James Benedict, as he turns 21 years old, has certainly learned a lot when it comes to his journey in pursuing his studies. He has bared how he cultivated bonds and relationships with different walks of life as well as how valuable education is.
Smart. Responsible. A genius.
These terms have been associated with James Benedict Gamboa-Cuesta when it comes to his studies. Despite this, of course, the 21-year-old can also be pertained to as a “normal student.” He can have the loudest laugh in the room yet also cries whenever something overwhelms him.
Nevertheless, in defiance of the struggles and adversities, he is someone who never gives up and is driven by his passion for learning and success. He crams, yes, but he makes sure to deliver excellence at all times because anything less than that is unacceptable.
Always striving to be the best, he always reigned top of his class. He never failed to be the greatest. Nonetheless, aside from this, he has also won international competitions in invention and innovation. Gold medals and recognitions from organizations around the world are testaments to his glory.
“I treasure them the most because I can’t imagine how creative and smart I have become due to that. I thought everything can be learned through books, but with inventions, we create knowledge, shape innovation and eventually ease the lives of the people. Translating ideas into a functional reality is really a forte of mine, I could say.”
Meanwhile, learning to adapt and socialize with different walks of life, James has certainly equipped himself with all the right knowledge and experience when it comes to his education.
Entering public school during his early years of studying—Claudio Sandoval Elementary School and Ramon Magsaysay High School, then transitioned to two of the most well-known universities in the Philippines—University of Santo Tomas for his Senior High School and De La Salle University for his ongoing college education for a double-degree in Economics, the young businessman has indeed immersed himself with people of different socioeconomic classes.
The just-turned 21-year-old knows how to empathize with people who are the poorest of the poor and the richest of the rich. With that valuable experience, he has taught himself how to value people based on their personality, character, and totality, and not on how big of a value their bank accounts hold.
Aside from the vital lessons he has learned from his education, the knowledge of how to interact with different kinds of people has remained one of the most useful and paramount things. Mingling with the marginalized, the middle class, and the rich has absolutely refined how he communicates and cultivates genuine relationships with people. Just like how he eventually made a familial bond with his friends at school.
“They were the shoulders I need whenever I need to lean on someone. They were the people who are there whenever I cry. They were the people who calm me down whenever I’m stressed. I am always grateful whenever I look back on those moments. The bonding we shared, the family we made, and the arguments we communicated way back.”
Behind the successes and the shiny gold medals of James are the important lessons he has learned from his parents who knew the meaning of life struggles and how to overcome them. They are the ones that taught him how powerful education is and how it could be the ticket to lifelong dreams or simply a way out of being a part of the marginalized.
James was already sixteen years old when his parents just finished their education. A short explanation for this is teenage pregnancy and the poverty that they have experienced in their youth.
The young entrepreneur has seen their dedication to finish school even despite the fact that they did not necessarily need it to earn but because their goal was to finish their studies. They already have a comfortable life but they still pushed through to get that diploma. This proved to James how valuable education is.
“The moment I saw my parents strive hard to finish their schooling made me inspired that I should also finish mine, and achieve it with flying colors. People should take education seriously because education doesn’t teach us just the knowledge that could be found in books, it teaches us the skills we need to cope with the environment and its fast transformation through the years.”
James Benedict, indeed, has shown us that success should not be measured by blinding achievements alone but also the bonds that we have built with the people who helped us get there. Yes, he has all the smarts and the intelligence—innovation and invention is in the spirit of most of his works but the connection with his people truly shines in his heart.