Somebody, pinch me

They said I could be anything.

(My college yearbook creative shot)

I wanted to cosplay, so I did.

I wanted to become a singer, so I did. (Haha, only on the photo though)

I wanted to become a nurse, so I become a Registered Nurse.

The truth is, Nursing wasn't really my first choice. I wanted to be an Engineer or a Teacher. But things don’t always go into plan. I remember the time I took my entrance exam at FEU-NRMF, I brought pencil instead of ballpen! Because I didn't bother to read the instruction, wala talaga ako pakielam! haha! I took courage to ask my seatmate to lend me ballpen so I could take the exam. This wasn't my dream school or my dream course. I don’t even have any idea what nurse’s studies about.

(Photos while were on the line for USTET, I actually passed ECE. But I still took Nursing on FEU-NRMF)

At first, adjustment to a new environment was really hard. I complained, I struggled, I cried, and then I became used to it. I learned how to ‘really’ study, but I also learned how to copy to survive, haha. It was one of my regrets though, I should have study better. Because most of the thing they taught you in college you can use it in your future.

(My first years on FEU-NRMF)

(2nd year. Having blast passing the Battery Exam! Capping ceremony)

On my third year, I think it was here that I hit the bed rock. Something happened to me that changed my life forever. What I thought ‘my life’ I used to revolve suddenly didn't exist anymore. It will be too long and personal for me to tell haha so I’ll just share the thing I learned “Anything could possibly happen”. It’s the time I started to reflect what I really wanted to be, the time I started to learn to love my course, the time I started to know God better.

This is also the time that subjects become harder and harder I struggled to pass some of my majors, but whew~ I thank God for guiding me to succeed all of them. I think nursing was really hard because it always put us away from our comfort zone. It teaches us how to be flexible. But because of that, nursing taught me the best lesson. When you were out of your comfort zone it is where you learn best.

(3rd year. Duty and Thesis days)

After our last sembreak, suddenly all things flipped so fast. First the diagnostic test, project seminars, case presentaion, then the first comprehensive exam, second comprehensive exam, clinical graduation, graduation dinner, graduation at PICC, review at Rank1. We plead to pass, studied to death, ate to feel happy, and slept sleeplessly.  It happened so fast that you’ll realize it’s only days before our examination. 

(Photo from the seminar we made, talking about how to pass the board exam)

(Our Clinical Graduation)

(Our Graduation Rites at PICC)

(Stolen shots taken by my classmate during our review)

I won’t forget the day I took my exam. Natagusan kasi ako! Haha. Instead of worrying about the exam, I was anxious of my heavy flow. Something funny happened nanaman while taking exam, just like the time I took my entrance exam at FEU-NRMF. Could this be the sign?

The nervousness bit me just right after I finished my exam. I can really hear how my heart beat so fast. I thought I’m gonna faint~ I realized I can’t do anything after I passed my papers.  I can’t change my answers anymore. It’s the moment you can no longer do anything but to hope and pray.

Then one month of feeling awe. The longest month I had.

July 8 2013, that morning I was at UP with my dad, around 11am the time we got home. I stepped out the car and opened the gate. After my dad parked he get out and said “Lumabas na daw results ng Nursing sabi sa radyo! Pagka baba mo nung inanounce. Tignan natin.” I froze and said “WAG! Wag mo muna titignan mag dadasal muna ako!” I feel the panic inside me. I was paranoid yet I’m excited. Pampatense pa yung site ng PRC! Ang bagal mag load.

Then there’s the list. I saw my name. I look again to the title if I was looking at the right list. It says ‘June 2013 passers’ then I look again for my name, it was there. I look again to the title. Then searched again for my name. (3C’s kasi sa nursing 3x mo dapat i-check haha) Then I started to cry. I went to my dad and said “Daddy pasado ako.” I actually wanted to shout but I can’t, nangangatog ako haha.

Finally, I feel glowing.

Even if this was not the original course I wanted, I glad I took it. I learned a lot. I loved nursing because it taught me holistically. I earned friends that I know I will treasure forever and learn life lessons that changed me forever. I had to close another chapter of my life. But when you think that it’s the end, it’s only the start. There will be more to come.

Live your life what you wanted it to be.

Congrats to new RNs! And to those who didn't make it ‘Don’t you worry child, heaven’s got plans for you’ continue fighting and never think of giving up! :)

I know this is so lengthy. Pero pag bigyan niyo na ako, minsan lang to! XD

Thank you God, Thanks to my parents, family, professors, classmates, and friends. Finally, here I am.

Monina Grace Sebastian Mercado, BSN, RN