The possibilities are endless for the young, especially when they dare to take the first step and make the most of opportunities that come their way. 

Speaking at the Meralco Power Academy’s Young Engineers and Scientists Summit (YESS), Ikigai Philippines Founder and Head Coach Alexis Torres encouraged participants to grab opportunities when they come, especially those that are only there at a certain period in a person’s life.

“There are opportunities that are time-bound — they will not be there forever. For example, the chance to become high school student council president will no longer be there when you leave high school. Grab those opportunities while you can,” he said.

He used the Hero’s Journey as a means to illustrate the different stages that a person goes through in their lives, particularly as they seek their purpose. Conceptualized by Joseph Campbell in the 1940s, the Hero’s Journey is a way to chronicle life events that lead to transformation – similar to the pattern that most heroes’ stories followed.

“If there are only three things I want you to remember, they are these: Be brave. Have no regrets. Be present and grateful,” Coach Alexis said. “Don’t be afraid to take the first step. You’ll never know if something is for you until you give it a try.”

The YESS is an annual event mounted by Meralco Power Academy designed for senior high school students in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) K-12 track. This year’s event had 334 participants from 11 schools and universities all over Metro Manila.