How Reya Siojo made Mobile Legends part of her journey to Harvard

While grinding her way to Mythical Glory with 71 stars in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Reya Siojo never lost sight of what mattered most—her education.

The 18-year-old Siojo and her friends discovered Mobile Legends in 2020 at the height of the pandemic as a way to bond since going out was limited then. Initially, she thought she would eventually delete the game to keep it from distracting her studies.

But it proved otherwise; it changed her future. Years later, Mobile Legends became an unexpected part of her journey to one of the world's most prestigious schools, Harvard University.

"Hindi ko po kasi ginawang parang priority ‘yung hobbies ko. Para lang siyang side aside from my academics, it’s either gagawin ko siyang reward kapag mataas ‘yung scores ko sa long tests or gingawa ko siyang stress reliever kapag napapagod na akong mag-review or magbasa ng mga notes ko," Siojo said in a Zoom interview.

"Nagiging way din siya para makapag-connect ako with friends na hindi ko na nakakasama physically."

(I didn't make my hobbies my priority. It was just something on the side aside from my academic. It's either I would make it a reward if I got high scores on my long tests or a stress reliever when I got tired from reviewing or reading my notes... It was also a way to connect with my friends that I could not be with physically.)

Even as a casual gamer, Siojo found success in Mobile Legends. She was once ranked the No. 4 Ruby player in La Union and played a key role in leading her online squad to seven Mobile Legends Championship League (MCL) titles, the game's weekly in-game tournament.

Siojo proved that one can balance gaming and academics as she recently graduated Valedictorian of the Class of 2026 at the Philippine Science High School-Cordillera Administrative Region Campus in Baguio.

And instead of keeping her gaming hobby in the background, she made her Mobile Legends journey a part of her college applications by including it in her essays, including the one she sent to Harvard.

"Meron po kaming test na kinuha, it’s the SAT or the Scholastic Aptitude Test tapos after no’, mga October last year, nag-start na po ako ng applications ko. So kailangan doon ng grades, extracurriculars, mga honors mo, and ‘yung essays mo," Siojo added.

"Sa Harvard, nabanggit ko siya sa isang supplemental essays ko. Nakatulong din ‘yung ML to help boost my profile kasi siguro hindi kadalasanag nakikita na babaeng gamer na sinasama ‘yung hobby sa kanyang applications."

(There was a test we took, the SAT or the Scholastic Aptitude Test after around October last year, I started with my applications. So there, you needed grades, extracurriculars, honors, and essays... At Harvard, I mentioned it in one my supplemental essays. ML also helped in boosting my profiles because it's not often you would see a female gamer adding their hobby in the applications.)

Aside from Harvard, Siojo was also accepted to Washington and Lee University, National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan, UP Diliman and Manila, and De La Salle University. She was also waitlisted at Princeton University, Amherst, and University of Notre Dame.

Siojo said including Mobile Legends in her essays may have helped her stand out among other applicants.

"So naglagay ako ng mga fun facts about me tapos na-mention ko doon na I’m a mobile game player. Sinabi ko rin doon na maybe I can bring ML into Harvard since hindi pa po ata masyadong popular ‘yung ML sa US. Maybe I can introduce it to them," she said.

"Siguro nag-add ng personality sa application ko kasi medyo rare makakita ng girl gamer na ML ‘yung nilalaro."

(I put in some fun facts about me and mentioned I'm a mobile game player. I said there that maybe I can bring ML into Harvard since it's not that popular in the US. Maybe I can introduce it to them... I guess it added personality to my application because it's a bit rare to see a girl gamer with ML as their game.)

Ever since she was young, Siojo has always prioritized her education, believing it to be the key to success.

And as she puts it, mobile games don't have to be a hindrance to achieving that.

"I think education is the key to success. Medyo cliche pero ‘yun talaga ‘yung paniniwala ko. Parang ngayon, sa pag-aaral ko nang mabuti, nakapasok na ako sa Harvard," she said.

"I think wala namang po ‘yan sa mismong games. The games aren’t bad inherently, nasa tao pa rin ‘yan kung meron kang disiplina tsaka time management at right mindset. Hindi po dapat sisihin ‘yung games."

(I think education is the key to success. It's a bit cliche but that's what I believe. Like now, because I studied hard, I was able to get into Harvard... I think it's not in the games themselves. The games aren't bad inherently, it's on the person to have discipline and time management and the right mindset. You shouldn't blame the games.)

—JMB, GMA News