One year (special blog edition)

Nostalgic/reminiscing mode...

Wow time flies! Can you believe it, it's already been a year today since I've graduated and been out of school!

Dati isa lang akong hamak na estudyante, trying to survive nursing school...sleepless nights of studying, never-ending research papers, presentations, clinicals, skills lab, finals overnight studying, intense stress! etc etc.

There were even times I thought I will not make it through. Haaaay...

Semester 4 - MedSurg Clinical

Semester 5 - Brain trauma/Rehab

Semester 6 - OB/Pediatrics

Semester 7 - Public health/Community clinical

and Psych clinical

and Semester 8 - Preceptorship

and the Semester 8 graduating seminar class

These are my batchmates na may kanya-kanya na ring mga buhay ngayon. I wonder where the others work now. Buti naman some of them, I still have contact through facebook/myspace and our yahoogroup na ako rin ang nagmo-moderate.

And of course...

I remember the GRADUATION, May 24th, 2008, It's been a year ago from today. Back then, it was the happiest day of my life! This was when I'm one step away from being an RN. I finally made it! :)

The event made it even more special because I sang the National Anthem. :)

And I love seeing my name in the slideshow during the ceremony.

and celebrated the special event with the most important people in my life.

My classmate/friend Leah is now my coworker (and ex-roommate). How interesting di ba? Who would've known our friendship is gonna take us to another level.

After the graduation ay umpisa na ng madugong pagre-review para sa NCLEX boards...studied my-ass-off all day long.......2 months rin akong nagdusa dito, hehehehe...

But all the hardwork and patience has its rewards when I PASSED the NCLEX the first try! The computer shut-down at the minimum 75 questions pa, thank God! I can't imagine staying in the exam room completing the whole 275 questions.

Woot! And I officially became a...

Then started looking for a job that was craaaazy! Started attending job interviews but has gotten rejected left and right. Major reason is the bad economy that is still happening until now.

Even got offered a job all the way at Carlsbad, New Mexico with Leah. But fortunately I turned it down! Yes I'm so glad I turned it down. There's more to offer coming right up..

Although it was tough looking for a job right after post-NCLEX life, I'm happy that I got a job in the unit of my dreams, the Obsetrics/Mother-Baby! It officially makes me a mother-baby nurse.

However this welcomes a new start in my life because as the fortune cookie says it at that time, "There are big changes ahead for you."

As we all know, the economy has been a big factor why there aren't any available jobs in the bay area where I live. Doors opened and I had to move away from home to work in Santa Maria.

This welcomes my independence, and I'm truly loving every minute of it. No rules to follow, I have the privacy and freedom to do what I want. At least I'm doing very good at it. I've never known I could be this strong away from my family. Being independent made me discover something more about myself.

Though sometimes I get sad missing my loved ones, and of course, my pom-chi Mikey, it's different kind of "happy" being an independent person that I thought was just so impossible before.

Working as an RN...

Now I'm in the real world. It's still stressful, but in the different kind of intensity. More responsibilites I have to face now and just trying to survive every shift protecting my license. 'Cause you know, whatever I do, my license or my "ass" is on-the-line.

I admit though, I love this feeling of working and going home without worrying to study in any exams or doing any homework or papers. I love working and of course making money! :)

One year after, I can't totally call myself a "new grad" anymore. :D

It just takes a moment for a little reminiscing to appreciate all the little blessings that came my way, one year after I'm out of school.

And I thank God for all the blessings. :)