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Hi there! I'm Clifford Reed N. Melgar, born on October 18, 2003, and currently 21 years old. If there's one word I’d use to describe myself it’s a fighter. Not the kind that throws punches, but the kind who keeps showing up, even when life gets a little heavy.

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I grew up in Lamak, a small sitio tucked inside Pondol, Balamban, Cebu. It’s the kind of place where neighbors greet you like family, and the air smells like freshly cooked rice and mountain breeze. Pondol may just be a barangay in the bigger town of Balamban, but for me, it's the entire world that raised me. The dusty roads, the morning sound of roosters, and the quiet simplicity of life here shaped who I am.

I’ve been a resident since birth, and I carry the rhythm of this place in my heartbeat. Growing up here taught me about humility, hard work, and the value of close-knit community. While it’s far from the city lights and noise, Lamak’s peaceful environment became the perfect soil for a dreamer like me a boy who once chased basketballs down dirt roads and now chases engineering dreams in college.

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My educational journey began in the quiet halls of Buanoy National High School, where I graduated with High Honors in SY 2021–2022. Those years weren’t just about academics they were about building a foundation of grit, discipline, and purpose. It was in those very classrooms where I first started to dream bigger, realizing that education could be the bridge between where I was and where I wanted to be.

That dream led me to Cebu Technological University – Tuburan Campus, where I took the bold step of pursuing Civil Engineering. It’s not an easy course, but I’ve always believed that great things are built brick by brick, and here I am now an incoming 3rd-year student, still holding the blueprint of my goals with both hands, despite the cracks and setbacks along the way.

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When I’m not busy crunching numbers or reviewing engineering concepts, you’ll probably find me doing the things that keep my spirit alive playing basketball and diving into the world of online games.

Basketball, for me, isn’t just a sport. It’s a mindset. There’s something about the rhythm of the bounce, the heat of the court, and the thrill of a perfect shot that makes me feel alive. It has taught me more than just how to dribble or shoot. It taught me discipline, teamwork, and how to think fast even when the pressure is on. It became a kind of escape, a safe place to reset and recharge.

On the other hand, online gaming is my digital battlefield. It sharpens my mind, hones my reflexes, and connects me with people from different walks of life. It’s not just entertainment it’s my way to relax, unwind, and sometimes, even strategize and problem-solve in ways that oddly reflect real life.

Whether it’s on the court or behind the screen, these hobbies aren’t just pastimes. They’ve shaped the way I face challenges calm, calculated, and always ready for the next play.

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They say success is sweet but the taste of earning it after failure? Even sweeter.

One of my proudest accomplishments isn’t about medals or certificates. It’s something quieter, deeper, and far more personal. I was able to retake and pass the two major subjects I previously failed during the very same semester I struggled the most the 2nd semester of my 2nd year.

It was one of the most difficult times of my academic life. There were moments I doubted myself wondering if I could even recover. But I showed up. Every single day, I faced the pressure, the judgment, the fear of failing again and I fought through it.

And when I finally passed those subjects, it felt like I was breathing again.That victory reminded me that resilience doesn’t always look like winning first place sometimes, it looks like staying in the game when you could’ve easily walked away.

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College isn’t just about lessons in books, it’s about the lessons life throws at you. During my 2nd year, I was hit with a reality I didn’t expect I failed my two major subjects. It wasn’t just a small stumble; it completely threw off my academic path. From a regular student, I became irregular a label that felt heavier than it should.

It was hard. I felt left behind, embarrassed, and at times like I wasn’t cut out for engineering at all.It was my lowest point, not just as a student, but as a person who had always tried his best.

But here’s what I realized life doesn’t always follow the straight road. Sometimes, we take detours that teach us more than success ever could.

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At first, those failures felt like walls but eventually, I saw they were actually mirrors. They reflected back my weaknesses, yes but also revealed my strength, the kind I didn’t know I had.

I learned how to study smarter, not harder. I learned to ask for help, to stay up late with purpose, to listen better, plan better, and most of all believe better.

I became more disciplined, more determined, and more aware of my limits so I could push past them.

Failing didn’t break me. It built me.

Now, I carry that failure like a badge not of shame, but of survival. It reminds me that even when life knocks you down, it’s possible to rebuild with more wisdom, more fire, and a heart that refuses to quit.

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If you ask me what keeps me going, especially during the sleepless nights and the overwhelming pressure of engineering school. It’s the vision I hold for my future. A future I’ve been building, not just for myself, but for the people who believed in me long before I believed in myself.

First and foremost, I dream of becoming a licensed civil engineer. Not just by title, but by skill, character, and purpose. I want to design structures that matter things that last, things that serve, things that stand tall even in storms. Just like how I’ve learned to stand tall in my own.

But beyond the profession, there’s something deeper I’m chasing. It's the gratitude in action. I want to pay back the goodness of my parents, who never gave up on me even in my worst seasons. My dad, who works far away as an OFW to give us a better life, and my mom, who remains the steady light at home they deserve more than just a “thank you.” They deserve to see their sacrifices turn into success.

I want to reach a point where I’m financially stable enough to lift my family up to be the kind of kuya who can pay for his siblings' tuition without a second thought, to help put food on the table, to ease the burden that’s been carried for too long.

This dream isn’t just about money or titles. It’s about meaning. It’s about building a future where the people I love no longer have to struggle. And every step I take every failed subject I recover from, every sleepless review, every small win is a brick I’m laying toward that dream.

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Even when life throws me an exam I didn’t study for, I still manage to smile and maybe guess half right then complain afterward about my low score like I actually deserved better (when in reality, I really didn’t study 🥹).

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YOLO—but make it count. I may only live once, but I’ll live it with purpose, bounce back from failure, and rise for the people who believe in me.

It’s not just about living life to the fullest. It’s about living it with meaning, learning from every mistake, and building a future that turns sacrifices into success. I believe that every setback is just a setup for a stronger comeback. That’s how I live my YOLO.

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If I had to name the people who shaped me the most, I wouldn’t point to celebrities or superheroes. I’d point home. My parents are my greatest inspirations, and their lives speak louder than any motivational quote.

My dad, an OFW, works far away to give us a better future. He’s missed birthdays, holidays, and normal days but through every sacrifice, he’s shown me what real love and responsibility look like. He doesn’t say much, but every remittance and every message reminds me that his hard work is powered by love.

My mom, on the other hand, is my safe place. She’s a housewife, but more than that she’s the glue of our family. Gentle, warm, and full of wisdom, she faces every problem with calm and courage. Even when things get tough at home, she never panics she solves, she soothes, and she stays strong.

I may have mentors in school or idols in sports, but it’s my parents who gave me the reason to keep going, even when life knocks me down. I want to succeed not just for myself but to make their sacrifices worth it, and to someday become the kind of person they can proudly call their son.