He Flunked LSAT But Parents' Unwavering Love Fueled Him To Pass The Bar

Christian Magsino is among the 8,241 who passed the historic 2020-2021 Bar exams. But before earning the title of 'attorney,' he faced numerous setbacks. For one, he almost was not able to get into law school.

In his celebratory post on Facebook after the Bar exam results were released, Christian enumerated the various failures he had to overcome before becoming a bar-passer, including flunking the law school admission test. Fortunately, he was able to be admitted on conditional status at the San Beda College Alabang. To secure his admission, he had to maintain a certain average throughout the freshman year, which he was able to do.

"I failed UPCAT. 
I failed Singaporean Government college scholarship exam. 
I failed my first choice course in college, then shifted after my freshman year. 
I was not regularized in my first job after college.  
I failed to get a Canadian visa to be with my family. 
I failed my law school entrance exams but was allowed to be admitted on conditional status during my freshman year. 
I failed to graduate from law school on time, took another year. 
I failed to take the bar exams on time, pandemic happened.  
Aaaannnd more.

But today, I’m Atty. Christian Abriz Magsino, LPT."

Aside from proving that nothing can't be achieved with hard work and perseverance, these failures showed Christian how pure his parents' love and support are for him.

Read also: Dose of Inspiration! Janitor Passes the 2016 Bar Exams

No Pressure, Just Pure Love

Christian tells Smart Parenting in an exclusive interview that he was never the achiever-type student. Growing up, his parents, Daddy Rizalito "Lito" Magsino and Mommy Maria Lesma Magsino, never pressured him to be an honor student.

"Never silang (parents) nagalit samin (kids) or prinessure kami to get awards. Which I appreciate kasi nung nag-aaral ako, basta pumasa okay na."

"Parenting style ni mommy kasi, just do your best. If you don't get 'yung goal mo, [sasabhin ni mommy] 'edi ulitin mo lang, gawin mo pa rin, kaya mo naman 'yan.' Gano'n siya palagi." Christian adds, "I'm grateful na naririnig ko kay mom 'yun. Kahit sa Bar, never kong naramdaman na dapat one take lang. It was a relief na gano'n sila."

Christian says being raised this way didn't make him irresponsible. Instead it reassured him that he didn't have to earn his parents' love. And that unconditional love made Christian appreciate and respect his parents more.

"Bonus sakin 'yun na ang iisipin ko na lang I will do my best kasi alam ko na I don't have to earn my parents' love."

His parents' unwavering support was proved further when he found out that he was not graduating from law school on time.

"Sumabit ako ng four subjects. Prior to the release [of list of graduates], nagkasakit ako. Nagkaron ako ng anxiety attacks, na-ospital ako. Kasi 'yun na 'yung iniisip ko, 'yung stress ko. 'Pano kung hindi ako grumaduate, nakakahiya, tsaka 'yung parents ko uuwi."

Read: 'Why You Shouldn't Aim to Be Valedictorian'

Although not imposed, Christian felt pressure to finish his law degree on time in 2019 since his family, who is already based in Canada, is set to go home to the Philippines for his sister's wedding and his expected graduation. He was also thinking of the cost of his tuition fee should he need to retake subjects.

"Sa airport pa lang tinanong na ako ng dad ko, 'kumusta ga-graduate ka ba?' Hindi ako sumasagot. Nung nasa bahay na kinatok ko sila...Sinabi ko 'Dad hindi ko talaga kinaya.'"

 "Na-appreciate ko na alam nila na binigay ko lahat. Very affirming. Sobrang gift 'yun para sakin."

To which his dad responded saying, "Okay lang 'yun. Alam namin mahirap talaga." He also received reassuring words from his mom who said, "Naintindihan talaga namin kasi mahirap 'yan. Walang problema 'yun. 'Wag mo isipin 'yung gagastusin."

When he almost didn't believe in himself, Christian drew strength from the reassuring words of his parents- this is why unconditional love should never be mistaken as a weakness. If anything, knowing that he didn't have to earn his parent's love made Christian resilient amid adversities since he always knew that his parents has his back no matter what.

Hearing and feeling his parents' support, Christian became more motivated to pursue his goal to be a lawyer. "Na-appreciate ko na alam nila na binigay ko lahat. Very affirming. Sobrang gift 'yun para sakin.

Read: Valuable Lesson From Mom Who Got Teen Into 8 Ivy League Schools

"Kaya tinodo ko 'yung aral ko. Fives times cover to cover. Nag-online review center na ko. Talagang I made sure na ipapasa ko 'yung remaining subjects ko...Bonus sakin 'yun na ang iisipin ko na lang I will do my best kasi alam ko na I don't have to earn my parents' love. Kasi kahit anong issues naming magkakapatid andiyan sila."

Fast forward to 2022, Christian's diligence, backed by his parents' unconditional love and support, is not in vain as he made it as one of the passers of #BestBarEver2020_21.

Learning From His Parents

Aside from officially becoming a lawyer, congratulations are in order for Christian and his fiancee Dawn Chu who are set to tie the knot this coming June 2022.

As he plans to build his own family, the soon-to-be groom says he wants to follow his Daddy Lito and Mommy Lesma's parenting style. 

"We wanna raise our future kid or kids na may faith kay God. Number one 'yun. Hindi namin kaya ibigay lahat. 'Yun 'yung isa sa mga natutunan ko kanila dad, especially kay mom.

"They always ask to pray about it, more than saving for what you want. Binuild talaga nila 'yun samin when we were still kids."

Aside from raising God-fearing kids, Christian says he hopes to become like his parents, who inculcated the value of resilience in him and his siblings.

He shared, "Gusto ko maparamdam sa kanila [future kids] na we love them no matter what very core 'yun. We will make sure na as far as were concerned, may sarili silang path and purpose. Of course gusto ko magkaroon ng lawyer din siyempre, but hindi priority. We'll just allow them to do their best."

"Kasi we grow up excellent naman sa mga endeavors namin nang hindi kami nakakakuha ng pressure sa parents namin. Tsaka super supportive talaga."

Christian included an interesting hashtag on his celebratory post, which read: "#FailForward." It's a good reminder to parents that failures are part of the journey and that by allowing kids to make mistakes they also allow them to grow and achieve success.

Speaking of success, read the story of a mom who got her college degree alongside her kids here.