Stop 1: The Departure – Getting to Know the Traveler

Where It All Began

“Together, let us delve into the turning point of a young man named Dhobie Bonz. But before we set off, let us first get to know who he is,” shouts Mr. Conductor.

All the way from Barangay Sabuanan, Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur, there lived a 17-year-old boy named Dhobie Bonz V. Hernaez. From his elementary days to junior high school years, he always had an interest in words, literature, or, in general, the English subject. And there came a point where he had to choose what strand to take. In his senior high school years, he took the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand, which is ironic, as from elementary to high school, he had always preferred the English subject over Mathematics. Contradictorily, his family was more well-versed when it comes to Mathematics, and he is the only one who preferred English, making him the unique child of the family.

Prior to his senior high school years, he had been eyeing the professional education field as his career path with a specialization in English, meaning the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand would be wiser to choose. But what made him choose the STEM strand over the HUMSS strand is, firstly, because of his family’s advice, as the STEM strand offers more scholarships than the others. Furthermore, the STEM strand does offer programs of many varieties, which are more preferred, versatile, or, you can say, the more in-demand courses. To justify the reasoning, most universities are not that picky when it comes to choosing their student applicants’ strand, but certain universities say otherwise. For instance, one of his batchmates who is under the Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM) strand was unable to apply for her desired course, which is the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, at Saint Louis University—you need to be under the STEM strand.

Therefore, what was he like in his senior high school years? All throughout his senior high school years, he had been excelling academically and actively involved in the school publication, organizational leadership, and extracurricular activities. In his Grade 11, he was proclaimed the News Editor of The Blue Light, the official digital publication of Sta. Lucia Academy, Inc. He also had been the ClassHome Public Information Officer of the STEM strand. And for his Grade 12, he had led his organization as the Associate Editor-in-Chief of The Blue Light. At the same time, he was the ClassHome Auditor.

For being an official in publication, he had been exposed to a new environment and experienced new opportunities, which led him to step even more out of his comfort zone. As proof of his excellent service and leadership, he had been acknowledged and awarded with a Certificate of Appreciation for the services rendered during the SLA Night 2023, a Certificate of Appreciation for the services rendered during the Municipal Meet 2023, a Certificate of Appreciation for the services rendered during the 2nd Grand Festival of Talents and Skills 2024, and many other awards.

Aside from that, as also an official of the school’s publication, one of his works in Grade 11 titled “Sta. Lucia Academy, Inc.: A Hidden Gem in the Province of Ilocos Sur” was a musing or a literary piece that had been recognized and acknowledged as a masterpiece. To support this, he had been praised nonstop by his peers and significant others for his work. On top of that, his work was shared by both his school principal and the official Facebook page of his school, even making the post viral and garnering the most reactions among all the literary pieces of the publication. Another noteworthy impact of this work was that it touched many students and even alumni, and the school principal himself was touched and shed positive tears.

But that doesn’t end there; he marked another milestone in his Grade 12 years. He made another musing literary piece titled “Turning Memories: Our High School Years,” which also impressed everyone again. And once again, the school principal was touched and shared it again, even on the school’s Facebook page—to which only his musing was shared that time—signifying that he is excellent at delivering his message to the point that it can touch the hearts and souls of people.

But aside from academics and leadership, he also had been excelling in extracurricular activities during his senior high years. In Grade 11, he became the champion in Scrabble (boys) during the SLA Grand Festival of Talents and Skills 2024 and the champion in the Elemental Bingo Competition during the same festival. And in his Grade 12, he received an award and was the back-to-back champion in Scrabble (boys) during the SLA Grand Festival of Talents and Skills 2025, a Certificate of Appreciation for his commendable effort in participating in the hymn writing during the celebration of Teacher's Day, a Certificate of Appreciation for his outstanding presentation of the research titled “From Scratch to Power: Energy-Generating Paper Briquettes” with the theme “Research in Motion: Exploring Ideas, Shaping the Future,” and many other awards.

Forwarding to the year 2025, he marked another breakthrough. He was able to pass as one of the Department of Science and Technology–Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) qualifiers, becoming a significant pride for his family, peers, school, and significant others.

Now, in his first year, he has also been actively involved in several organizations inside and outside his university. He is presently a member of the Committee of the Secretary of the DMMMSU-SLUC Isang Samahang Ideolohiyang Pangsikolohiya (DSLUC-ISIP), the Finance and Business Head of the Dakilang mga Anak ng La Union para sa Matematika, Agham, at Teknolohiya – South La Union Campus (DALUMAT-SLUC) Chapter, the Assistant Head of the Finance and Business Committee of the Dakilang mga Anak ng La Union para sa Matematika, Agham, at Teknolohiya (DALUMAT), and a member of the Finance and Business Council under the Department of Science and Technology – Mobilized Amianan Youth Scholars’ Association (DOST-MAYSA).

“But with all this information, how did he land in the path of psychology?” asks another passenger.

“Good question! That will be uncovered later in the next stops, young lad,” says Mr. Conductor.