Bago nag-Top 9 si Farrah Grace Piscos Aton sa May 2022 Nursing Licensure Examination, ibang kurso muna ang kinuha niya sa kolehiyo.
“I actually took up BS Psychology for two years from another university before transferring to Southwestern University PHINMA [private university in Cebu City] and joining the nursing program.”
Nakapanayam ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ang Cebuana nurse nitong Byernes, June 24, 2022, sa pamamagitan ng Facebook Messenger.
Kuwento niya, “Napatigil po ako sa psychology kasi kailangan kong umalis sa Pilipinas noong May 2016. Na-petition po kasi ako ng father ko.”
Habang nasa US ay nagtrabaho raw siya sa isang fast food.
Noong May 2017 ay nagbalik na si Farrah sa Pilipinas. “Umuwi ulit ako sa Cebu para mag-aral na ng nursing.
“During that time, I decided on nursing kasi it’s a very in-demand job din po, 'tapos in line din naman sa interes ko which is the medical field.”
NAHIRAPANG MAG-ADJUST SA NURSING COURSE
Pagbabahagi ni Farrah, nahirapan siya nang mag-shift from psychology to nursing.
Aniya, “I used to be the kind of person who feared change.”
Very challenging at mahihirap din aniya ang mga subjects.
“You’d really have to invest all your time and energy into academics on top of having to go on hospital rotations for your clinical hours.”
Ang isa pa aniyang pagkakamali niya ay siya mismo ay nagpi-pressure sa kanyang sarili.
“I would constantly put pressure and expectations to myself to achieve better grades or performances.”
Kaya nakaramdam siya ng burnout.
“I eventually realized that although it may have been a good form of motivation, excess of it took a toll on my mental health.”
Nakadagdag pa sa stress niya ang online classes nang magkaroon ng pandemya dahil hirap siyang mag-focus.
Dismayado rin si Farrah na dahil online class na sila, “Hindi na namin nalaman kung ano yung ranking namin sa last two years. Kasi timing po yung end ng third year namin to fourth year sa pandemic .
“I was at the top of my class during my first and second year.”
Umasa pa naman siya na magtatapos with honors sa kanilang graduation day para pasayahin ang kanyang parents.
NAG-CRAM SA PAGRE-REVIEW
Ang masaklap pa ayon kay Farrah, apat na araw bago magsimula ang kanilang review noong December 2021 ay hinagupit ng bagyong Odette ang Cebu.
“Wala talagang electricity and signal, so, it was a very challenging time for me and my classmates. I was only able to join two weeks later and had to catch up on all the recorded lectures on top of the live classes.”
Nahirapan din siya sa mga proseso sa review.
“Throughout the review, I was second-guessing my answers, doubting myself, and I would get easily frustrated when my scores couldn’t reach the passing grade.”
Kinailangan din niyang mag-cram sa review para makahabol.
“I had to cram the remaining thousand questions I had to review in two days to be able to make it.”
HINDI INAKALANG MAGIGING TOPNOTCHER
Nang malaman ni Farrah na Top 9 siya sa licensure exam sa rating na 87.60 percent, ang nasambit niya, “Everything that has happened that has led up right to this moment has been easier said than done.”
Aniya, napakadali raw sabihing “topnotcher cutie” kaysa actual na gawin ang mga kailangan para makamit iyon.
Hindi rin siya nag-expect.
“Nahirapan po ako sa ibang parts ng exam, so, inakala ko na hindi ako mapapasali. Sabi ko na lang kay Lord, basta pasado na lang...
“It was a series of ups and downs but eventually, I realized that going through the whole ordeal like making mistakes and learning from them is how an individual learns best. And I am very thankful for having gone through it.”
Sa ngayon, ang plano ni Farrah ay mag-focus muna sa NCLEX review para naman sa ibang bansa.
At kung magtatrabaho na siya sa ospital, “I’ve always wanted to be an emergency room nurse.
“Maybe in the near future, I’ll be able to get the opportunity I’ve only dreamed about through watching medical shows when I was younger.”
Ang payo niya sa mga future nursing students, “It’s okay to struggle because that’s how you know that you’re trying hard enough to get to where you want to be.”
At kung hindi man siya nag-graduate with honors, kikilalanin pa rin ng kanilang university ang kanyang achievement.
Masaya niyang sambit, “May ibibigay po silang special award for topping the boards.”