Dearest friends/ colleagues

Passing the boards is such wonderful experience. So far, it is my greatest achievement........ a milestone in my life. But more importantly it is a blessing! Blessings are meant to be shared with people you care about. Now, I don't have a lavish party...... I'm sorry. But I can share something else. I would like to give some advice and infos. But of course the decision whether to take them or not is yours. I know what I can give or do is not much. But it might help! I really want all you guys to nail this. It felt really good that we passed. But the feeling would have been great if all of us from batch June 2007 who took the exam were able to make it. Hindi maganda sa pakiramdam pag may naiiiwan. So give your best shot and break a leg. I'll be praying for you. GOD bless!


1. Don't just pray! Prove your faith! Show your devotion!

- With an exam that hard......none of us were expecting to pass! Guys, if you want this. You have to show GOD you are truly worthy. Show HIM how deserving you are. Show HIM your devotion. You can't just pray like what most people do every night before they go to bed and then proceed to their usual routine the following day. Go to church for novenas and attend holy mass every Sunday. After all, the holy mass is the highest form of prayer. Have a solemn time with GOD. Talk to HIM alone, feel what your saying. You have to mean it because HE truly listens and HE is going to let you feel it. You have to give something up as an offering. Be good and do what is right. Sometimes doing what is right is the hardest thing to do. But you have to offer your hardships to JESUS. Faith, devotion and sacrifices are greatly rewarded by our HEAVENLY FATHER. Huwag kang magbabago kung kelan lang malapit na ang exam. You can't spend more time drinking, smoking etc. and less time praying. If you can spend more time with your girlfriend or boyfriend. Why can't you spend more time with the only ONE who can make you pass the boards? You cannot do this alone! Kahit gaano ka pa kaka aral, kung ayaw NIYA coz it's not yet time for you to pass, wala ka magagawa! So what is it that you truly want, gimmick or license? You cannot serve two masters at the same time.

- There's a right way to pray alam niyo ba? According to the bible..... after saying your intentions, finish your prayer by saying "I ask this in JESUS name" or "I pray in JESUS name". It was JESUS himself who said "If you ask anything in MY name I will do it." Also when you pray, do not be selfish. Instead, pray for your love ones and those who are in greater need first. When and after praying, you just have to be positive, have faith........believe. Never doubt! What I did when I was self studying is I pray for enlightenment, understanding and good memory before I open the book and read. Then pray again after finishing what I've read, to give thanks to the HEAVENLY FATHER for the knowledge. Believe me it's better than glutaphos!


2. Study as if everything depends on you! Like everyone thinks you're gonna fail and you wanna prove them wrong!

- Study hard! I know I'm not the first person to tell you this. Coz just like a cliche, gas gas na rin to! But I wanna add up that you have to push yourselves further and exceed what is being taught in review centers. Believe me, those people teaching you in review centers don't really know what will come out! And just like you, nangangapa din sila. The wide scope of topics their giving for you to ponder on are merely based on predictions........kaya nga ang dami! And the board of examiners? They really don't want you to pass! They make exams hard on purpose. So huwag na wag kayo magkakamaling maniwala sa sinasabing siguradong lalabas. Aside from that, review centers give stories that are quite convincing.......... pero lahat bola! Tell you what....I've read approximately twelve books. But still, I had a hard time answering the tests. Mas nakatulong pa ung pagbabasa ko non kesa sa final coaching ko sa Gapuz! Don't spend most of your time answering test papers. Spend more time reading books! After all, the test papers they give, sila lang naman may gawa ng mga tanong sa review centers. The questions in the actual boards are very different from them and way harder! What matters is kung ano ang naalala sa napagaralan mo. Don't memorize too much. The board exam is more on analysis or critical thinking. So just when you thought you've studied enough, bare this in mind! It's never enough!!! READ! READ! READ!


3. Have a study habit and find a place conducive for studying!

- Every student has to have his study hour. You have to determine what time your mind is most active...... dun kayo mag aral. Don't let them tell you when to study. Hind tayo parepareho! But you have to clean your study area or your room. The environment or ambiance affects the learning process.


4. Accomplish the requirements and have it filed at PRC asap

- Filing is such a pain in the ass! Pagpapawisan kayo sa sobrang siksikan at haba ng proseso! Nakaksira siya ng concentration kapag malapit na ang last day of filing at hindi pa kayo nakakapag file. It's better to do it early on.


5. Unload your grudges! Bury the Hatchet! Forgive!

- You have to have a good mind set and concentration. Pag wala ka kinikimkim na galit o sama ng loob talagang nakakatulong. May epekto yung pagbabati-bati namin noon. It really helps when all your thinking about is your studies at hindi galit at inis.


6. Don't take too much memory inhancing supplements or vitamins or whatever!

- These supplements are not magic pills or wonder drugs. They're not gonna make you smart in an instant! Kawawa lang ang atay mo niyan. Atay ang nagmemetabolize lahat niyan eh. May mga side effects baga yan! Tatagalugin ko na to lahat para mabilis at worried ako sainyo. May friend na kasi akong nadali yung atay kakainom ng kung ano anong vitamins at supplements. Doctor na nag pa awat sa pag inom! Si Prim daw ang dami ng iniinom, kung ano ano (sabi lang). Eto daw namang si tol Jomz, glutaphos naman kasi daw yun ginamit ko! I took glutaphos and even piracetam pa nga nung medtech pa ko, hindi nung Nursing boards. You know what they gave me every morning? Sakit ulo at pagiging irritable! Yang nootrophil na yan, naglagasan pa buhok ko I remember. I'ts actually psychological yung mga sinasabi niyong uminom kayo at pagkagising nyo ang ganda na ng memory nyo. Hindi overnight ang effect nyan....... matagal talaga. And it's not just days that we're talking about! It's no different from your other vitamins. Niresearch ko na yan before. Bakit pag uminom ba kayo ng vitamin C ngayon, kinaumagahan malakas na immune system nyo agad? Nangyari yon kasi naniwala kayo na may epekto............ ung pagiging positive nyo yun kaya retaintive memory nyo agad! So if you believe na kaya nyo magagawa nyo. But then again kayo pa rin masusunod........... advice lang.


7. Think about those who love you! Especially your mama and papa.

- Whenever you lose your drive, you get frustrated and you are on the verge of giving up.......... think about all their sacrifices and the risks they took for you. How much they believe in you. And ask yourself what you have given them in return? How you can give back in the future by fufilling your dreams?



BY FRANCIS