The Language She Once Feared Became Her Greatest Strength: An Inspiring Triumph Of A Higaonon Graduating Student At BukSU

Before she became a published researcher, a speech champion, and a college honor student, Jeniva B. Bendet first learned how to survive silence.

Inside the classrooms of Bukidnon State University (BukSU), the Higaonon student from Talakag sat listening carefully, translating every unfamiliar English word into Binukid inside her mind, determined not to let language become a barrier between her dreams and the future she longed to reach.

For Bendet, now a graduating student, education has been an entirely different world to step into, with a completely new language to learn.

When Bendet first entered the lecture halls of BukSU as a Bachelor of Arts in English Language (BAEL) student, she was stepping into an environment where English flowed at full speed. Coming from a childhood rich in her native tongue, Binukid, the transition was a bold leap of faith.

“During the first week of classes, I felt nervous and pressured,” Bendet recalled. “Some professors spoke very fluently and discussed the topics very quickly. I was also afraid of speaking because my pronunciation was not good,” she reminisced.

Yet, what started as an intimidating new environment transformed into a journey of personal triumph. Bendet adapted to the English language, and she conquered it.

From real-time translation to academic excellence

Pursuing a major centered on a second language meant a unique mental workout. Bendet learned to process and translate concepts in real-time.

“Most of the time, I translate the words in my head so I can understand the discussion better. Sometimes, while the professor is already explaining the next idea, I am still trying to process the previous one,” she said.  “However, there are also moments when I can already think in English, especially with simple and familiar words, but I still struggle when the discussion becomes fast or complex.”

Whenever the language barrier threatened to hide her true humor, intelligence, and vibrant personality, Bendet chose growth over frustration.

“To handle the frustration, I practiced speaking and writing more often and tried not to be afraid of making mistakes. Over time, I became more comfortable,” Bendet said. “I learned that language difficulties do not define my true abilities.”

Her determination paid off. Far from merely keeping up, Bendet rose to the top of her department, consistently earning high marks. She was listed in the Departmental Honor List and surpassed her own records, being in the College Honors.

A published researcher

With newfound confidence, she began to make a difference in the wider academic community. The student who was once afraid to speak because of her accent was now standing tall as a campus champion.

On April 15, 2026, Bendet was declared Champion in the Global Speech Remix during BukSU’s English Day Celebration. Competing under the theme “From Words to Worlds: Empowering Voices Through Global Communication,” she showed that she did not have to lose her native roots to speak effectively to a global audience.

Simultaneously, Bendet proved her competence in advanced linguistics. On April 7, 2026, she achieved international recognition as a published author. Her research article, titled “Lexico-Semantic Analysis of Modal Verbs in Editorial Articles,” was peer-reviewed and published in the Vijoriya International Journal for Research & Innovation (VIJRI) (Volume 2, Issue 1).

Inspired by Identity

Bendet’s journey at BukSU was uplifted by a supportive campus community. Her classmates and the professors quickly became her constant inspiration.

“I was also inspired by some professors from BUKSU whom I saw online speaking both Binukid and English fluently. Seeing them proudly embrace their identity motivated me to become more confident and prouder of who I am while continuing my studies,” she said.

Rather than leaving her heritage behind to learn English, Bendet took complex linguistic concepts from her university classes and translated them into simpler terms for her parents back home in Talakag.

A Shared Triumph for the Tribe

When she finally walked across the stage, Bendet dedicated her success to her parents, Ama (mother) and Apa (father), in the very language that shaped her character:

“Ama, Apa madakel tungkay salamat ta inyu ku huda kaw hadi a maka luntud hu kolehiyu, yan kaw sa rasun ta alan ha pag panigudu ku  ha makapunga hu pag eskwela. Laes tungkay sa pagsaripisyu nuy. Udan daw mainit sa agka sal-aw nuy, ba huda kaw mig unda pag supurta ta kanak. Bisan ku huda nuy en salapi ba tag pangita kaw hu paagi ha mailahan a.  sa-i  ha matimu ku ha diploma para haiya ta inyu. Dagi-Dagi tungkay sa pag pasalamat ku hi magbabaya ta pig-ulinan a kandin daw inilahan a hu mga laas ha iling ta inyu  gagaw ku tungkay inyu Ama daw Apa. [Mama and Papa, thank you so much to both of you. If it were not for you, I would not have reached college. You are the reason for all of my efforts to finish my studies. Your sacrifices have truly been great. You experienced both rain and heat, but you never stopped supporting me. Even when you did not have enough money, you still looked for ways to provide for me. This diploma that I will receive is for both of you. I am very thankful to God because He guided me and blessed me with parents like you. I love you so much, Mama and Papa.]” (BukSU – Information Unit)