Determinado si Yalany Angela Soliva, mas kilala bilang Yal, 23, ng Cagayan de Oro, na medical field talaga ang pasukin.
Pagbabahagi niya nang makakuwentuhan ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last February 22, 2023 via Facebook Messenger, “First choice ko talaga is medical technology.”
Pero nang magkokolehiyo na siya, “I was qualified for a scholarship in Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, so, I decided to enroll in their nursing program instead.”
Nagtapos siya ng Bachelor of Science in Nursing last May 28, 2022.
Top 4 naman siya sa November 2022 Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination.
May rating siya na 89.40 percent.
Aniya, hindi naging madali para sa kanya na makita ang pangalan sa listahan ng board topnotchers.
“Parang yung whole nursing journey ko ay mahirap talaga.
“Nakaka-pressure kasi kailangang pumasa sa mga subjects while maintaining my scholarship, ‘tapos dagdag mo pa yung mga clinical duties and requirements.”
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SELF DOUBTS AND ANXIETIES
Para kay Yal, ang pandemic talaga ang biggest obstacle ng buhay-college niya.
“Kasi grabe yung mental struggle ko.
“I was scared for my family when the pandemic began because there were no vaccines and medical treatments for COVID-19.
“As a nursing student, napag-aralan namin yung effects ng COVID sa katawan kaya sobra yung anxiety ko noon.”
Kailangan din niyang mag-focus sa pag-aaral.
“Kasi third year ako nung nag-pandemic. Grabe rin yung doubts ko sa sarili ko kasi I didn’t feel like I was learning enough kasi sa online lang ako nag-aaral.
“Ang hirap ding mag-juggle ng responsibilities sa school at sa bahay kasi single mother yung nanay ko kaya ako ang inaasahan sa bahay kasi panganay ako.”
Tatlo kasi silang magkakapatid, at siya ang nag-aasikaso sa mga sumunod sa kanya.
Nagpapasalamat si Yal sa suportang nakuha sa pamilya at mga kaibigan para maayos niyang maitawid ang college.
“Maganda talagang may support system, especially during times when you feel like you’re isolated and hopeless.
“I felt that multiple times, but as soon I start talking and spending time with people who are important to me, parang mas gumagaan yung damdamin ko.
“Yung mantra ko noon is ‘take one step at a time.’”
Kaya pag nakakaramdam siyang nao-overwhelm na, “I take a step back and do something that I enjoy like watching movies or playing with my pets.
“When I feel better, saka ko na balikan yung mga deadlines and requirements ko.”
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DUDA SA SARILI
Nang maka-graduate, ang sumunod na naging struggle ni Yal ay ang pagkuha ng board exam.
“During review season, my biggest challenge was probably my lack of self-confidence and doubt.
“Getting that license was something so significant to me that I was so afraid of failing the board exam.”
Pagtatapat ni Yal, grabe ang kanyang frustrations noong nagre-review siya, “Because I felt like I wasn’t doing enough.
“At one point, I thought to myself that maybe I should take the exam next time because I felt like I still wasn’t ready.”
Gayunpaman, ipinagpatuloy niya ang pagre-review dahil katwiran niya sa sarili, “I already started, so, might as well finish it.
“When I felt doubt, I prayed and hoped for the best.”
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MOMENT OF TRUTH ANG BOARD EXAM
Hindi itinanggi ni Yal na talagang nahirapan siya sa board exam.
“Na-test talaga yung knowledge ko about nursing during that two days.
“All those years in nursing school and months in the review have finally led to that moment, so, nandun talaga yung pressure and anxiety.
“Nakasalalay yung lisensya ko sa exam ko kaya parang ang hirap magkamali.”
Nahirapan umano siya specifically sa NP2 na tungkol sa Maternal and Child Nursing, at sa NP3 na tungkol sa Medical-Surgical Nursing.
Sambit pa ni Yal, “Being a topnotcher was not in my mind that time.
“Yung focus ko lang talaga is to make as little mistakes as possible and pass the board exam.
“Trying to be a topnotcher was too much pressure for me, and I was dealing with so much at that time that it wasn’t my priority anymore.”
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“I WAS IN SHOCK”
At dahil hindi niya inaasahan na magiging topnotcher siya, ani Yal nang lumabas na ang resulta, “When I found my name in the 4th place of the PNLE topnotcher’s list, I was in shock!
“Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala na pangalan ko ang nasa listahan.”
Sa list of passers kasi muna siya nag-check kung naroon ang kanyang pangalan.
“It was my mother who told me to check the Topnotchers List. I was amazed, happy, and shocked at the same time.
“My mother and I were screaming and crying, because who would have thought I would make it in the Top 10?”
Naibahagi rin niya noong November 30 sa kanyang Facebook ang hirap na pinagdaanan sa review at board exam.
“The whole time na nag-review ako, grabe ang doubts ko sa sarili and legit 0 confidence.
“I didn't know what I was capable of, because always pinu-put down ko ang aking self.”
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Nagdesisyon umano siyang baguhin ang mindset para makapasa.
“Every mistake I made was my motivation to do better. As a praning, everytime magkamali ako, iniisip ko na ba-bye na sa license.”
Sa kanyang pamilya at mga kaibigan inihandog ni Yal ang tagumpay.
“They were always there when I needed them. Their love and support were the reasons that I was able to push through.
“Without them, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Sa kasalukuyan ay nagtatrabaho si Yal bilang Operating Room nurse sa Maria Reyna–Xavier University Hospital sa CDO.
“I am hoping to gain more experience as a nurse and further my career in nursing in the Philippines and elsewhere.
“If given a chance, I would also like to take my NCLEX soon.”
Ang NCLEX, o National Nursing Licensure Examination, ang nag-a-assess sa kakayahan ng isang nurse na magkaloob ng safe, effective nursing care kung magtatrabaho sa mga ospital sa United States at mga teritoryo nito.
Payo ni Yal sa mga gustong kumuha ng nursing course, kailangan ang dedication and hardwork.
“I was also a student nurse and I know the struggles. It may be hard but nothing is more satisfying and fulfilling than hearing your patient say ‘Thank you.’
“It may be overwhelming at times but take a deep breath and go back to why you chose nursing in the first place.”
Dagdag pa niya, “Don’t lose your purpose. Don’t forget to take a break and rest. It’ll all be worth it in the end.”