Ang kagustuhang makatulong sa kapwa ang nag-udyok kay Daisylet R. Patdo na maging isang psychologist.
Top 2 si Daisylet, 27, ng Taguig City sa February 2022 Psychologist Licensure Examination. Nakakuha siya ng rating na 84.40 percent.
Nagtapos siya ng Bachelor of Science in Clinical Psychology sa Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Manila (PUP) noong April 2015.
Sa PUP rin siya nagtapos ng Master in Psychology with Specialization in Clinical Psychology noong September 2020.
Nakapanayam si Daisylet ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) noong July 2, 2022 sa pamamagitan ng Facebook Messenger.
Kuwento niya, “When I was in high school, I have this teacher in Values, Mrs. Castañeda. I remember very vividly na ini-assign niya ako as a coordinator for our section sa outreach program.
“It opened my eye sa kalagayan ng mga batang lansangan. I always thought before na kaya sila nasa kalsada kasi it is their choice, but I was wrong. Most of them, if not all, had experienced neglect and abuse sa loob ng sarili nilang bahay.
“From then on, I promised myself na I would take community development as a course and become a social worker to help the kids na katulad ng mga nakasalamuha ko nung outreach namin.”
Pero ayaw ng kanyang ina na maging social worker siya. Hindi rin approve dito na maging teacher siya.
“Dahil nakikita niya yung hirap ng mga teacher sa pagtuturo. My last resort was to take psychology, which is also a helping profession.”
BAGO nAGING LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST
Ayon kay Daisy, hindi ganoon kadali ang maging rehistradong sikolohista.
“After kong maka-graduate ng Bachelor’s Degree sa Psychology, I had to spend another four years sa pagma-masteral.
“Sobrang hirap nung course dahil sa taas ng requirements na meron bago maging isang licensed psychologist. Kailangan, matapos muna yung masteral degree bago makapag-take ng board examination for psychologists—and it wasn’t easy.”
Napilitan siyang magtrabaho sa isang rehabilitation facility para tustusan ang pag-aaral dahil nahihiya na siyang humingi sa kanyang parents. Nagkataong jobless pa noon ang kanyang ama.
“It was difficult. Job order lang ako, walang benefits, at no work, no pay. Hati yung oras ko, kailangan kong pagsabayin yung pagtatrabaho at pag-aaral.
“From Monday to Friday, nagtatrabaho ako sa rehab. Saturday at Sunday, graduate school naman.”
Nilakasan niya ang kanyang loob kahit halos wala siyang pahinga.
“Alam kong walang mangyayari sa pangarap ko kung hindi pa ako kikilos para makamtan yun.”
At kahit PHP5,000 lang ang tuition fee noon sa graduate school, hindi pa niya mabayaran nang buo.
“Every semester, partial payment lang ako.”
Tumulong din ang kanyang boyfriend sa mga gastusin niya sa pag-aaral.
“May mga times na I wanted to quit, especially sa thesis writing, which is really expensive and beyond my financial capacity.
“Pero my boyfriend kept on pushing me, up to the point na halos lahat siya na gumagastos sa graduate school.”
Pagbabahagi ni Daisylet, nakakaramdam na siya noon ng hiya at panliliit sa sarili.
“But I have to swallow my pride at tanggapin yung tulong na kailangan ko.”
MAHIRAP ANG COMPUTER-BASED EXAM
Ani Daisylet, extra difficult an board exam dahil sa transition from paper and pencil exams to computer-based exams.
Nasorpresa umano siya nang ianunsiyo iyon ng Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) two weeks before the examination date.
“No one has an idea kung paano yung computer-based, even yung mga review center, because we were the first batch sa Psych na magte-take ng computer-based.”
Frustrated umano siya dahil mas handa siya sa paper and pencil.
“Ang daming nagsa-‘sana all computer-based.’ But what they don’t know is that the computer-based exam will also be held not at the comfort of our homes but also at a testing site.
“Sobrang daming technical difficulties during the examination day. Halos lahat sabay-sabay na nadi-disconnect sa server.
“Kapag naglalaro tayo ng computer games tapos nag-lag, we feel frustrated. Paano pa kaya yung nagte-take ng board exam na ang tagal mong inantay tapos nag-lag, tapos nakikita mong nababawasan yung oras mo and kapag nakabalik ka sa server nawawala yung answers mo kaya you have to read the question again?”
Iniyakan niya ang naging experience.
“Pumunta ako ng testing site full of enthusiasm and conviction na I will excel, pero umuwi akong tulala nung first day, and I felt defeated.
“Parang ayaw ko ng i-continue pa yung next day ng board exam, but my family motivated me to push through. Baka daw makalusot pa, haha!”
"TO TOP OR TO PASS"
Aminado si Daisylet na ipinagdasal niyang maging board topnotcher.
Hindi kasi kasama sa option niya ang bumagsak. Dalawa lang ang scenarios sa utak niya: either pomasa o maging topnotcher.
Aniya, “Kahit hindi ako achiever noong college at may singko pa sa statistics, haha! To top or to pass had been my mantra since day one ng review dahil ayaw kong i-entertain yung thoughts about failure, kasi baka panghinaan ako ng loob at hindi ko maibigay yung best ko.”
Nang lumabas ang resulta ay hindi agad niya napansin na kasama siya sa topnotchers dahil tiningnan lang niya ang name niya kung pumasa siya.
“May nag-chat lang sa akin na Top 2 daw ako! It was surreal. Ayaw kong matulog nung lumabas yung result kasi baka panaginip lang tapos paggising ko wala pala yung name ko sa listahan, haha!
“My achievements are for my parents, boyfriend, and closest friends who never questioned my ability and believed na kaya kong maging topnotcher kahit wala naman akong mabibigat na achievements before.”
NEXT PLANS
Sa kasalukuyan ay employed si Daisylet bilang Health Program Officer 1 sa Department of Health-Treatment and Rehabilitation Bicutan.
Part-time psychology instructor din siya sa Taguig City University.
“Right now, I’m waiting for my promotion as a Psychologist II. I am planning to take a Ph.D. in psychology. I am weighing my options between majoring in forensic psychology or child psychology.”
Payo niya sa mga gustong kumuha ng psychology, “I know you had been hearing a lot of negative things about our course. Maraming requirements before one can become a psychologist. But please, do not be discouraged!
“There is a growing number of individuals with mental health issues, especially now that we have a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous [VUCA] world because of the pandemic.
“The role of a psychologist like me is to help manage mental health problems in this time of uncertainty.”