People often say hard work and determination will lead to success.

This is definitely true for Romnick Blanco, the son of a Filipino farmer who received a full scholarship to attend the prestigious Harvard University in 2017.

Had to walk two hours to go to school

Romnick grew up in the province of Bulacan in the Philippines, and is the seventh of nine sons, according to Town and Country.

When he was young, he had to endure a two-hour walk every day on unpaved roads just to get to school.

He also had to cross a bridge-less river under the scorching sun.

In 2011, he became a sponsored child under the GreenEarth Heritage Foundation, a local charity that helps impoverished farmers' children.

The sponsorship gave him a monthly subsidy to assist with the costs of attending public school, as well as free access to English and computer literacy classes at the foundation's Learning Centre.

The foundation noticed his zest for learning, and soon, he was outpacing the other farmers' children in English proficiency.

In 2012, he won a five-year scholarship to International School Manila, the country's oldest international high school.

Took a gap year after being accepted at Harvard

In 2017, after graduating from high school, he received acceptance and full scholarships to Harvard University, Dartmouth College, Wesleyan University, and New York University at Abu Dhabi.

He eventually accepted the offer from Harvard, and matriculated in 2018, after a gap year.

Harvard encourages incoming students to take a gap year before entering college, and Romnick seized the opportunity to learn practical life skills.

In 2017, he told Town and Country that he plans to use the gap year to learn how to cook and drive, as well as play the guitar.

He also intended to add to the 1,500 trees that he planted during his five years at GreenEarth Heritage Foundation.

"Trees have a special place in my heart as a farmer's child who grew up in the mountains with various kinds of plans and farm animals.

When I entered ISM in the eighth grade, I could no longer plant as often as when I was in the province. But since I really love planting, I would go to GreenEarth whenever I have free time to plant trees.

Over the last 5 years, I have planted over 1,500 trees, most of which are the acclaimed miracle tree and superfood of the world, Moringa. I gave these to my father as my gift to help increase his weekly income."

Top image from Romnick Blanco's Facebook.