emerged as one of the topnotchers in the recent Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT) aspires to emulate the educators who helped her come out of her shell.
Kyla Jane Purcil, who finished her English Language Studies degree in 2024, ranked eighth in the secondary level LEPT with a score of 93.40%, making her the University’s top examinee.
“I was blessed to have met warmhearted teachers who believed in my capabilities even when I couldn’t. For most of my academic life, I was a quiet child… I didn’t have the confidence to make myself known,” Purcil told The Flame.
“They (teachers) saw through my weaknesses and gave me the push I needed to keep growing into who I am now. Like them, I aspire to be someone who guides people to their goals and gives strength to those who lack faith in themselves, as I did,” she added.
As Purcil completed her teaching certification, she reflected on the wisdom her teachers had imparted to her about the value of learning.
“It’s important to find joy in learning and improving yourself… Learning is beautiful, and being a teacher is an honorable privilege that allows you to share the beauty of learning,” she said.
The Artlets alumna said preparing for the board exam was her greatest challenge, as it made her feel she was “back in square one.”
“I encountered many concepts I was either discovering for the first time or had long forgotten. It made me realize how I actually needed to study in such a short amount of time,” Purcil said.
“I gradually learned to accept that this is what studying is for. It’s impossible to study everything under the sun. What matters is that I’m confident in what I know,” she added.
With a 1.083 general weighted average, Purcil graduated summa cum laude and valedictorian of the Faculty of Arts and Letters. She also bagged the Rector’s award, a recognition given to students for academic excellence.
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Purcil described the title of Rector’s awardee as “a constant reminder” to commit fully to all her endeavors, including the LEPT.
In a past interview with The Flame, Purcil shared her interest in pursuing a career in law. While it remains a part of her plans, she said she prefers to approach things one step at a time.
“Law school is a full-time commitment that requires significant dedication and sacrifice, so I aim to seize the opportunity when I’m ready,” she said.
In this year’s September and November LEPT, the University produced 151 new teachers at the elementary and secondary levels, with passing rates of 96.15% (50 out of 52) and 99.02% (101 out of 102), respectively.
The national passing rate for elementary teachers stood at 51.04% (21,967 out of 43,035) and the secondary level exam at 72.62% (57,729 out of 79,493). F
