DL Frustrations

This was supposed to have been posted a week ago, when I got my class cards... but I had to stop myself from going online for personal reasons.

BSN 1, 1st sem
I managed to get a cumulative GPA of 92.30 (that's a 3.10, 4 being the highest) but I didn't get to be in the DL (dean's list) due to our English prof. She really gave low grades! I tell you, never in my life have I gotten lower than 92 for English, not once! And then she comes and I get an 83 for my prelims, an 85 for my midterms (consider the fact that I've alrerady been given +2 here), and a 91 for my finals! I think I've only managed to get that 91 because I managed to "fight" with her inside the classroom, correcting the wrong grammar she was teaching us! I don't remember what the excat statement was but I remember Bea correcting the prof first (as my seatmate, Fran & I were discussing her mistake). I didn't notice Bea was already speaking up but Fran pointed it out to me... so we were listening to the prof & Bea argue. Our prof just wouldn't give in to her mistake so Fran started to join in the argument. I didn't really want to argue so I let Fran and Bea do the talking themselves (we had the same point anyways). But still, his (Fran's) arguments were also not being considered by the teacher. It was 2 against 1 and she still wouldn't listen! It was then that I really began to lose my temper! I stood up for what was right! (hehe... dramatic). By the time I started to speak up, I remember everyone in class saying "uy, ma'am, si Femi na 'yan... si Femi na 'yan.." (thank you classmates for believing in my knowledge THAT much!Ü)... after about 5-10 mins. probably, the prof finally stopped to think of the thought of the sentence. And, she didn't want to admit she was wrong! We three were discussing among ourselves...what?... so we won?... we were right!... is she wrong?... The prof approached us when practically everyone had left the classroom & said in a whisper, "you were right." "WHAT???", I asked her (we really couldn't hear her with how soft she was talking)... I did kind of hear what she had said but I wanted her to say it loudly and accept her mistake. Sadly, she just repeated her statement in a soft tone... quite louder than before but still too soft to be heard well by us three.
Still, although I got a 91 for my finals in English, that's only an 86 for the average... we need (at least) a 2.5 (87) per subject (and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75) to be in the DL.


BSN 1, 2nd sem
I managed to get a cumulative GPA of 92... but sadly, Filipino got me this time. I got an 86 there. It's such a spoiler! I got 3's for all my other subjects and only 2.25 for Filipino! Although, there's nothing I can do to complain though. That's my normal grade actually for Fil, for my whole life! I never got line of 9's in Filipino (except last sem when I miraculously got a 94... although I think that's just because the teacher was just being kind on me). I just feel really bad that if I had only exerted a little more effort (I actually, literally failed Fil midterm exams with a 73), I probably would have gotten that much needed 1% and I would have been in the DL. Blame me and my hatred for studying.
All the rest of my grades are okay tho...my next lowest is 91 (English2 & SocioAnthro)... followed by a 92 (Biochem), then a 93 (Bio & Logic - happy to say I got a 97 for my finals in Logic), got a 94 in InfoTech, ... and my highest is a 97 for PE2 (Ballroom Dancing)... although I don't really value that THAT much cos it's just a minor subject with 2 units, tho I admit it does help pull up the cuGPA. I just wish that 97 was what I had gotten for Biochem cos I really ove that subject & besides, it's composed of 4 units! =)

The Best Comment Ever (well, for me at least)

I've just finished packing for tomorrow's overnight and I still can't get that comment out of my mind. It was from my Biochem prof.

As our Biochem period was about to end today, she said something on how she always noticed that I seemed to be the only one really serious about note-taking & how I always seem to take note of every little detail. Hey, what can I say?! I enjoy the subject especially since, as my prof says, it's like a mini-medicine course. And, yeah, I do enjoy note-taking (cos it makes you look really smart & responsible) but I never really actually make use of those notes. Anywayz, back to the story. My prof suddenly told me: "You know, you'd make a good doctor. Why don't you consider taking up medicine?" I was so shocked (and touched) by what she had said! So, yeah, I ended up telling her that THAT was actually my plan.. and she got all happy/excited/ecstatic... whatever you call it. She then said: "Really? That's good! Good for you! Go for it! You'll definitely make a good doctor..." blah blah blah blah blah...

That conversation gave me something to smile about for today. Actually, it's not just a smile.. there's a huge grin plastered on my face right now. hihi... =)

Biology just made my day

Earlier, our group had to present a skit on the bod's immunity to pneumonia (the bacteria-caused disease assigned to our group). It was too bad for us (and some other group) cos the skit was supposed to be due last Friday but due to lack of time, the last two groups weren't able to perform. It was unlucky since the standards the teacher set for today's skits were much higher (she was easy on those who presented Friday). I had seriously expected a grade of 84% but turns out, we got a grade of 99%! All that thanks to the creative mind of Althea!Ü
After the skit, our midterm grades were flashed up front. For those who aren't aware, I haven't attended Biology class at all duriong the midterms, and I didn't even bother to pass any bonus projects given. All I passed where whatever requirements were given (and of course, the exam). Surprisingly, I still managed to be one of the top in class, I got a 99% (got a 90% for the prelim, the highest that time). My friend, Ge-An (whom I've also influenced on not attending Bio classes any longer) got to be the highest.. she got a 101%! wooo! Go Ge-An!Ü She did pass this bonus on the DNA Structure... but who cares! galing pa rin nun!

So, if any of you hesitate on cutting class (especially Bio, where attendance isn't counted), take it from us! We didn't attend even one Bio class (except probably if there were quizzes) and we still managed to be the highest ones!Ü

Pressures

TEACHERS' NIGHT
Last Friday, 23 Feb. 2007, was a very special day for our college professors. In the evening, we had this program were various students prepared song/dance numbers to give tribute to the teachers.
I was one of those who was included in our batch's presentation number. Ives was the one in charge of planning everything out and she had prepared some poem to be read by a few people & after, a song would be sung. Ives has been forcing me to join them in singing YOU (by The Carpenters) but I had strongly refused since I didn't want to stay in school till late evening (especially since Fridays are my busy days). Alas, we were required to join, so I decided to sing with Ives & the gang (on the condition that I'm alto). I made this decision only on Thursday, and performance was on the next day. Somehow, we ended up practicing in Shell Select. woo! how humiliating!
Friday came, and I've found myself crammed up in my schedule. The only meal I got to eat for the day was lunch (composed of fish, banana, and a glass of milk).
Sadly Fran didn't sing with us during the performance. It's such a waste cos he really is so good. Plus, di ako nawawala pag nandun xa, madaling mahanap ang tono. I even made this descant for the 1st stanza but I ended up not doing it cos it clashes with the way Izzy sings (not classical).. so scrap that. To make things short, practices turned out to be great (especially on that morning's practice with Ives, Jessa, Faith, Alyanna & Fran) but in the actual performance, nagkalat kami! un na un!

Med Mission
Another thing worrying me (and causing me pressure) is this Med Mission that Carisse and I are planning. It's going to be held on the 17th of March, a Saturday (just 3 Saturdays from now, to be exact). Yet, we still don't have any doctors to assist us! oh man!

Others
Yes, there are other things that are pressuring me lately but they're the ordinary school requirements such as reportings, projects, and formal lab reports. So, it's nothing quite unusual except that there are a lot of them lately.

Time Goes By... So Slowly

I don't know why but it seems as though time really passes by so slowly recently. Yeah, I know, midterms are coming up next week and we've got a TON of requirements needed to be submitted before next week's exams (not to mention Formal Lab Reports and the PE Midterm Exam this week). It just seems as though it took forever for those exams to finally be here. Although, it IS possible that it's only me. My BioChem prof has been constantly reminding the class of how swift the second semester is gonna be (and I certainly don't agree with her).

So, now, I find myself blogging again, after such a long time. A lot has happened over the time that has passed and I don't know why I haven't been writing any posts. Right now, I'm blogging just to get away from doing my Formal Lab Reports... taking a breather.

Why don't I take this opportunity to write a movie review on a film I saw during SocioAnthro class last Tues., 23 January 2007. The movie was entitled The Notebook. We saw it in connection to our lesson on marriage. I was kind of excited at first since a lot of my friends have already been telling me of how it was such a wonderful movie and I was finally going to be able to see it. Alas, as the movie progressed, I found myself eagerly awaiting the end. I found the plot to be pathetic! I didn't find it romantic at all. At the point were the story finished & the granny remembered her life story, I thought that was the end of it all. FINALLY! But I was so wrong... There was still more to come as some twist ruined my glorious moment. Granny gets caught in her disease and forgets everything again... DARN! That was all I could say. Finally, the real ending came where the couple died together. They lay in a hospital bed, holding each other's hands. HALLELUJAH! The surprise came to me when I looked around the class and saw how everyone seemed to have shed a lot of tears... and I mean EVERYONE! I wish I had cried too, at least that would have meant that I have been touched by the story but NO.... I was the only one in the room with a dry eye. Not even a tiny tear fell. haay. Not a good movie for me.

PHILOSOPHY vs. SCIENCE

All my life, I have constantly valued Science more than anything else. I had always refused to resort to childhood ways (fantasies, imaginations, etc.) which is why majority say that I never had a childhood... and I would be exceptionally proud of that, taking it as a compliment. And now that I'm in college, it all the more shows how dedicated I've been to Science by choosing to be in the field of health care. When I found out that I had an IQ belonging to the upper 2% of the world population, I told my mom about what a waste it would be to NOT become a doctor when I had been blessed to be mentally-gifted.
SCIENCE IS MY LIFE. Never was there a time in my life that I have had a shade of doubt in Science, no way did I dare question its certainties. This was the deadly thing in me, according to Philosophy, for it is when one wonders that one lives his life. Science can stop us to wonder, to experience a state of awe, by making us think that we know all there is to know, by making us rely to much on Universal Truths. I myself very much opposed Philo at first, as it seemed to contradict Science; but nevertheless, I was intrigued by it. Just goes to show how one can stink really bad in something & still learn to love doing it. Yes, at first it did seem like philosophizing was a way of wrecking one's brain but, as stated in our earlier lessons, it's not that bad (and can even be actually fun) when you start to lose yourself in the game, in the music. By following this advice, I got to save my grade... from an 80.83 during the prelims, I managed to get a 90 in my midterms (still don't know what I got in my finals tho). Thanks to Philo, I got to see how little I know of my very own self. I always believed that I was a certain type of person; but now, it seem right to ask myself of how true that really is...for IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A PERSON TO BE WHO IT CHOOSES TO BE. Anytime. Anywhere. At any given situation. Philo has opened my eyes to see how little I know of about the world that surrounds me. It has made me realize that THERE IS MORE TO THE WORLD, TO LIFE, THAN SCIENCE CAN SHOW US. Philo has helped me appreciate life & its intricacies, its complexities. LIFE ISN'T EASY BUT IT IS BEAUTIFUL. Philo has certainly helped me see the world in a new light. This was the beauty of Philosophy for me. I really enjoyed thinking outside the box, and really feel your mind at work. From Philo, I sorta got to see the ill effects of Science on mankind... but still, despite all those negative qualities of Science, I still choose to live my life for it, I still do believe in its powers... I guess this could be equated with LOVE... Choosing to continuously attach yourself to something or someone, to dedicate yourself to it despite all the negatives.
TO DRAW SCIENCE OUT OF ME IS TO DISRUPT MY VERY OWN SELF. Science has become an important part of me that it has caused meanings to stick to me forever, meanings that would define my being...but (as learned in Philo), not completely. My Scientific Attitude is but a glimpse of my being, a bite of it. But I wish to say that somehow, I cannot deny the fact that at some point in time, Philosophy has helped me realize some new things about my self, about others around me, about the world in which we exist.
Now, there's another thing that scares me... the Bible (namely, the Book of Revelations). Many times I have been told that the end times are fast approaching & may even happen in my generation. It is now I see how much Science contributes to that idea through the rapid progression of technology. It is said that there will come a time when we would greatly depend on this chip of some sort (it has already been invented by Science, for those who don't know) for our survival in this world. This chip is said to be the sign of the devil (as stated in the Bible). Each and everyone would be asked to avail of this chip in order to live.... to do otherwise would mean death. SCIENCE vs. RELIGION.

First Nursing Experience

The very last of my final exams were held Wednesday afternoon and after that, I had to finish having my clearance signed so that I can fully enjoy my sem break, without having the hassles of going back to school just to have some faculty/staff sign it. For my very first sem break in college, I got to practice being a nurse in Asian Hospital. How lucky of me! haha. This was because my mom was confined Thursday for an operation she had to undergo on Friday. I was the one who stayed with her the whole time, acting as her private nurse for 48 hours straight. This may not be as easy as you think, guys... although I know it's nothing compared to the real deal which nurses go through. During those 48 hours, I probably had no more than 6 hours of sleep... and with those hours of sleep that I got, never was I in a full, deep state of rest/relaxation. This was because I had to be on constant alert for my mom. I needed to be extra sensitive to every little movement so that I could assist her in whatever she needs, even if it was at 2 or 3 in the morning. I now laugh at that thought as my mom mentioned to me how alert I was. She said that she was already moving really slowly (so that I wouldn't wake up) but still I would immediately sit upright and ask her what was it that she needed.

The thing I enjoyed most was observing the nurses (and doctors, too). I eagerly examined everything that they did.... injection, blood extractions, IV insertions, etc. Too bad I couldn't go in the OR to witness the operation itself. I actually even wanted to go around the whole hospital and observe things but something was stopping me. I was afraid that a nurse/doctor or any other hospital staff might call my attention. A few days back, I even asked Bea if she wanted to come with me so we could go see the hospitals in that area (we both love hospitals, which is why you would sometimes see us walking along the halls of LPDH during breaks) but unfortunately, she had to go to Laguna. Haaay...

Overall, I did enjoy staying in the hospital.... and the nurses assigned to us were kind. There was even this one nurse who sorta taught me how to take the BP using the sphygmomanometer. And, even tho I barely had enough rest, I am not complaining at all... I'm actually rather thankful. I see this experience as an opportunity to prepare myself for real hospital duties in the future....