VOICES

Our school always ensures that our students’ journey does not only end when they graduate from College Prep. We stay connected with our alumni to see how they are thriving in their new chapters. In this article, we’ll meet Alfonso “Fonzy” Pagsuyuin, one of our alumni who embodies the spirit of open-mindedness and risk-taking that we nurture in Keys. Now studying at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), Fonzy is sure that Keys has given him skills that go beyond traditional academics. Let’s get to know more about Fonzy!

Fonzy in UST! 

Photo © Alfonso Pagsuyuin

Hi! I’m Alfonso Pagsuyuin. I graduated from Keys in 2023 and currently study at the University of Santo Tomas Manila, taking up AB Economics. When I first started college, it was a big change for me. From being in a small school to attending class in a school where my building alone has over two thousand students, it was very wild. Academically, it’s impossible to say that there weren’t any challenges, but I still felt prepared to take on whatever was given to me. I feel that Keys has given me the skills to do that. When it came to writing, recitation, and just being well-rounded, I was covered.   The change was more social rather than academic, with events in school being announced through Facebook and so many group chats, I felt a sort of dissonance with everyone else. I became a lot more unsure in my first year, being pushed out of my comfort zone. It wasn’t until after around a month or so, I had my first close friends, creating my first feeling of a support system in UST. With my closest friend being the person to take the first step.   Over time, I found myself doing well academically during my first year, even reaching dean’s list, even though I still had a feeling of not being in the right place or not fitting in with everyone else. I still felt lost in a way; I didn’t exactly find my “place” in class. After my first year of college, I decided to apply for transfer to UP Diliman. Although I didn’t get in, I felt like there must be a reason for that. In my second year, the difficulty of the work definitely got harder, but it didn’t stop me. I was able to achieve my second year in a row of honors. After going through my second year, I now find myself looking back on all the events that have happened so far. I now have a sense of belonging without having to change who I am. Finding your group or finding people doesn’t mean you have to change who you are and how to talk, it just means finding the right people who will support you for who you are and what you do.

Fonzy with his classmates in UST. He is at the back part (mid-right) wearing eyeglasses!

Photo © Alfonso Pagsuyuin

Fonzy's experience shows us that a Keys-student journey goes well beyond graduation. His story affirmed that the values of open-mindedness and risk-taking that he learned from Keys has served him well in acclimating in his then-new community. Now, Fonzy is a testimony that whatever challenges and opportunities Keys students face, they will always find or make a way to stay afloat and be stronger than ever.  For sure, Fonzy’s story will resonate with a lot of our young readers. We are very proud of how Fonzy has embraced growth while staying true to the core values that define our school community. Truly, Keys is where learners learn how to thrive no matter what!