Rising football player Rae Mikella Tolentino made her fellow Cebuanos proud after being named as Athlete Scholar of the Year for Ateneo de Manila University in the recently concluded University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88.
The distinct award is given to student-athletes who embody the true meaning of being a scholar-athlete by demonstrating excellence both in their respective sports and in their academics.
Interestingly, Tolentino was also a recipient of St. Brebeuf Sports Achievement Award upon her high school graduation from the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) three years ago.
Seeing that all her efforts and hard work paid off means the world to the promising booter from Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City.
Looking back, the 21-year-old Tolentino said one of her biggest adjustments moving to Manila was realizing the level of competition.
“I was used to always winning or being one of the best. But when I went to Manila, I realized there were so many players way better than me,” said Tolentino, who once suited up for the national women’s Under 20 team.
“This didn’t discourage me. It pushed me to work even harder to prove that I can compete,” added the BS Psychology student who aspires to become a sports medicine doctor one day.
Training five times a week while balancing academics takes a lot of sacrifice for Tolentino. It’s one of the hardest realities of being a student-athlete, trying to succeed both in school and in sport at the same time.
“I had to spend less time with family and friends and sometimes lose hours of sleep just to finish school work while still being able to practice and play the next day,” said the Class of 2027 Jordan Wings scholar. “You don’t want to compromise one just for the other. You want to be the best version in both aspects.”
On being honored as Athlete Scholar of the Year, Tolentino shared that she was surprised and shocked because it is given to only one individual despite the many deserving student-athletes in the university.
For Tolentino, such recognition reflects all the hard work, sacrifices, and dedication she has poured into both football and academics. She also credited her parents, coaches, and teammates for helping shape her journey as a student-athlete.
“Rewards come from hard work. It’s not just talent that will make you the best, but also the effort you put in honing your skills,” said Tolentino, who is hoping to build the Ateneo women’s football team into a championship-caliber program someday.
| via Emmanuel B. Villaruel, Sports Editor #TheFreeman #Cebu
