Part III - Road to Board Exam #StruggleIsReal

My Journey to RPh

Part III - Road to Board Exam #StruggleIsReal

After getting our diploma, it doesn't end just there. The struggle continues. The struggle is real. 😢

You'll say to yourself, "Why? Why did I took a course that has a board exam?" I should be working already like what the other graduates are doing.

But I know everything happens for a reason. And that everything will be worth it! *positive thinking*


A few weeks after our graduation, our class at the review center started. The board exam was set on June 2016. But I decided not to take it just yet. I decided even before I graduated that I will take it some time. I feel I wasn't ready yet. And I wasn't serious in attending classes. I sometimes don't go to classes if I feel I just don't want to go or if I woke up late. (My instructors will kill me if they'll read this. Haha. 😂)


Weeks before the 1st batch of our review classes (for January 2017 baord exam) started, I started to get serious with studying. I memorized the periodic table of elements, some important pointers for Module 1, and studied other subjects that has few coverage than other subjects. But after a few weeks, I got tired and stopped studying. I still go to classes but a little the same way I do back in batch 1. I also wrote down some notes and pointers to remember on a manila paper. I posted it on our wall where I can see it always. I only finished 3 subjects for this though. Haha. Yeah I always see it but I don't really read it. Ssssh! Hahaha 😂


On the second batch of our review classes, I attended only a few classes, just those subjects I really had a hard time. (Wait! I find ALL of the subjects hard! Hmmm.. Scratch that! "subjects I really had a HARDEST time" That's better. Haha.). I decided to do some self-studying and read PACOP questionnaires. Then procrastination happened again. 😭😭😭


On the last batch of our review, I decided I should take this seriously. I only had two months left. The board exam was set on January 2017. BUT! It was moved to March 2017! And because of that here goes my mind saying again, "Nah! It's fine you still have four months to study!" I am definitely lazy! I'm sorry! 😢

A month left before the board exam that's when I finally started reading again - at least 1 subject a day. But I was just reading not studying. Reading and studying are two different things. Haha. Though at least it helped.
I was actually reading it faster than I should. Because I was thinking if I finish this one subject already I can get to sleep at last. Hahaha.


I know that most of the students can relate that notes, reviewers, and subject books are the most effective way to make you sleep. Hahaha.


A few days before the exam, others will be definitely relaxing their minds, but it wasn't for me. I read 2 whole PACOP questionnaires (except for calculations, and for Module 1 which I finished already before) for the 5-6 days (I think?) left. 

I don't know, my mind functioned better when it's stressed and when I cram. Skills I developed back in college days. Hahahaha. 😂
And I am a fast reader because I am used to of reading (not subject books but novels, hahaha).


But... Please! PLEASE! PLEASE! Don't be like me! Haha!
I am not a good example. Haha. This may work for me but maybe not for everyone. People are different in some ways.
You should find the best and effective studying technique for you like using highlighters - it's effective for others but not for me though.

The cramming and reading of notes from review classes, different reviewers and PACOP questionnaires actually did helped me.

I know and I admit that I was not that ready and fully-equipped to take the board exam. But I feel I should. I don't want to wait anymore.

People around me don't want to wait anymore. The pressure is clouding my mind. People saying (demanding?), "You should pass", "For sure you will pass, you're smart", "I expected for you to pass", "You should ace the exam" and many more pressuring lines. I'm thinking "What if I can't ace the exam?", "Is passing enough for them?", "What if I can't ace the exam and I didn't pass as well?"
I was definitely under a lot of pressure back then. Almost made it to the point that I don't want to see those persons back then. I was hurt. Really hurt. They know that everything was not easy. The only things I want to hear from them was "Good luck!" and "God bless", nothing more. 


But what is done is done. Haha. 😂


So, I took the board exam. I know I should give it a try. I will never know what will happen unless I try. If I fail, I know in myself that I have a lot of shortcomings, that I have no one to blame but myself.


But I'm glad I grabbed the chance.



My greatest weapon for that battle was my faith in the Lord. Prayers definitely helped. (I will share to you the churches and prayers sanctuaries I have been in the next part of my blog. 😇)

I prayed that God will guide and help me, and that he will keep me calm all throughout so that I will not panic and forgot everything I have studied. I did feel nervous but not the way I expected it to be. My mother said that it didn't showed that I was nervous that I was calm and she's even more nervous than I am.

So yeah...

Thank You so much Lord! You're the best as always! 😇👼