college

When I was young, i still remember na I wanted to become an astronaut. You see, im always fascinated by scifi movies na napapanood ko at that time. And then, youth brougth my idealism and activism. I said, "I wanted to get involve on social and political issues". So, my dream was to become a lawyer naman. When I finished high school, I said im going to take political science as a precursor to becoming a lawyer. But faith has its own plan for me. My family did not support my dream. They wanted me to become a nurse, since both my nanay and my older sister are nurses. Well, I said to myself, " ayaw kong mag nars, kung gusto nyo, physical therapy na lang, para maiba naman." At that time, i knew little about physical therapy. Ang alam ko was that it was in demand in the US. So, I enrolled in a PT program. At that time, there were so many of us. Of course everyone wanted to work in the States. But it was'nt an easy journey. We were made to believe that we were the "cream of the crop" and to maintain that status, everyone must fight for survival, so it was "battle of the fittest" for everyone. Pero in the midst of college life, I've developed a lot of friendship. Tatandaan ko pa sina anthony so, nancy rafanan, jayzeen ragot, nung first year, 1st sem. Nameet ko naman ang isa sa naging bestfriend ko, si toberts nung second sem, at ang love interest ko na si chat. Naging mga kaibigan ko rin si wendell, rodel, christian, aries, dondi, ely, christopher, jen sia, and many more. Kakatuwa, kasi most of them ay nandito na sa US. There was a time na gusto ko ng mag shift, dahil nahirapan ako. So, when I told my parents, they said "kung hindi mo kaya, mag shift ka na lang to nursing." Pero na-chalenge ako. I wanted my parents to become proud of me. I dont want them to see me as a quitter. So, i continued and finished the course, and passed the board exam eventually. But, what do you know, when I graduated, the US market was closed and there were not a lot of jobs for us in the hospitals. So my nanay offered to shoulder my nursing education while i was not doing anything. I took up nursing, and went through college again for the second time. It was kinda dyahe but fun, kasi mas older ka sa mga klasmeyts mo. but I was not the only second courser naman. May mga may edad pa nga eh. Pero it was really an amazing experience for me. I graduated with my nursing degree, and passed the boards. Now im here in the States, trying to work my butt out.

As I look back, napaka-ironic talaga, i ended up fulfilling my family's dream. Pero, I'm embracing both professions now. I know i will never be a lawyer in the future, but the end result is the same naman. Im helping people with their health needs, and that means that im changing peoples lives, for the better. And for me, that is the ultimate satisfaction.