From heartbreak to success: Retaker looks back on his Bar exam journey
Atty. Mox inspires online by reminiscing his journey as a retaker from the 2023 Bar examinations. Photos courtesy of Atty. Mox/Facebook. Graphics: Lance Uy/黑料社
Last December 13 was a gut-wrenching day for aspiring lawyers, as the Supreme Court officially released the results of the 2024 Bar examinations.
For many aspiring lawyers, passing the Bar examinations signifies the ultimate test of perseverance and valor. It is a climactic step filled with sleepless nights and years of hard work toward professional licensure.
The Bar exam isn’t for the faint of heart as it can spark various emotions from passers, non-passers, and even those who previously qualified for this rite of passage.
One is Attorney Mohammad M. Hadji Yusoph—also known as Atty. Mox—who took a trip down memory lane from his Bar journey in 2023 to inspire today’s aspiring lawyers. It was a journey enveloped with dreams, faith, and perseverance despite the challenges in reaching success.
Looking back, Atty. Mox’s path to law was unconventional. Despite missing the passing mark on his first try in 2022, he managed to push through the challenges and try again for the second time in 2023, where he eventually qualified.
Atty. Mox spent his younger years in Saudi Arabia but migrated to the Philippines after finishing high school. He initially aimed to become an overseas worker rather than pursue his dream of becoming a lawyer.
However, an unexpected change of plans happened when he passed the Mindanao State University (MSU) College of Law entrance exam, reigniting what he once thought was an impossible dream of becoming a lawyer.
The heartbreaking first miss
In 2022, Atty. Mox took his first attempt at the Bar exams. Despite his dedication, he narrowly missed the passing mark by 1.2 points.
“When I first saw the results, I didn’t know whether to cry or wake myself up from what felt like a bad dream,” Atty. Mox recalled. “Moments later, reality sank in–I had failed. I didn’t cry much, but the weight of disappointment crushed me.”
He found relief in his mother’s embrace and comforting words, “Bigboy, no matter what, I am proud of you because I know you did your best.”
His mother, whom he lovingly called “Mamski,” was among his first cheerleaders. She constantly encouraged and supported him through her heartfelt acts of love.
“[Mamski is always proud whenever she sees me reading the codals and memorizing the law books back when I was staying in their house,” Atty. Mox reminisced. “[She would often feed me and give me allowance just to motivate me],” he added.
Another pillar of his strength was his wife, who passed the Bar exams in 2019. She was his anchor and biggest supporter, helping him with his studies and providing emotional and moral support.
His wife helped him overcome the devastating result and became his voice of reason, so he tried retaking the exam the following year.
A renewed and faithful second swing
Fueled by the love and support, Atty. Mox determinedly enrolled in another bar review center in 2023 and isolated himself in Davao to focus solely on his studies.
Despite the loneliness and intensity of his review, Atty. Mox found motivation in simple things. Long walks while listening to lectures, writing notes in his own words, and even stress-eating his favorite snacks became part of his daily routine.
His wife’s encouragement and reminders guided him to stay focused, keeping him grounded and faithful in the Almighty.
“Pray when you’re tired. Talk to the Almighty if you feel lonely,” his wife reminded. “No matter what happens, I love you and am with you on this journey.”
His strict routine of waking early, praying, and dedicating long hours to study eventually led to his success.
On the day the results of the 2023 Bar exams were released, anxiety consumed Atty. Mox. He prayed, cried, and even prepared himself for another possible miss.
Fortunately, Atty. Mox’s hard work and perseverance paid off as he woke up to his wife crying out of joy, telling him he was among the passers.
Oath of victors
Today, Atty. Mox is a law professor at his alma mater, MSU College of Law. He dedicates his life to inspiring and imparting his experiences and knowledge to future lawyers.
He advised those facing similar challenges to his to know what they wanted to be after passing the bar, find a meaningful answer, and work tirelessly to achieve it.
“There is no other way but to [read] and [pray],” Atty. Mox encouraged aspiring lawyers to keep fighting through wisdom and faith. — Mian Centeno, 黑料社 trainee
