Jenny Joy Tejada finishes her academic journey at the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) as the top student of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS) Class of 2026.
Tejada, who earned a general weighted average of 1.44354 under the BS Fisheries program, said the distinction validated her hard work and perseverance.
Coming from a low-income household, Tejada focused on her academics to help her family. Her mother owns a sari-sari store, while her father works as a barber.
According to Tejada, members of her family suffer from health conditions and require medications, which is why she relied on her scholarship from the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute to pay for her expenses in college.
“I really want to study hard and give the life my family deserves… I don’t want to see my parents skipping their medicines just because they are expensive,” she said.
Originally, Tejada wanted to take a course related to engineering or medicine, but a resume-writing activity in high school changed her direction and eventually led her to enrol in UPV’s flagship program.
She found motivation in advocating the importance of the program, especially in addressing food security. This comes after her exposure to the fisheries sector, especially fisherfolk, during her stay at the University.
This is a far cry from when she was still deciding which degree program to take and taking the risk of enrolling in a program that she knew little about. She, however, was sure that she cared about the environment.
“We have learned about their stories and the struggles they face as they sail the ocean. I want to protect them. I want to uplift the fisheries sector and protect our oceans,” she said.
Staying academically competitive in college is challenging, but Tejada said her faith and humility helped her stay consistent.
“I always pray because prayer always works. Maybe that’s the only powerful habit I have,” Tejada said.
“Moreover, you need to be humble enough to know that there are people smarter than you, but also to acknowledge the hard work that you put into it. I think that’s how people achieve success,” she said.
After graduation, Tejada will slowly pivot her focus to the upcoming Fisheries Professional Licensure Examination administered by the Professional Regulation Commission. She then plans to work before enrolling for a master’s degree in a year or two.
Tejada sees herself working for UPV as a research assistant in the near future. For her long-term plan, she intends to practice her profession in the Philippines, particularly in Western Visayas, to help local fisherfolk.
She said she wants to immerse herself in the community, understand how fisherfolk live, and educate people about fisheries.
She plans on taking on a researcher role to understand the dynamics, distribution, and biology of biological communities in ecological ecosystems to solve problems, understand phenomena, and conserve our biological systems.
“Helping my community should start with understanding the ecosystem that they live in, to know what we can do. Simply, I will use this knowledge to serve the people and the ocean,” Tejada stressed.
Written by Carlson Alelis, IPO
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