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Binyag

In Filipino culture, there is this fascinating response to someone bringing a brand new object or wearing a brand new piece of clothing. We “christen” a new pair of shoes by stepping on it, or a new phone by dropping it, whether or not by accident, in Tagalog, we call this “binyag“. A new hospital building might be a bit too big to “christen”, but it was no problem for me and my groupmates as we…

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Identity Crisis

“Did you do your best?”, she asked. Dr. FV is my Obstetrics 2 professor, I messaged her the day before to inquire about my class standing, I found the subject quite tricky and I wanted to know how I did in the Finals. I would dismiss her words as empty reassurance for another faceless medical student, but it was a question that I needed to ask myself. I am now in my third year of medical school…

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Decluttering For Peace

On the first day of my internship, the outgoing intern taught me the first thing an intern should do when they get in their station: deck. Decking is the beautifully intricate art of wiping the workstation with bleach, throwing out the waste, refilling the pipette tips, and basically just preparing the station for the new shift. It allows better workflow and decreases any delay in specimen…

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November Musing

At twenty, I thought I reached the end of my life. I was so close to God, I thought I understood all aspects of love, and I thought it was the end. I thought to myself, “I’ve learned the lesson if life, this must be the end”, but deep inside I still knew there must be more to learn, and I was terrified of what it could be because I was afraid that it could pull me away from Him. At twenty, I…

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Midday Musings

You will never believe anyone when they tell you how capable you are, nor will you genuinely blush from someone else’s compliment, but your heart flutters when I reassure you that I would stay when everyone else goes. I imagine what people would say when I tell them you are the one I choose, for there is no greater comfort than the silent walks we took in the streets half-consumed by dark weeds,…

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Acceptance

Thumbs graze the back of my hand as the third rainfall of the day begins. It could be something, and although it stings to think about it, it could just be another lesson to learn; either way, I’d still look back at this taxi ride with gratitude. I will not over-romanticize the rain, nor will I despise Red King ramen, for we will let things happen as they happen, and let things go as they go. I…

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Your Time is Limited

Your Time is Limited

I could die tomorrow, on Monday next week, or next year. In a few months, my eyesight could start deteriorating, followed by an excruciating headache, then a diagnosis of cancer and how much time I have left to say goodbye to the people I value. When I am on that death row, what would I prioritize first? If it’s something sudden, what would I regret not doing as my soul sits in the purgatory? I…

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Love and Sherlock

“But love is an emotional thing, and whatever is emotional is opposed to that true cold reason which I place above all things.” -Sherlock Holmes, The Sign of the Four Welcome to day one of writing every day to clear my thoughts instead of searching for something to distract myself with. I’ve been sitting in my bed all day for the past few days, reflecting on the triviality of romance, until I…

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The Day I Almost Killed a Patient

The Day I Almost Killed a Patient

Every week is Hell Week in medical school, but one particularly stood out for me in Year 2, the first week of June 2022. After being bombarded with quizzes, exams, cases, and research, my classmates and I sat in front of our laptops one humid June afternoon to discuss the final case we had for Pathology. It was a case of a woman in her fifties who presented with pleural effusion and ascites.…

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Reflecting On Sophomore Year

Reflecting On Sophomore Year

Before the start of sophomore year, I made a promise to my 23-year-old self. “This is your year, work harder and be better”, I told myself after a subpar academic performance in freshman year. The first few months were good, I studied, but for some reason I still wasn’t getting the grades that I wanted, there was this invisible roof holding me back, I was still doing something wrong. A few weeks…

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Meditation Day 1

I am back to writing after months of neglecting my little blog. Truly, routine and structure is required in order for one to make the most of each day. Today I shall reflect on the relationship of luck and preparation. In Meditations, Marcus Aurelius writes “The fortunate person is the one who gives themselves a good fortune.”, and it’s true, there are people out there who are actual lucky…

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Girlbossing To Stability

Next week will mark my month-long instability in academics, physical health, and life in general, that is, if I do not take control of the situation. As of this writing, I have made zero progress in my exam tracker, I’ve over-involved myself in politics (not that it’s wrong, it’s just gotten to unhealthy levels), and I’ve over-invested time in a random person I met on the internet. All of these…

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Tired

I have to write this because I need You. I have been so far away from You and I didn’t even realize it, thinking that I can do it all on my own but I can’t. I don’t know how many times I have to learn and re-learn the lesson that only You can provide me with the strength I need to power through every obstacle that stands in the way. Now I sit here, completely tired and empty, drained of all hope…

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I am taking a quick break tonight to write this blog post. I was reading the case that we have for Pathology, it’s about a patient who presents with jaundice. Months before admission, she had non-productive cough with undocumented fever and night sweats. I am not going to ask you to figure out the diagnosis, I’ll just give it to you now, it’s actually a case of subcutaneous panniculitis-like…

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Overthinking again

Must you overanalyze everything? The world continues to turn, nature continues to function, everyone else continues on with their lives, while you are stuck. You are stuck thinking about things that you cannot change, things that you cannot control. Ask yourself, is getting upset over this petty little issue worth the time and effort you could spend doing things that matter? Or perhaps you do…

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Top 3 Productivity Tips for Medical Students #shorts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0eE9z4CDDk

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Top 3 Productivity Tips for Medical Students #shorts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0eE9z4CDDk