And it was again a triumph for the College of Nursing of the Davao Doctors College to have these 416 nursing students place themselves a step closer to the culmination of their academic nursing life last 30th of March.
These 416 vibrant nursing students just received their college pins which bears the seal of their alma mater, carrying with them all the teachings it has taught them. They have worn their college rings to further solidify their commitment to their alma mater and the nursing profession. Together with their parents, we have been witnesses to their quest for knowledge and skills until the attainment of these dreams.
On a personal note, I have been proud of this batch for the achievements they have made inspite of changes implemented in the institution. As young as they are, they have also proven that nurses work best even under pressure and works with commitment, competence and compassion.
The Class 2011 was easier to manage considering the number of graduates or nursing students we had previous years. I met again another student whose heart stands for more than just pride for oneself but also for his mother, When Jomer Dalona was in my very eyes, practicing the speech that speaks for all of them..it has given me so much pride knowing that this school has produced such student. I remember Chiara Vergara and Tristan Zamora before, which I had the privilege to train delivering their piece, whose characters made me want them so much to succeed. I rarely see brilliance and humility rolled into one but again, I saw it in my students.
The ceremony was a triumph for the College of Nursing, who has struggled more than what others see, in giving these students what they need. It was a triumph for the clinical instructors who aside from bombarding them of a lot of nursing facts, had to go beyond knowing these students just to understand their ways. In many ways, we have poked our noses even at their personal concerns, just to understand what makes them appreciate what we teach. It is a difficult task managing and teaching 10 students in the area or 50 students in a classroom and ensuring that they have sincerely understood the value of the competency we are teaching. It is a difficult task to set our own personal problems aside to aid perfect strangers in their dreams. We do not teach without caring if our students understood. Nursing is never taught that way, NOT in this institution. Caring for others is best seen in transcending the knowledge.
And as I see the fruits of my own labor and passion, as well my colleagues, I am proud to let them go and reach their dreams. Congratulations to the College of Nursing for the team work and dedicaton. Congratulations to the Class of 2011. The whole journey was not all bed and roses as much as we wanted it to be. But on that day when we saw our students in their gala uniform with pins and wearing their rings, saw them smile and acknowledged our existence -- I could say "I have served my purpose well. ".
Men and women are responding with how the society dictates them when it comes to relationships and marriage. Women, even on a first date, seek in their dates as a permanent partner for life. They presume their date's right away the man of their lives and father of their future child. Women are so hooked to their fairy tales that they dream of a happy ending in most of their dates.
However, man respond in a quite different manner. Most of them, find companion first before commitment. They tend to test the waters first before plunging and committing in a relationship. This is why we see a lot of them only adhering to dates for a long time before committing. And when they finally decide to marry, he is someone seen as losing his freedom.
This scenario may not be true to all men and women, but it gives us vital learning to choose well our partners. Women has to accept that his man is a unique human being. His views on relationship may have stormed from the kind of family he has. Women have to understand the uniqueness of this man and where her man's idea of love and commitment is coming. Assuming right away that her man thinks like she does is very dangerous. It will lead to false assumptions resulting to more problems in the relationship.
Women, has to know if her man respects her need of commitment. These will bring problems for the couples if not resolved. The women will keep being faithful to the relationship while her man remains avoidable to discussions of committing seriously and settling down. If women are into these kind of relationships, the best way is to get out of the relationship, no matter how painful it may seem. The women will always be left waiting and wondering when his man will get the idea of settling down, and this is more degrading and hurting to women.
Getting married will not even answer these problems. Women jump to marrying decisions in the hope of turning their man into a person who finally values commitment. Marrying without reconciling the couple's differences will only give more problems than happiness to the couple. Unless, the couple has a healthy relationship, then they should refrain marrying. Marriage is not something you push to your partner in the hope of having a happy ending with your partner. Marriage is a decision made out of love and readiness to share lives with. Love, trust, honesty, and respect should be the foundation of this union. Couples are suppose to complement each other, and relationships bring out the best in every couple. If the couple is not even ready to talk about marriage, then they should not get married.
If you are in a rocky relationship, reflect on your ideas of relationship. If you are different from your boyfriend, then do not settle your own preferences for him right away. You are worth every love and respect, and commitment. And if your boyfriend is not the type who can give you that, then you have to accept that difference and put an end to the line. Women are stronger individuals that they think they are. If your partner in not giving you what you want then there will always be another person who can give you what you know you deserve.
And a new semester again opens for us...but this time, sadness has finally sank.Twenty three (i think) of the friends left the premises of the workplace for something better or something "breather" for them. And in that 23 individuals are close friends who once in a while, i laughed my hearts out with, raged my anger with and cried my tears as well. I will remember these people who have made my work very seemingly "stress-free" and worthy of being looked forward each day.
Like they say, nothing is permanent in this world...whatever you have now that makes you happy might not be there for you tomorrow. For us who are left, i look back to the reason for staying. I look back still seeing the same reason..the vocation to teach and the comfort of being with people you are happy with. But this reason is to be held real tight for it comes with a financial disadvantage, as much as we don't want to think about it.
But seriously, we are in a new semester hoping to give what is left with us to our students. We continue in our quest to mold young nurse individuals inspite of our own personal turmoils. I look at us and see friends that still make the workplace the best place for my persona. I don't entertain negativism nomatter how strong they are and no matter how apt they are for the moment I do, it will cease everything I have held high for long.
There will always be mixed emotions..now as juggled as ever. I see the same people, and a system bruised and struggling to stand.
I see a community with diverse values but wills to be united ..
I see more people confused as ever but willing to finish the task ....
I see traitors who mask identity to keep their places ......
I see silent audiences who ignore and just work as hard as they can...
I see a system bleeding but holding on to values it has always stood for...
I see good people who brings out the best of what they can do no matter how complicated things are ....
I see a community still faithful to their calling ...willing to battle with the hardships of the coming semester..willing to overcome the differences that prevails..willing to forgive and extend help to each other. I am in a community where everyone continues to complement each other to make the day efficient.
With all the uncertainties of the new semester...we have no choice but to restructure our confidence and values...we just have to ....because this quest is not for us alone..it is for the students who put us in pedestals...who shapes their values by even merely looking at us. It is for them who remains to be the strongest reason for us to stay and continue our vocation.
We will miss the friends who have left the work place.. most of them made the faculty room as lively as ever. We will miss the hands that once in our lives, has held us up and raised our morals. We will miss them who made even the most worse and boring RLE rotation as lively as ever. We will miss them who we talk to out of nowhere just to enjoy the company. We will miss them who were once our allies in bullying others for fun. We will miss them who had great contribution in our competency as nurses, no matter how we deny it or not. This is a peculiar road we travel...and it's nice looking and knowing that we formed friendships along the way.
And with that...we bid them goodbye...and 'til we meet again.
