Yesterday was our Solemn Investiture. Yung katuparan ng limang taong paghihirap namin. Yun yung araw na sa wakas, our tassles were flipped over which means that we have been conferred with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. It was not an easy task. It was not an easy 5 year-course.
Powerpoint template for the event. :)
Before I entered college, I knew I wanted to be a Doctor but I didnt know where to start with. Thinking that my sister\s also a student of Physical Therapy in the UST, and thinking how I liked studying the human anatomy, I chose Physical Therapy as my first choice. Luckily, I got in. And there began my 5-year long journey.
Having to dissect a frog was not difficult but having to dissect a shark, a turtle, a pigeon and a cat? it became challenging. How much more dissecting a cadaver? Having to study tons of books and manuals and reviewers, sobrang nakakabaliw. Having to memorize all those things and having to apply them in the correct manner was pure craziness. Having to study books from cover-to-cover for written revalidas was truly excruciating and Having to bring out everything you know during your oral revalida is beyond words. Having to write countless drafts of Initial Evals, Re-Evals, Initial PT Notes, Discharge Notes, Endorsement Notes, Endorsement Cards were tiring and energy-consuming.
But it was all worth it. That moment when your name is called to be given the degree? Nakakakilabot. Tapos yung time na luluhod ka and then your tassle was flipped over? sarap sa feeling.
Kakaiba pala yung pakiramdam na pagkatapos ng ilang taon mong paghihirap, naabot mo na yung tagumpay tsaka yung dulo nung race. :) I'm happy I was able to experience receiving my degree and awards with my family. :>
Here are some of the pictures from yesterday's event. :)
The conferment of our degree. :>
As I lead the newly graduates into the reading of The Thomasian Pledge
As I received my special award: 2nd Best Physical Therapy Intern. :)
Yesterday, we had our Baccalaureate Mass and the traditional Recessional by the Graduates aka exiting the Arch of the Centuries. First we had the parade, then the mass itself, the lighting ceremony, the fireworks display and then the exiting.
Photo taken by Kate Soriano
First off, the Arch of the Centuries is described by Wikipedia as "(it) puts together,back-to-back, the ruins of the original Intramuros arch, which faces the Main Building, and its replica, fronting Espana Boulevard." So basically, it is a remnant of the original entrance to the university when it was still located at the Intramuros.
For those who does not know the symbolism of this Arch, according to tradition, all incoming students including freshmen and transferees, are to cross over the arch as part of their initiation rites in an "event" called Thomasian Welcome Walk which usually occurs at the month of July of that academic year. At the same time, students who are candidates for graduation are to again cross over or exit the same monumental arch during a parade at the end of the Baccalaureate Mass.
The myth of this Arch goes something like after a student passes through the arch during the welcome walk, he/she should not cross over the arch again until during his baccalaureate mass or until graduation. If he does not abide and decides to pass under the arch earlier, something will happen which will not allow him to graduate. As funny as it may sound, Thomasians abide by this tradition. Most, if not all, are afraid of even going near the arch.
Maybe this tradition makes exiting the arch more exciting and more memorable. Add that to the overwhelming feeling of being able to graduate and being FINALLY done with your undergraduate degree. Maybe this excitement is what made us run as we passed through the arch. :D Sobrang onti lang ng tinakbo namin but it was a bliss. Yung feeling na everyone was shouting for us and congratulating us as we passed through the arch, kakaibang feeling. Feeling talaga ng tagumpay!
Photo by Myra Dolencio. I'm there, somewhere.=))
And oh, how can I forget the majestic fireworks display? <3 the 5-minutes fireworks display from the school who gives the best pyromusical display is enough to cap off our 5-year stay in the university. I must admit that I'm not really a fan of fireworks, but I guess when the fireworks is displayed for you, it makes everything nakakakilig. <3 and yes, I enjoyed the fireworks this time. :D
Photo taken by my good friend, Marc Henrich Go
Lastly, during the lighting ceremony, I must admit that I was a bit sad and emotional. Being in the bacc mass, it made me think about my 5 years of stay in the university. Also, it made me realize that after a few days, graduation day will soon come and I will eventually have to leave the university, say see you later to my friends and batchmates and eventually study medicine proper in another school. Kakaiba pala yung feeling pag kinakanta mo yung UST Hymn with your candles and while facing the Main Building. It sent shivers down my spine. Here's what it looked like. :>
Photo taken by Mel De Leon
However, what made me real sad is the fact that one of my groupmates will not be able to graduate with us. =( Starting this year, there were 5 of us in the group, but as we ended the year, only the four of us were left. </3 It was heartbreaking to realize na apat na lang pala kami.
Group 7 (L-R). Ching, me, Cams and Mico.
Here are other photos that I have taken during the mass. Mostly with the people I love. :)
(L-R). Sheena, Chari, Kat, and Linne
(L-R). Ria, Nelli, Josh.
Group 7, again. :)
(L-R). Jehn, Phoebe and Jem
With my closest college friend, Jem. <3
My Starbucks Buddy, Linne!
with my Yellow Jackets friend, Gaboi,
my OLLH loves, (L-R), Jotee and Jayann
(L-R), Jayann and another YJ Friend, Aton! :)
Racquel! :)
(L-R) Nico, Laisa, Raquel, Bojee
Nonetheless, I am very grateful that after 5 long years of sleepless nights, of reading books and handouts and manuals, of memorizing whathaveyous, of countless practical exams and written exams, of hundreds-of-hours of duty and of written and oral revalidas, we are finally done. Truly a light at the end of the dark and long tunnel.
I guess when you’re stuck at home while enjoying your premature summer vacation, there will come a point when boredom hits you, especially for a person like me who’s always on the go. Every time the summer season starts, I start thinking of where to go and what to do because I almost always DO NOT KNOW how to spend my summer vacations, especially now that I got to experience it again after almost 1 year.
Basically, it’s not yet supposed to be vacation time for me. The month of March is supposed to be used for make-up duties, but because I was a good Physical Therapy Intern, I only have a total of 4 demerits — and most of them, I have already made up for during the entire eleven-month internship or I have “paid” with using merits that the centers have themselves given.
At present, I’ve been “enjoying” my mini-premature-vacation by jumping from one blog to another. In fact, I have gone through almost all types — beauty blogs, food blogs, photography blogs — name it, i guess i’ve took a peek in it. Because of this, the writer in me (yes, I was a writer), wants to start a blog but I have also been hesitating because I’m afraid it’s just a fleeting feeling, or this blog will just be another one that I will forget and will eventually get tired of. But after the constant battle between my id, ego and supergo…
…. here I am, giving my blogspot its debut blog post.
I hope you guys stay around! And I hope I’ll get to update this constantly with whatever’s happening with my life. ... and I hope you find what i say, interesting. :D
Hugs.
PS. I'll customize this sooon. maybe after our graduation. :>
