Thursday, April 17, 2008

April 14, 2008

Today is the 1st Day of Summer School, and I cannot believe that I've been taking up Nursing for a year already. Truly, time flies fast. It was almost exactly a year ago that I quit working and started a life that I have left behind for over 7 years... a poor, non-earning, full-time student.

It is in looking back that I realize that I've learned so much: in both academics & life.

I've learned that Nurses should'nt be treated any differently than Doctors. They are not the "maids" or "helpers" in the Hospital to cater to your every whim. They bring the care factor in the healing process. Although there are thousands, or even millions, of students taking up Nursing, only a very few are meant to be REAL Nurses. I hope that I am one of them. It would be such a great honor to be a REAL Nurse.

When I first decided to get out of the workforce and finally stopped earning, I was genuinely afraid. I had been used to having my own money, going out whenever I felt like it, eating at great restaurants & spending not less than PhP500 a meal, & basically leaving the house with no less than PhP1500 in my wallet. Suddenly, I had to budget a meager PhP250 a day for everything I needed. Sometimes I would even have only PhP200, considering that my transportation costs would be around PhP150 a day. I felt lost. I felt poor. I was desperate.

About 6 months into my "state of poverty" I learned to, somehow, live with it. I began to adjust my lifestyle to my means and just stuck with the basics. I foregone my Postpaid Cellphone Line and got a Prepaid one, I ate in the School Canteen or cooked my own Lunch to save money. I also wrote my notes in Pad Papers, whcih I would compile later on, to save on Notebooks. I didn't go out much anymore, I didn't have any gimmicks, heck! I haven't even been to the Cinemas for the longest time!!!

But that doesn't mean I don't have a life... I do. It's just more simpler now. I enjoy hanging out with my classmates in McDonald's, Isetann or Jollibee just to talk. We also hang out in the library, testing each other during quizzes or exams. When I want to kill time, I walk around Isetann to cool off.

I learn a lot from my classmates. Most of my friends in school are older than I am, so I get to see the world in a more mature light. They help me live a simpler life & I enjoy it tremendously. And... It didn't matter if we didn't have much money, too! Hahaha!

I also made a huge turn around academically. When I was in High School & College, I was a free-spirit. I never really cared much about school. I slacked off a lot and for me, as long as I passed & didn't get a Red Mark in my High School Report Card or was still within the 24 Units allowable failures in College, I was happy. Now, I try & strive to be one of the best in every class that I have. So far, my lowest grade is a 2.5 (equivalent to 79-81%) in Anatomy & Physiology. It was acceptable enough for me considering that the highest grade that was given in that Subject was a 2.0 (equivalent to 85-87%).

I am quite proud of my achievements thus far, and to think that I never resorted or relied on kissing anyone's behind (particularly my Professors'). I got my grades solely on sheer hard-work and perseverance. Although I do feel bitter about those whose grades were "padded" because they tooted the Professor's horn rather well. It shows a disgusting lack of integrity on their part. I do applaus those Professors, though, who stand righteous and treat each student fairly, rewarding only those who truly deserve to be rewarded, regardless of anyone trying to become their "pet."

During our Hospital & Community Duties, I try not to be complacent. I do not want to be or consent to be mediocre. I give to our duties as much as I give to my Class Lectures. I would rather die than be unprepared.

See all those changes in me? Those, I think, are my greatest achievements so far. And it only took a year to happen. What more on this coming school year? I am praying and hoping for the best. I am looking forward to another year of learning and realizations. I just hope I could squeeze in a trip to the Beach at least once! Or maybe even twice! Hehehe!

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