Home Duty

After all the board exam-related errands, time to do the other way around. Response to duty call: I, I Sir and Ma’am! House chores all done!

One, Two, Three

One

MLA and I filed our board exam application today. So… it’s now official. There’s no turning back!

Two

I gave MLA my late gift -- a bouquet. I surprised her -- I think? I was with her when I bought it after we were done at the PRC. I told her it’s for Mommy because it’s her birthday.  I was holding it until we were able to ride a jeepney. Before she got off, I reached it to her. I knew she wouldn’t be able to speak or even react anymore after it (obviously, the jeepney wouldn’t wait) but it’s okay. Anyway, all I wanted is to try to surprise her to compensate for not being able to prepare anything during her real birthday.

Three

As I was saying, it’s Mommy’s birthday. I feel so bad I’m still incapable of having something special for her. I just texted her,

“Poot poot! (This I always use as my introduction line whenever I text either Daddy or Mommy) Happy birthday, Ma. Sorry po, wala akong gift or card para sa  iyo -- greetings lang…”

Know what? She replied,

“Thank you, ayos lang anak. Mag-ingat kayo lagi dyan.”

 See how thoughtful she is? It’s her birthday yet all she thinks is still us...

Complete Name Tag

It’s holiday today because of Eidul-Fitar, so we -- except Ate who went home in the province -- were all present here at the apartment.

In the afternoon, I asked ANA to accompany me to go somewhere. I need ID picture for board exam requirements, so we went to SM San Lazaro. However, it was only after we have arrived at the apartment when I remembered that the photo must have a complete name tag. So hateful.

On Our Own

No more review class starting today so I changed the alarms on my phone. This will be another complete change of routine. But I think my body just got used to waking up before 7 am. Besides, even before when our class were still going on, no matter how late I sleep during the night, I can still automatically wake up even before my alarms. I think it’s the body clock.

So anyway, I was so funny. I spent the whole day planning my schedule for the next days! It was so difficult to decide how to make use most of my time because every single minute is very important now. Review classes are over. We’re on our own now. I need a very very good time management and self-discipline.

I also compiled all of my reviewers. I just wonder if I can finish it all. I checked my test papers PERC returned yesterday. I realized that it’s not really bad because from pre-exam to post-exam to intensive coaching, my ratings are constantly rising. I supposed it means that I am learning, isn’t it?

Ice Cream, Please!

Today, I feel so sad. Huhu.

This is the last day of our review at PERC -- perhaps, the last time that I’ll be able to see Sir E. After this, the only way I can see him is to visit his Facebook account secretly -- which isn’t even completely accessible since we’re not FB friends.

All this is added to my bitterness of seeing others being able to approach him so casually -- which I cannot and I will not do. It’s true that I don’t want to be noticed by him. But watching others being able to get his attention is one different matter. Just like while ago.

What a drama! Hehe. But truthfully speaking, I’m really feeling so sad right now. I want ice cream!!!

Frustrated and Extra Happy

I have no review class yesterday. I stayed at apartment with ANA who has no class either.

I went to bed at 3 am while ago, because I was reviewing for our Hematology intensive coaching today. Because as usual I wasn’t able to finish it, I couldn’t help but to feel so pissed at myself. Why can't I accomplish such an important matter? It isn’t really that hard. And even though it is, it should never be a reason to not achieve it since it is a must. Just like what the song says,

“Kung ayaw, may dahilan. Kung gusto, palaging merong paraan. (If you don’t like, there are several reasons. If you like, there is always a way.)” 

However, still I can't really have a good review because I just can't give my full concentration on it. I have lots of other matters on my mind, just like household matters and such. I’m not as versatile as before anymore, not especially this time.

So anyway, I got 97/150. I feel bad because I really want to get a good score for our intensive coaching. I want to because first, I didn’t do well for my other previous exams, and second, ahm… because of Sir E. Hehe.

Speaking of him, I really can't help myself to be excited for this day. Not because of the exam of course, but because he is our proctor again. Since yesterday, I've been so teenager-like that even ANA noticed my “extra happiness”.

One Left

MLA and I didn’t attend class today. We just decided to take the intensive coaching on Saturday instead since the post-assessment examination and rationalization today is for same subject too. What we did this morning is went to the PRC and bought our community tax certificate. Only one requirement left and we’re ready to file our application.

So this is it. I suddenly feel my determination back. I suddenly feel my great desire to pass the board exam! I suddenly feel my urge to do my best for this battle! Seriously, I really want to accomplish this goal now.

Continuation

Today, we continued the last part of our Hematology lecture that left hanged since June. Just what I have told before, this time our lecturer was not Ma'am ALPN anymore, but Sir RJD! Finally.

And just as what I expected, he is really good at teaching, even during our university days. No fade out! Just one thing, his way of talking is somewhat like the same to Ma'am ALPN’s this time. Is that just today, and whenever he lectures at the review center -- or is that’s really the way he teaches, that I just either didn’t notice it before or forget it now? I really don’t know.

Anyway, as I stare at my calendar schedule for board exams, it makes me feel worried, worried and more worried now. The results of my post-assessment examinations were not so promising. Though I say those were just practice exams, that having bad results were still just okay, these bothers me a little somehow.

I keep on thinking that I am still not really doing any good in my review. I’m afraid all of the right answers that I got on my exams were just “short memories”, that those were just bubbles, which after our rationalization will fly… and pow! It became Koko crunch! Hehe. I'm just kidding. I mean, those will just fade away. At this time, I’m afraid I can’t keep my mind on the positive side.

Flop

MLA’s birthday, yet I have done nothing special for her! It was because my hands were so full that even I had created several calendar reminders in my phone -- one week, 2 days, 1 day -- all of it were so useless. I wasn’t able to prepare anything for her.

Our lecture for Clinical Chemistry just concluded yesterday. Yes, we have a very random schedule since we started CC and Histopathology. Today is the post-assessment examination and rationalization for both difficult subjects. So much stress!

Dream Boy

I don’t know but I think I just had a good sleep.

I dreamed of some sort of guy, who seemed to be my “mine”. I have no idea who he is -- a complete stranger, yes. But based on what I can remember, it was such a lovely cute sweet scene between us. I don’t even know how I did that, when in reality I have no personal experience like that. And that was the real funny part.

Nobody

I feel so alone. MLA didn’t come to today’s intensive coaching for Immunology-Serology and Blood Banking class. I didn’t even have anyone beside me -- literally, none within my column.

Right now, I feel like freezing. Not because of the air conditioner, but because Sir E is just a step away in front of my seat! Since the start of our exam, I already bowed down my head, trying to hide my face. In fact, I didn’t even raise it for the whole time -- just once while ago when I made a quick glimpse in front to check if he have really arrived yet. Though my neck is already aching, I can’t again -- maybe later after this, during rationalization. Well, obviously, I have to look at the board.

But generally, why does it seem like I am always hiding from him? Why can’t I raise my head in front of him? Why can’t I show my face to him? Why can’t I ask him questions and clarifications? Why can’t I be like the others who can be so casual around him? Honestly, I just don’t want him to see me. I don’t want him to notice me -- to recognize me as reviewee or as his student.

All I want is to be able to see him, to hear him -- to admire him silently. Those are enough. No need for him to remember or even know that there’s someone such as me who was once became a part-taker of his life. After our review class here at PERC, I’ll just be like the wind -- something that’ll just come and go. After all, I’m just a nobody. That’s what I thought.

When You Prepared for Something Wrong

Classes were resumed today. So Glenda just passed by -- visiting for only one day… yesterday. Hehe.

Anyway, in contrast to what we know, our schedule was changed. It was supposed to be Immunology-Serology and Blood Banking intensive coaching today but it is decided to push through with our supposedly schedule yesterday so it became Microbiology-Parasitology.

It was frustrating actually. I was taking another exam unprepared… again. Not that I didn’t finish my readings, again, but because what I did review yesterday and last night and what I am still planning to continue this morning is not the subject we were taking today.

But!

Though that was what happened, and though it was basically an examination day, I felt no worried at all. I was actually looking forward to this. To be honest, my mind wasn’t set on the review, but to the fact that I’ll be able to see Sir E again! He told us during our last meeting with him, that is during Clinical Microscopy intensive coaching, that he will handle all the subjects for intensive coaching -- ALL! As in ALL!!!! He will proctor us, and he will rationalize for us! I wasn’t able to digest that during then, but now that it happened again, I am so happy! What a spoiled brat! Haha! Feeling like a teenager, eh? But I just can’t help it. I am so excited and happy!

Typhoon Glenda

It was an all-of-us-stay-at-home day. It was reported last night that typhoon Glenda is passing Manila today.

I have thought it was in the afternoon as what the news said, but she arrived early. Primary to university classes, as well as government works were all suspended. The problem, we, the students of just a review center and not a school or university, didn’t know if we are included in the suspension. It was supposed to be our Microbiology-Parasitology intensive coaching today. We just communicated through phone. Daddy and Mommy even warned me not to come to class anymore. It was almost 9 am when we got an announcement from PERC that our class is postponed as well.

At night, I and my siblings watched the news report, and what a devastation Glenda left in the Philippines. We were just thankful we didn’t really experience that much here at our place.

Replacement

Agh! Clinical Chemistry again! But only for half day. But 8 am to 1 pm straight! Haha. No room for breaks! Another haha!

One good thing that happened today, I finally bought a new casing for my phone! Finally. Really. Finally. It took me so long to replace my old one. Hehe.

So...

Another whole day review, but this time, it’s Histopathology. It’s actually our last day for this subject -- we only have two day-lecture review for it -- so I wonder if it’s also the last time we will be able to see Sir ARF, or he will still be the one who will proctor as on our post-assessment examination and rationalization for this subject next Monday…

I will miss his signatory lines like “So…” and “Okay pa ba kayo? Kaya niyo pa? Kaya pa!”

He’s so thoughtful. At the end of our lecture review, he explained to us what to do on registration for board exam -- every single detail. Thanks to him.

So now, MLA and I are having some trouble regarding our requirements because of our “complicated full schedule”. Haha.

Finally

Though Sunday weekend, we have class… and whole day it is!

It’s our first day of Clinical Chemistry. We finally met the very well-spoken “Ma'am MTTR”, our lecturer and the author of the well-known most conventional and useful CC review book. 

By the way, we’re still not done with our Histopathology review, okay? We just have a random schedule for these two subjects.

Anyway, it’s like I attended two Masses today. I came just right in the middle of the 6 pm Mass, but the one that I really attended is the 7 pm Mass. 

Homily

"The seedlings inside us -- will these sprout healthily preparing the road for the coming of Jesus, or the opposite?"

Not a Happy Ending

“The Wind Rises” by Studio Ghibli, 2013. My goodness, it was such a touching movie!

Honestly, I’m someone who is easily attached to movies I just watched. If it’s about some serious topic, I’ll become serious. If it’s a comedy genre, I’ll burst in laughter. If there are sad scenes, even just the shortest slightest part in between, I’ll cry. Sometimes, even it is really not that “tearful”, I can’t help but cry as long as I felt like it. ANA even often tells me that I was so OA, though I don’t care.

In this movie, I just didn’t expect the ending. Of all sad things, “death” is one that really pinches my heart. In addition, it’s the protagonist -- and that character is within the love line. Though I don’t really don’t like the “Romeo and Juliet” type of ending, I still prefer the “happily ever after”. However, I know it’s impossible to have such fairy tale type of stories all the time. So in time, I learned to appreciate these types of bittersweet films and I learned to look at the positive or good side of it -- the thing I think the director and writer wanted the viewers to see in their masterpieces.

So… “The wind rises. You must try to live.”

Pleasure Day

Yeah! It’s still weekday -- Friday to say -- but we have no review class today!

Though, I felt like I was unproductive because I just spent my day in front of the computer with the internet -- downloading songs and surfing. Hehe.

Love or Hate

We started another subject today. Our new lecturer is Sir ARF. And our new subject is Histopathology. Okay, let’s see what memoirs during college that I’ve got with this subject.

We took this during our 4^th year -- I don’t even remember exactly now -- or should I say, I don’t want to remember? Haha. It’s just that it’s one of the subjects that I didn’t take seriously.  Ahm… what I really mean is the subject that I like the least, especially the Histotechnique, the first part. You can even check it for yourself -- with my final grade. 

I say, there are really different factors to love or hate a subject. It’s a combination of the professor of the subject, the subject itself and the student factors which makes the subject likeable or otherwise. In my case, I think I just can’t say that it’s because it’s a difficult subject. In fact, there’s no such thing as easy subject for a medical technology course. So, for me, it’s more of the first factor.

What Made my Day Complete

After class dismissal, MLA and I passed by the office again because MLA would get the notes SDC borrowed from her the last day and left at the office. Okay, that, during that time, I didn’t really expect that much… But my expectation was just right. As soon as we entered the office, my eyes instantly looked behind the counter. Straightaway, I couldn’t just help myself to smile then. Sir E was there again. And it made my day complete.