23-yr.-old son of Solana, Cagayan is TOP 7 in 2025 Medical Technologists Licensure Examination

For Laurence Aglay Castillo of Solana, Cagayan, treating every exam in his subjects during college days as if he were taking the board exam is one of the keys to getting the Top 7 spot in the 2025 Medical Technologists Licensure Examination (MTLE).

The 23-year-old is a Cum laude graduate of Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology at Cagayan State University - Andrews Campus in Tuguegarao City. He was among the 3,660 passers out of 4,720 examinees, according to the Professional Regulation Commission.

In a heartfelt post, the Cagayano topnotcher shared that his dream of topping the board began during a quiet ride to his first in-person parasitology lab, a class on parasites, fueled by ambition and a drive to make others proud. From that moment, he treated every test as if he were taking the board exam.

Laurence’s journey to the top

Talking to GURU Press Cordillera, Laurence said that aside from self-discipline, it is the support of others that kept him going. On the other hand, his poor health was his biggest challenge. He relayed that this forced him to temporarily stop his 4th-year internship to recover.

“Aside from self-discipline, the support and belief of the people around me were my main driving force. I think my biggest challenge was my poor health; I had to stop halfway through my internship in 4th year just so I had the time to heal,” he recounted.

Laurence further shared that he initially didn’t plan to take the August 2025 MTLE, but he said he did hope to top the board exam. He said he panicked early on, leading to self-doubt that topping the exam wasn’t meant for him.

“There was still a little hope within me na magta-top ako, since I thought I didn't do my best kasi I was panicking during the first day of exam. Mas nagtook over yung self-doubt and the thought na hindi para sa akin talaga ang magtop ng board exam,” he shared.

Plans and message to others wanting to top the board

For his next plans, Laurence shared that he would grab opportunities to teach at review centers or academic institutions while being committed to gaining hands-on experience in the clinical laboratory setting.

When asked about his message to aspiring topnotchers, he encourages them to stay focused, emphasizing that a clear mind and confidence are among the keys to success.

“To those aspiring topnotchers or board takers, stay focused, build discipline, believe in your capabilities, and always aim high. Your biggest enemy is yourself and your thoughts, so clear your mind of self-doubt and anxiety. Always remind yourself that you can do it,” he said.