“Every time I create a reason to quit, I also find a reason wanting to come back”

This is how Leo Dones, a licensed Engineer, described his Kumon experience while trying to recall his Kumon journey way back in 2010. He was in third-year high school when his mom enrolled him in the program after knowing about the Free Trial campaign.

Eight years later, Leo recollects how his past undertakings in the Math Program largely contributed to where he is today.

“If something we want is easy, then it is possible. But if it is so hard, then we have to try each possible condition, until what we want is within our grasp.”

The Kumon Experience

At first, Leo was unaware of the method until his mom enrolled him in the Math Program during the Free Trial month. He was skeptical about the touted benefits that the program offered. But since it was a free trial, he decided to grab the opportunity.

Leo found everything relatively easy compared to the actual topics he was learning in school during the next few months of his stay. “I thought that I was just having a trip back to memory lane since my starting point was in Level A (Horizontal Addition and Subtraction) so I felt like it was a mere walk in the park,” he adds.

As time passed by, Leo felt as if Kumon became an additional load to his studies. This was the case until he went to college and realized that the advanced calculations tackled in the worksheets made sense to him.

Finding the Inspiration to Go Further

For Leo, recalling the concepts, processes, and formulas from the previous levels slowed his progress towards completion. “Thankfully enough, I have my parents who constantly inspire and push me to finish the last stages of the program, and I consistently prayed to God for him to give me the incessant passion to finish my worksheets.”

Leo served as an inspiration to his younger sister too who is already nearing completion in the Reading Program. “It’s good to know that somehow, I became an inspiration to her,” he proudly says.

Kumon developed my skill to think outside of the box. Since the Kumon Math Program shows you the basics, you are highly encouraged to think outside of the box, especially on the higher levels. This skill helped me so much in shaping my work ethic as a Software Engineer – I need to create alternative ways in solving anything, even if the issues were technical.

Indeed, Kumon was a meaningful path he needed to take to have an edge in college. It gave him a ‘can do’ attitude and felt that if he overcame the Math Program, then he can overcome any issue may it be in work or in life.

A Lifelong Pledge to Learning

Leo’s first advice is simple: begin with an end in mind.

“Everything you want has to be worked upon with due diligence and passion. The program was not easy, and it made me realize that we have to push the envelope in order to strive to accomplish our dreams.”

If your eyes are dead set on the prize, then nothing can stop you from reaching that goal. “If this is possible for those before me, then it is possible to me too,” he shares.

His last piece of advice is quoted from a video game that says, “Heroes are never as polished as the legends that surround them.” Surround yourself with the most inspiring people that will help you push yourself to complete the program. “For me, there was never a day that my mom would stop inspiring me to complete the program. Finally, keep praying to God for the constant desire to complete it.”