I have been spending the latter part of 2024 in complete disarray. I was in my very first professional job since passing my licensure examination, and I have tried revisiting writing as a hobby, yet I felt like I was overly exhausted.
However, I cannot deny that 2024 has been one of my best years. As 2025 now stands in welcome, I hope this will be a fresh canvas for me while I reflect on the excitement and hardships of the past year. I celebrate those milestones and aim for new ones this 2025.
A Journey of Dedication
I think that every year is a journey, but 2024 was extra because it was the year that I finally had to face the challenges of the physician licensure examination. Taking the exam was an extended journey, and I have previously talked about the challenges of being a constant flunker and who I can only describe as an average student.
My long path started in college as I tried to wrestle with my heart and finally decided to pursue my dreams of being a healer. Surprisingly, I also got an NMAT score that could place me in the medical school I wanted.
The path to becoming a licensed physician was not just about the hours spent studying or the stress of the exams; it was a journey of dedication, resilience, and personal growth. Reflecting on this achievement, I’m reminded of the countless mornings I started with music that energized me (like those uplifting PPop tracks) and the nights where I found solace in melodies that calmed my nerves before another day of study or work.
I also got to explore PPop or Philippine Pop (Pinoy Pop) last year, owing to this genre’s lively and inspiring sound that continues to help me in my daily living. It helped me navigate my first job, a post in a rural health setting catering to emergency cases.
Despite the challenges, 2024 was full of lessons and inspiring episodes that I will surely treasure for many years.
Gratitude for Support
The milestones I conquered weren’t reached alone. I am immensely grateful to my family, friends, and even the music accompanying my journey. Their support was like the rhythm that kept me going, pushing through the most challenging times. This year, I want to start by acknowledging everyone who has been part of this chapter – from those who cheered me on to the artists whose music was the soundtrack of my study sessions.
I will always find solace in having a supportive wife who keeps pushing me to my limits. We’ve been together for years, even before we wed, but she has been my constant inspiration. My success would be naught without her.
My friends, whom I met in medical school, helped me significantly last year. I have been suffering from financial setbacks, and they have been there as far as paying for my review expenses. I would not be here today without them with their support for all aspects of my life.
My mentors, both teachers and friends, became instrumental in my journey. I could not mention them one by one, but their words of encouragement and pats of inspiration made it all possible. Even my review center teachers have been supportive all the way.
I spent the latter part of last year exploring a new music genre that I would not enjoy even months before. Though I started listening to BINI’s ‘Karera’ during my review period, I began to delve deeper into PPop while working. I could make it through the year thanks to BINI, ALAMAT, G22, KAIA, VXON, AJAA, Gl4ddyy, and all the other PPop artists.
Looking Forward with Hope
Entering this new year, I carry forward not just the title of a physician but the lessons learned, the friendships forged, and the personal growth experienced. Each day now is an opportunity to apply what I’ve learned, to help others, and to continue learning. The new year is about new resolutions and continuing to build on the foundation laid last year.
I still think about the years that I was a leader of our church. I have started revisiting my faith and want to explore what it means to me. I never lost my faith anyway, but I experienced what most would describe as faith deconstruction. Though I think I’m on a different path, I hope that I will get to meet expectations this year.
After passing the boards, I was given a job that honed me into the physician I am today. Unfortunately, I had to cut that journey short. I am gearing for a different path and hoping to share it with you here.
New Beginnings
I often think the phrase “new beginning” is redundant, but it gets ahead of me. My favorite line in BINI’s ‘Karera‘ is: “Ang pagsimula muli ay isang tagumpay na,” which emphasizes that beginnings could be done anytime. It also shows that there are ‘old beginnings,’ something I understand as something that could happen again.
Yet, 2025 would be a good way to start ‘new beginnings,’ with an emphasis on the plural word. I wish I could do these:
- Cultivate Gratitude: Daily, I will remind myself of the blessings, big and small, that life brings. I do feel that I need to do this more often to be more at peace.
- Embrace Challenges: Every challenge is an opportunity to grow, much like how I grew through my licensure preparation. This would also dictate how I plan to work on new things, keep this website afloat, and see my music appreciation grow, especially with PPop.
- Continue Learning: Medicine is an ever-evolving field, and so am I. The journey doesn’t stop with an examination passed; it evolves with every patient I meet. I started my journey as a doctor-writer in 2024 and intend to expand on this goal. With gratitude to my patients, I wish to work on their stories and inspire others as we all try to face this challenging world.
As the song ‘ABKD‘ said, “lakad pasulong” lang.