“We are our own harshest critics, and often, the greatest battles are fought within.” — Unknown

In a world that constantly demands excellence, it’s easy to forget that sometimes the person setting the highest standards for us is ourselves. Few people understand this better than Atty. Denise Francisco, a lawyer whose journey is a story of self-imposed pressures and a gradual realization of what truly matters.

Denise started as a fiercely competitive student. “I was the valedictorian in grade school, and I wanted to maintain that in high school,” she recalls. Her drive was so intense that when tasked with creating a single scientific tool for a class project, she roped in her entire household to help: submitting not one but three tools. Her teacher was impressed; her friends thought she was a little too grade-conscious.

But Denise wasn’t driven by parental expectations or societal pressure. “It was self-imposed,” she admits with a shy smile. “It may have been image-related, but I really can’t say.”

This relentless pursuit of academic excellence didn’t come without its setbacks. One year in high school, a single point short of the required physics grade disqualified her from honors. “I was devastated,” she shares. “I didn’t hate anyone but myself. I kept thinking, ‘If not for physics, I would have been in the top ten!’ I carried that bitterness all the way to college.”

Yet, as she watched her friends face similar academic disappointments, she came to a profound realization: “Everyone falls short sometimes.”

That lesson marked the beginning of a shift in Denise’s mindset.

In college, though still mindful of her grades, she allowed herself to loosen up. “My mom always told me, ‘Grades aren’t everything. You have so much to be thankful for,’ but I never appreciated it at the time,” she recalls. “What do you know about my life? That doesn’t help me!’ I thought to myself. “One day, though, it just clicked. I realized she was right.”

This newfound balance carried over to her career. After earning a Juris Doctor from Ateneo de Manila University and passing the bar in 2016, Denise joined GSE Law Firm. Despite her initial ambition to become a partner, her goals evolved over time.

“I didn’t want to think too far into the future,” she says. “I just wanted to grow and work for a long time at a place that felt like home.”

Even as she climbed the ranks to Senior Associate, Denise maintained a crucial mantra: “It is what it is.”

Her advice to those who are similarly hard on themselves is simple but powerful: “There are things we can’t control. All we can do is accept them and do better next time.”

Today, Denise finds fulfillment not only in her professional accomplishments but also in spending time with her family, squeezing in workouts, and rediscovering hobbies like spinning and boxing. “Even when I’m exhausted, spending time with family makes it worth it,” she reflects.

Her future goals are a testament to her newfound perspective. “Becoming a partner isn’t the end goal. I want to be a good leader without sacrificing other parts of my life. I want to prioritize health and enjoy life in the long run.”

As Denise reflects on her journey, there’s a sense of peace that radiates from her story. She’s still diligent, still driven but she’s also kinder to herself.

The shift from being a self-imposed perfectionist to someone who values balance and self-compassion didn’t happen overnight. But Denise’s journey is a powerful reminder:

No failure is final. No setback is permanent.

And sometimes, letting go of self-imposed expectations is the very thing that sets you free.

Accept what you cannot change, forgive yourself for your mistakes, and keep moving forward.

“It is what it is.” (Interview and write-up by: Zeus Earl Roy D. Custodio Jr.)