A Letter

At one point during the board exam review days, most of us were at the brink of emotional (and nervous) breakdown. The anticipation of what was going to come out and the result after the exam was gradually killing us. Because we were phone calls away from our families, my classmates/friends and I hold on to each other for emotional support. We perfectly knew how each one feels about the board exam, unlike our families and other friends outside the medical field who were also supportive but did not have an inkling as to the amount of pressure that was on us. My good friend Alvi, our class valedictorian and epitome of beauty, intelligence, patience, kindness and everything good in this world, wrote me a letter which really boosted my self-confidence. I was flattered beyond words and I couldn't thank her enough for that. Here goes. 

My dear friend Aisha,

        I have always admired you. You're a woman of faith. You're diligent and pious. I know you will be a great doctor in  your community in the future. And so let your dream of becoming one strive and push you more to work hard for your future patients. Personally, I have just yet realized that what I said when I was interviewed for the application in med school that being a doctor is to serve humanity, is indeed service.  And in service, there are sacrifices. This review for the board exam is one of those; it's one step, it's one of those mountains we have to climb. Many times we feel that in every step we take is so hard, so painful that we think of giving up. However we do not realize that if we will just be faithful, that another step is already the finish line. So be joyful, be glad; rejoice on hardships, in difficulties, for like gold, we are being purified by the trials of life; impurities are removed and in the end is that shiny, precious, pure gold. One that is treasured, one that is perfect. In everything you do, do your best for God deserves nothing less. Give it all. Life is too beautiful to waste it on the miseries of this world or the sadness of this world. And in your preparation, couple it with prayer. For it is said to WORK and PRAY. Pray hard. Pray constantly. Pray at all times. When you're sad, pray. When you're about to give up, pray. Then God will renew you, He will give you grace and hope. And so run in such a way as to get your prize. Do not run aimlessly, run with all your might, angels are there cheering for you. We can all do this. Though time has not let us come together for words of hope, but my prayers are with you and the rest of our batch. 

Just keep it up. Never give up.

God bless.

It was so dramatic because she left the folded letter on to my study table and I got teary-eyed after I read it. Haha! Alhamdulillah, our prayers were answered and all of us passed the board exam. I wish our class all the best, good luck to us as we embark on a brand new journey! :) Cheers to the Class 2011!

I haven't written anything that makes sense for a long while now. I tried to squeeze out that creative juice in me but it seemed empty. There are plenty of things around me to write about but there's nothing that hammers me to actually write it down. Words just linger playfully in my mind and got stuck.

Profundity has evaporated.

But I guess, it makes sense to be a doctor. :)

Found

"I guess, when The One finds you, there's nothing, not even a single atom in you that revolts against it." 

That was what I wrote in my private diary a month ago. I still believe so because I felt it. We can only pray. <3 

The Lone Traveler

Photo taken 36,000 feet above the ground on a perfect sunset afternoon. It's a rare chance to eye witness closely the magnificent sun hiding behind the huge clouds as it bids farewell to end another beautiful day. 

Who said I was alone? I was with Haruki Murakami, my love. 

What Now, Doc?

Bismillahi Rahmani Raheem.

First and foremost, I'd like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my mentors from MSU-College of Medicine and to the residents and consultants of the Philippine General Hospital, without their teachings, we wouldn't be where we are today. I am forever thankful to my parents and siblings for the support and for the spiritual guidance, from whom I am getting all the strength and courage to fight life's battles. I'd like to thank everyone who offered prayers, my aunts, uncles and cousins, my classmates, and their parents and all our friends who wished us well during and after the physician licensure exam. 

Indeed, we are now full-fledged physicians. Alhamdulillah. All praises belong to Allah, the Master of the universe, without the knowledge and wisdom that He bestowed, without His help, we are nothing. 

Alhamdulillah, I am now at the peak of my dream. After four years of med school and one year of internship, all those hard work and sacrifices, we are now granted the privilege to practice as physicians. I cannot put into words what I have been through all those years, what I wrote in this blog about my experiences while learning the craft haven't even reached one-sixteenth of the whole thing. During the review days, I literally locked myself inside the boarding house doing nothing but to study. Every single minute counts, there was no room to waste time. During those days, I never opted to fail. Although the possibility of failure never skipped to linger and somehow I made myself ready for it, I never let it overpower my courage to pass the board exam. Alhamdulillah, everything paid off. :)

However it may seem over, but no, this is the just the beginning of our dream. It's still a long road ahead of us, a long road of practicing the craft and being the best at it. Most of us are now at another forked road of choosing what specialty to undergo, the field that suits us best. But for us with scholarships, we have no choice but to return our service for 2 years as community doctors. I have seen multitude of advantages in going into this field before I proceed to my residency training. Aside from giving back to the community and rendering my service, I will have the whole two years of spending my time with my family and do the things I love----reading, writing and hopefully earning to travel. :) 

For someone like me, life begins NOW and I'm so excited to start the adventure!!!

The Espiritu Place, East Fairview, Quezon City.

This was supposed to be a kitchen but we decided to make it our study area. Looks more like a war zone.

 #1307. Subhanallah 

I'm so proud of my school!! In spite of our lack of faculty members and lack of facilities, our school has maintained the standard that it is aiming for. We placed FIFTH outstanding school based on board passing rate for the past five years. How much more if our university provides us with the necessary facilities? Let's aim for the TOP MSUans! :)

MD Oathtaking. L-R:  Mama, Aunt Fatima and  Papa. My Aunt Fatima is like my second mother here in the metro. Thanks for all the support and love! :)

Post-oathtaking dinner. Banana Leaf, Robinson's Ermita.

Thanks family and friends for coming! :)

P.S.

To that special someone whose presence has been there the whole time I was grilling myself at the review center, thank you for encouraging me and pushing me to do my best. You know how scared I was, but with your kind words, you have triggered my confidence to the topmost level. Thank you so much! :)  

Something I saw from Ate Dee's blog. 

Remembering med school and board review days when I had to wake up very early to catch-up on my readings after Fajr prayer, fall asleep at the end of the day on the study table with a book underneath my face, while my conscience is bugging my mind. I'll be like that again, two years from now when I pursue my residency training (InshaAllah). Presently, I'm reading on my fancy fiction books. MashaAllah. This may be temporary, but I'm living a dream. Haha! :) 

Fancy Feet!

I can spend hours by just looking at fashion blogs on the internet while an image of me clad in those fancy suits whirred in my head. Most often than not, those images remain in my head until they fade into nothingness. As I always say, I go for comfort when it comes to fashion, a big reason why I always wear flat shoes but envy women wearing fancy elevator shoes. Yesterday, while my cousin and I went "sight-seeing" at Nuvali, I saw this Payless store at Solenad and headed right inside.  My eyes got fixated on this snakeskin printed pumps, I immediately had a vivid image of my feet in it on my Oathtaking Day. Naks! So, I brought it home! :) Good luck to my feet then! 

Late Entry
Written August 29, 2012

Now that the board exam is over, WAITING is the most terrible part. I can feel my heart swaying vigorously inside my chest. I pray that whatever the result will be, I will be able to handle it appropriately. If it is negative, may I cope with the sadness, disappointment and failure that it will bring. If it is positive, which I fervently prayed for my entire life, may I contain my happiness (haha! oyeah!), may I be humbled by it and may God use me as an instrument for the betterment of my community. 

Chos! :)

Late entry.
Written July 1, 2012.

We're at a point of gathering all the weapons we have sharpened and molded into perfection through years of med school, clerkship and internship. The battle is near and all these weapons must be in perfect shape for their proper utilization. We are aiming for that prize---the privilege to practice the medical craft.

In my entire existence, this is the ONLY exam where failure is NOT an option. This is the exam which tests one's character. Deep in our hearts, we know that the result is not the measure of our intelligence, our capabilities and the kind of person that we are. Medicine is so broad that we do  not know what to expect to come out. When all else fails, the only thing that remains in us is COURAGE. Courage to face and eliminate all our fears. 

Bismillahi Rahmaanir Raheem. 

Earned A Title

Ronsing, MD.

For real?

OYeah!!!!

*credit goes to my friend Bit-Bit for the screenshot.