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Soar to New Heights with Dedication and Perseverance: Featuring Carl Bryan Ravanes

by Tram Panaligan


Carl Bryan Ravanes, more commonly known as Carl Ravanes, is a man who believed in the power of dedication and perseverance as the key towards unprecedented success. Currently he is a Professional Basketball Player who was recently drafted in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) under the NorthPort Batang Pier. Prior to this, he played for the Laguna Krah Heroes under the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) for nine years.



As a SISFU alumnus, he graduated from the country’s premier transnational university with a Bachelor's Degree in International Business Major in Business Management Degree in 2012 under the international partner from the University of Sunderland in the UK.



Even before college, Carl has proven that anything can be done through dedication and perseverance, Ever since he was a kid, he has always playedbasketball and has truly honed his skill for the sport. However, his sense of discipline to persevere has really paid off during his time in the university. Sharing his SISFU experience, he has mentioned both his high and low points—these of which have nurtured and molded him to become equipped with the necessary hard and soft skills that he will truly use in his career.



He shared the things he loved and the challenges he faced as a student in SISFU. A prevailing theme of his high point was during the pinnacle of every college student—graduation. Wherein he shared that the best part of being a SISFU student was to be able to march and know that he has indeed fulfilled and completed all the requirements to achieve that hard-earned degree. In addition to this, he cited that a memorable part of his graduation was receiving a special academic award (Merit Award) during his senior year. He didn’t expect this award as he was the type of student who didn't want to get all the awards, but only made sure that he did his job well, did his best, and passed all his assessments.

However, the route to this high point was not easy since he and his batch faced a great ordeal that could potentially delay their graduation. During their senior year, around the time that they had to finish their internship, the school sadly informed them that the professor was no longer around, due to unforeseen circumstances, and that they were still looking for a substitute. Most of his friends and classmates were in a state of panic and were filled with anxiety as they worried whether this would greatly affect their graduation (i.e. a possible term extension that might push back and delay their graduation). However, their worries were wiped away when Mr Leopoldo Anoche, more commonly known as Sir Leo or Mr Anoche, took over the subject without hesitation to help out the students. Up to this day, Carl is forever thankful to Sir Leo for immediately coming to the rescue and allowing them to graduate on time.

Staying with the theme of the challenges he faced, he also discussed that they too experience the same day-to-day struggles of a typical college student. Things like procrastinating, cramming, and constantly revising; researching for theirreports. However he cited that during his college years, almost ten years ago, the availability of research materials was not complete and sometimes they had to hit the books; go to the library to do their research.



SISFU has indeed helped and contributed to his success today in his athletic career because he was able to foster three main things that he will use for a lifetime: the skill of time management, a sense of organisation, and being analytical through in-depth thinking. He shared that all three of these have really helped him in his athletic career as he is able to critically plan out all the things he needs to do ahead of time and be able to fulfill them seamlessly and effectively.



As we wrapped-up the interview, he ended with a few quips and tips to all the future graduates of SISFU and those who plan to pursue higher education there.

“There are four things that you’ll realise in college: First, is Delayed Gratification; Second, Try not to Take Everything Personally; Learn to Filter the Noise; Third, Believe and Trust the Work You Put In; Lastly, Don’t be Afraid to Make Mistakes.—”

1. Delayed Gratification.
"In today’s world we all want things instantly. Like in a snap. But, sometimes we have to do stuff we don't want right now, so we could end up doing things we want eventually. It's okay that you suck it up first, but in the back of yourmind, eventually things will get better. Whatever struggles you’re facing now, it's better to struggle a bit right now, as it will get better in the long term.”

2. Try not to Take Everything Personally; Learn to Filter the Noise
“Criticism, especially constructive criticism, in college can be very casual. You could be talking to a professor and they’ll tell you straight up that this is wrong, you’re doing this wrong. This is what you have to do, or if they don’t tell you what to do, they’d ask you to figure it out. And I think that’s one thing that people or students in general should understand that these professors just want to help you stand on your own feet. It’s not because they don’t like you, or how you look, or how you treat them… it's not that. You don’t always have to take things personally.”

“You have to learn to filter the noise. You don’t have to give yourself to everything that’s calling you. If this part in your school or studies is calling and trying to distract you. You have to figure out; to learn to how to prioritise, and you have to try to figure out what really matters in that specific moment and what is going to help me achieve my goals.”

3. Believe and Trust the Work You Put In
“As students there is no other way to graduate and go through school except through actually doing the school work. I wasn’t the best student, I wasn’t the smartest, I was never at the top of my class… BUT I made sure that I did all the little things that I could do to bump my grades up. [Anything] that would help me get that score or be in a better relationship with my professor and classmates.

“If you realise how important the small things are and if you try to work hard and make sure that you don't leave any small thing out, you'd be surprised at how far you’d actually go without realising it. ”

4. Don’t be Afraid to Make Mistakes.
“I’m sure you have all heard this a million times, but you really won't understand the weight of it unless it really happens to you.”

You don't understand how important it is to make mistakes. And of course to learn from them.

"So going through college… first year, second year, third year… doesn't matter what year you are in college, you are bound to make mistakes… evenafter college! ESPECIALLY, after college… when you’re out of your comfort zone. When you’re outside of the confines of the four walls of your classroom… you are going to make so many mistakes… BUT the good news is you can always learn from them and you can and could always choose to [whether it] could make you [become] better or worse.” Bottomline: “It’s all up to you. Your choice.”


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