The house he dreams of building

Like many Filipino students, Clein Emman Lopez grew up understanding the value of hard work long before he entered college.

The 18-year-old graduate of Arellano University–Juan Sumulong Campus finished senior high school with High Honors, ranking eighth among 1,066 STEM students and 14th out of 3,742 students overall.

Behind those achievements, however, was a story familiar to many families striving to make ends meet.

Raised in Tondo, Manila, Lopez grew up with his parents and two siblings in a household where financial concerns were a constant reality.

Despite these challenges, his parents never allowed hardship to become an excuse for giving up on education.

“My parents always made sure that our education came first,” he shares.

“They would do everything they could to provide what we needed for school, even if it meant making sacrifices.”

Watching his parents work tirelessly became one of his greatest motivations.

His father has stayed with the same company for nearly two decades, often taking overtime work to support the family.

His mother, meanwhile, has always been a steady source of guidance and encouragement, reminding her children to do their best in school.

Their sacrifices inspired Lopez to dream not only for himself but for the people who raised him.

A dream built on purpose

One dream stands out above the rest.

Growing up in a house that had weathered years of repairs and challenges, Lopez often imagined what it would be like to provide his family with a safer and more secure home.

One incident left a lasting impression on him: after a night of heavy rain, parts of their floor became electrically grounded, prompting neighbors to gather and help assess the situation.

The experience opened his eyes to the importance of safe and durable structures.

Today, that dream has shaped his future plans.

Lopez will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at FEU Institute of Technology, with the goal of one day designing and building homes and infrastructure that improve people’s lives.

“I want to use the knowledge and skills that I will gain from Civil Engineering to build a safe and comfortable home for my family,” he says.

Opportunity to move forward

While Lopez had earned admission opportunities and academic recognition, the financial realities of pursuing higher education remained a challenge.

He recalls the moment he learned that even with an entrance scholarship, a required down payment still had to be made. For a family living paycheck to paycheck, finding the money was difficult.

“I remember my father reaching out to relatives and looking for ways to borrow money,” he says.

“Seeing how hard my parents worked just to secure my college enrollment made me realize how much they were sacrificing for my education.”

Determined to continue his studies, Lopez actively searched for scholarship opportunities.

At one point, he had compiled a list of around 25 possible scholarships to apply for.

One of those opportunities was the SM College Scholarship Program.

After learning about the program online, he saw that it offered more than financial assistance. Beyond covering educational expenses, it also opened doors to future career opportunities.

When the Notice of Award finally arrived, Lopez could hardly believe it.

The scholarship brought relief not only to him but also to his family, easing concerns about tuition fees, school expenses, and the financial pressures that often accompany a college education.

Building a better future

For Lopez, becoming an SM Scholar means more than receiving support for the next four years. It represents an opportunity to pursue his goals with confidence and focus.

Looking ahead, he hopes to become a licensed civil engineer, build a stable career, and give back to his family.

One day, he hopes to build the home he has always envisioned for them: a home that reflects not only his profession but also the sacrifices, perseverance, and opportunities that helped shape his journey.

Through the SM College Scholarship Program, students like Clein are given the chance to turn aspirations into reality, proving that with determination, support, and access to education, a brighter future is within reach.

As Lopez puts it: “Do not let your current situation define your future.”

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