A University of St. La Salle (USLS) chemical engineering student topped this year’s licensure exam.

21-year-old John Cyril Claur, a resident of the Regent Pearl Homes Subdivision in Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City earned a score of 84.20 percent, alongside Jared Philip Condez of the University of the Philippines-Visayas.

In an interview with Bombo Radyo-Bacolod, Claur said he was heading to Ninoy Aquino International Airport to catch a flight back to Bacolod City when he was made aware of the results.

The engineering student said he was shocked to find the first place result, after earlier shutting off his mobile phone and deactivating social media accounts, out of fears he failed.

He said his parents were euphoric to see him, after he had spent several months in Manila reviewing and preparing for the exam.

Claur said he did not initially intend to become a chemical engineer, aiming for a different engineering course in electronics and communications; however, while in college, he was named a Department of Science and Technology scholar, but the course he wanted was not covered by the government agency.

For now, the topnotcher said he will prioritize in finding a suitable job in order to help his parents, noting his father is a former government employee and his mother a housewife./DGB, WDJ