Sa mga pagod na sa kakabasa ng away at complains dito sa secret files, at gusto lang maging inspired sa pagiging doctor, then para sa inyo ito. I told my parents that I want to enroll in Fatima for my med school education, they were overwhelmed and disappointed. They said, “Bakit Fatima anak? Hindi naman kilalang medical school iyan. Qualified ka naman sa ibang magandang schools kaya dapat doon ang main choices mo. Please anak, pag isipan mo ito ng mabuti. Pumili ka ng mag bibigay ng magandang foundation mo sa medicine career mo,” were my parents words. I’m glad that I’m blessed with such wonderful parents. Despite the pros and cons in my decisions throughout the years, they still support and respect it while making sure na hindi sila nag kulang sa pag guide sa akin. That’s why it was especially hard for me to make the decision to enroll in Fatima. This was something that they were looking forward to. It was not only my dream but theirs as well. Courage and a strong resolve was not enough to make me stand firm in my decision. It required me to trust my gut and most of all, to trust myself. So why did I choose this school? I have a simple reason. I was inspired. I met a Fatimanian doctor during my check up, and told me that he was able to become a doctor because Fatima gave him the chance to be a physician when all the other schools had refused him. He wanted to amend his mistakes in his premed years and start anew but sadly, no prestigious medical schools were willing enough to give him a second chance. When Fatima accepted him, he made sure that he would not waste a single opportunity to be the best doctor that he can be. Now, he is presently working in one of the best hospitals in Metro Manila. I asked him, “What if I decided to enroll in the same school? What would I expect from it?” He just smiled and said, “A lot of things. In other medical schools, you’ll meet a lot of students who’ve been used to success and always being on the top of their education. The ones who’ve worked hard and earned their rights to be in the best medical schools in this country while in Fatima you’ll encounter a lot of people who are not qualified to be a part of those schools, just like me.” He then chuckled and added, “Actually, during my time, Fatima was said to be the ‘tapunan’ ng mga medical students. If I’m not mistaken, until now they have a lot of negative comments about my alma mater since it keeps accepting all the students that come to them.” I almost raised an eyebrow with the word ‘tapunan’ but still asked, “Regardless, would you still recommend that school to me?” “Of course,” was his simple answer. “When I went to Fatima, I learned from experience that grades don’t really define who you are. It’s who you want to be and what type of doctor you want to become. In my years of stay at Fatima, I’ve met students like me who’ve thought of themselves as failures. Scholars whom some are kind and helpful while others are selfish and self-centered. I’ve also met people who would stoop as low as to cheating just to pass. There are also those average students who would stay up all night everyday just to study and pass their exams. The kind of variety you wouldn’t encounter in schools like UP. So you can be proud to say ‘Only in Fatima!’ “ In all honesty, I laugh hard at his latter statement since he said it in a funny way. “So doc, you’re saying that if I want to meet a mixture of people then Fatima is a good choice?” He laughed again at my question, “No dear. I’m trying to tell you that if you want to become a good doctor to your patients then you should learn first to empathize with your fellow med students. That way, you would understand why there are doctors who are only after the money, the position in the hospital, those who don’t give a damn in the well-being of patients seeking their help, and those who really care and love their profession. This school, I can guarantee you; will give you a firm foundation in your education. The only question is how you’ll utilize and take to heart the learning Fatima will give you. The next best thing Fatima can offer you is the experience of understanding your future colleagues and the things that you’ll learn from them.” After our talk, I did a lot of research about Fatima. A lot of students in the forums keep saying that Fatima didn’t have a quota in the number of students they’ll accept. Since all they are after is their money. That it was all about business. That it didn’t have a good board passing rate and that Fatima has no right to brag about their topnothers since they took the February exam and not the August exam (the same time as UST and UP). And you know what, they are probably right. I said PROBABLY. If I hadn’t met that doctor, I would have absolutely agreed with them. But he changed my views. I realized, the reason that UP and UST are at the top is because they accept the best applicants in the country. It would be a greater shame if they didn’t reach the pinnacle of the PRC rankings despite having the best minds in the country. Fatima will be in the headlines of the media if it suddenly had a high passing rate and more so a 100% passing rate if it consists mostly of students who have low grades in their premeds, were ostracized from their former med schools, and some were even kick outs due to the ‘you know it all’ issues. It was not right for others to compare Fatima to schools like UST and UP. They are different from each other, as in very different. It doesn’t give them the right to say that Fatima is not a good medical school just because of the numbers and percentages PRC is releasing. I’ve realized how wrong those students were in my first year when I saw how hard Dra. Gross Anatomy is trying to teach us despite her body’s condition. That Dr. Gross Anatomy became a topnotcher because he really was competent and not because he took the February exam. And heck, I dare say if there is a student that exists and say that Dra. Biochem’s exam is not hard. I also salute our professors whom, despite their old age, still teach us. Of course, I’m not saying that Fatima is perfect. There are also the so-so doctors that are knowledgeable but not so good at teaching. But I believe every single school has those types. As for my classmates, the doctor was right in everything he told me. There are the categories of mandaraya este desperados, the samplex liners of annies, the all nighters, the matalinos that didn’t have enough money, the scholars who are extremely matalino, and most especially, the kick outs and the failed students who did not have any choice but to choose Fatima. I want to thank these failed students the most, and I meant no sarcasm or insult. You made my resolve firm. You made me see that failure cannot stop you from rising to the top. I was even introduced to a particular student who took him six years to finish his BS course due to his Fs. He too was not accepted in the medical schools he applied for but that didn’t stop him from reaching his goals. And now, he’s at the top 10 of our batch. Life experiences such as those do not just pass you by everyday and it is definitely not something a textbook can teach us. So, thank you very much. Because of you guys, I was able to understand that there are people who would stoop as low as to cheating while there are others who will choose to study hard and follow their principles despite the risk of failing. That there are really successful people who have experienced painful situations such as failing their subjects, disappointing their parents, and losing trust in their own capabilities but still chose to fight. You all have made my experience in Fatima worthwhile. Now, I won’t feel embarrassed when I tell my parents about Fatima. I can tell them that I made the right choice in enrolling in this school. I hope that in the future, Fatima will have a better reputation, that their students will have a more optimistic view about this school, and that it will continue to give second chances to students who are willing to mend their previous mistakes and become great doctors. To those students who hate this school, instead of spatting hateful words, why not be the reason for its change? I hope and pray that in our generation, we can make Fatima a better medical school. That in our generation, we can welcome other students who enrolled not because they don’t have a choice but because they believe that Fatima is as competent as the other schools out there. So don’t fear guys! Unless we say “that’s enough” then there are still many possibilities waiting for us. Don’t be all down because of the results of our prelims this week. Instead, fight and keep pursuing your dream! Before we know it, in the near future, we’ll have the M.D in the end of our names. “As I look back on my life, I realize that every time I thought I was being rejected from something good, I was actually being re-directed to something better.” - Steve Maraboli by DrOptimistic 2016 MD VALENZUELA CAMPUS “Make a pact with yourself today to not be defined by your past. Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your hard work isn’t what you get for it, but what you become for it. Shake things up today! Be You… Be Free… Share.” - Steve Maraboli
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 14:44:43 +0000
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