Actor-director Xian Lim shared a major personal milestone on social media, revealing that he is set to officially receive his college diploma this coming July 2026 after overcoming years of personal doubts and academic delays.
Lim completed his Bachelor of Arts in Music Production at the De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB).
He was able to finish his degree through the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), a specialized alternative education program that credits the professional experience of working individuals toward an undergraduate degree.
Reflecting on his journey via an Instagram post, the Project Loki director opened up about his humble beginnings working in the United States before his break in Philippine show business.
“I started working at an early age. At 15, my first job was in a restaurant and right after school, I’d head straight into my shift, excited to earn and learn. Not long after, I spent about a year working at Costco, juggling work and studies just to make ends meet, before eventually moving to the Philippines,” Lim wrote. “Then an unexpected opportunity in the entertainment industry came my way. I took the leap and that path led me to become a full-time actor.”
While his entry into the entertainment industry brought him widespread success as a leading man and later as an established director, Lim admitted that leaving his studies unfinished left him with long-standing personal insecurities.
“Fifteen years flew by grinding, and giving everything I had to my craft but deep inside, I knew something was missing. There was a quiet insecurity I carried about not finishing school, about not having a degree. It was a gap I couldn’t ignore,” he shared.
Lim confessed that deciding to return to academia later in life came with significant mental hurdles, noting that he initially feared it might be too late to pivot back to school.
“Going back to school at this stage in my life wasn’t easy. I had doubts. I felt shy, even embarrassed thinking maybe it was too late. More than anything, I was afraid of failing,” he added.
Having successfully cleared his final requirements, including his thesis defense and practical recitals, Lim expressed immense pride in the achievement and looked forward to marching alongside his fellow batchmates this summer.
“I’m still in the clouds. I can’t believe I’m graduating with a degree in Music Production from De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde. I’m incredibly grateful to be part of the ETEEAP program. For now, I just want to say this with pride… See you at PICC this 4th of July,” he concluded.