Maituturing na inspirasyon si Carlos Morales ng marami dahil sa edad na 47, natupad ang pangarap niyang maging registered nurse sa Amerika nang makapasa siya sa 2023 National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
Ang NCLEX ay ang pagsusulit na kailangang kunin ng Nursing graduates upang maging licensed nurses sa USA at Canada.
Ang tunay na pangalan ni Carlos ay Carlin Morales Woodruff Jr.
Iilan ang nakakaalam na pinagsabay ni Carlos ang pag-aartista at ang kanyang pag-aaral ng nursing sa Olivarez College sa Parañaque City dahil bukas ang isip niya sa katotohanang hindi stable o matatag ang showbiz career.
Read: Carlos Morales leaves Nursing course in U.S. to try acting again
Kasagsagan ng coronavirus pandemic nang sumugal si Carlos.
Mabigat man sa kanyang kalooban, iniwan niya ang Pilipinas para bigyan ng katuparan ang pangarap maging registered nurse sa Amerika.
Hindi naging mahirap kay Carlos na magpunta sa U.S. dahil American citizen ang kanyang ama, ang former U.S. serviceman na si Carl Woodruff Sr.
Lahad niya sa eksklusibong panayam sa Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph): “I left the Philippines at the height of COVID-19 pandemic and nothing is really certain on what’s going to happen next.
“Everything was so chaotic, everyone was confined in their homes. That made me think to just go back to the US and pursue my nursing career.
“At least with health care, walang [work] hiatus. So I left everything behind not knowing what’s going to happen but my goal is to pass NCLEX at all cost!
“Of course, everything comes with a cost. Leaving everything behind was a hard decision on my part, but I tried to be firm with the future that I want, no turning back anymore,” ang pahayag ni Carlos sa panayam sa kanya ng Cabinet Files.
Nalaman ng PEP.ph ang plano ni Carlos na kumuha ng NCLEX ilang araw matapos ang pagdating niya sa Amerika noong 2021, pero nakiusap siyang huwag munang isulat ang kanyang balak.
CARLOS WORKED AT MCDONALD'S while applying for nclex
Sinabi ni Carlos na magsasalita ito sa PEP.ph kapag nakapasa siya sa NCLEX.
Tinupad niya ang kanyang binitiwang pangako nang ibalita niya ang kanyang pagpasa sa NCLEX noong March 27, 2023.
Anim na buwan ang hinintay ni Carlos bago naaprubahan ang kanyang aplikasyon sa NCLEX kaya minabuti muna niyang magtrabaho sa McDonald’s bilang hamburger flipper.
“Siyempre, when you’re starting again, it’s not always bed of roses. You have to start somewhere before reaching your goal.
“When I started applying for my NCLEX application and I know it’s going to take six months the least, I decided to work for the meantime, and the fastest way is to apply at McDonald’s.
“That was the hardest job I’ve ever had in my life so I really salute the fastfood restaurants crew."
Patuloy ni Carlos, “After that, I worked as a care manager for CareAmerica Homecare Services. I helped assess clients and make a specific care plan for patients.
“On the side, I would do caregiving too if we don’t have available staff. There was a time I helped out a facility with 12 COVID-19 patients, and it was fullfilling on my part.
“After that, I transferred to San Francisco Healthcare and Rehabilitation while I’m reviewing already for NCLEX.
“I’m an infection preventionist and admission coordinator for that facility. I would juggle studying and working at the same time,” kuwento ni Carlos tungkol sa mga naging trabaho niya sa Amerika habang hinihintay niya ang pagkakataon na makapagsulit para sa NCLEX.
Noong nakaraang taon, naudlot ang pagkuha ni Carlos ng NCLEX dahil sa pagpanaw ng kanyang ina na si Lilia Morales na isang malaking dagok sa buhay niya kaya bumalik siya sa Pilipinas.
“The unexpected happened when my mom died last year [September 2022]. I had to fly back to the Philippines and I had to cancel my NCLEX schedule because I was mentally wrecked," salaysay ni Carlos.
Masakit man ang nangyari, nagpursige si Carlos na matuloy ang kanyang NCLEX noong January 2023 dahil ito rin ang pangarap ng namayapa niyang ina.
“When January 2023 came, I took the NCLEX because in my heart, I know that this is what my mom wanted for me, to finish and achieve my goal.
“Finally, I took it last March 27 and I passed it,” ani Carlo.
Komportable na ang pamumuhay ni Carlos sa Amerika pero hindi pa niya lubusang tinatalikuran ang entertainment industry.
Kasama sa mga plano ni Carlos na bumalik sa Pilipinas dahil sa kanyang proyekto bilang direktor ng Wild Boys na Pinoy version ng Hollywood movie na Magic Mike.
Hindi baguhan si Carlos sa paggawa ng mga pelikula dahil siya ang direktor ng mga indie movie na Piring, Latay, at Rolyo.
Read: Carlos Morales, naghahanap ng aspiring actors para sa Magic Mike-inspired movie