Pangarap na hindi sinukuan, natural na mapagod pero magpapahinga lang pero never susuko sa pinangarap na maging. Marahil ito ang salitang maaring idikit sa isang inang napagod at nagpahinga ngunit muling binalikan ang pangarap at sa kalaunan ay nakamit na ito.
Ang kwento ng isang nanay na sa kanyang edad na 55-taon gulang ay nakapasa sa licensure exam at ngayon ay ganap ng RN o registered nurse. Kilalanin natin si Jean Billones Corillo at ang kanyang naging istorya kung paano inabot ng ganun katagal para maging isang ganap itong nurse.
Ibinahagi ng proud daughter na si Anne Franceine Corillo sa socialmedia ang tagumpay ng kanyang ina. Kwento ni Anne 30 taon ang inabot bago makuha ng kanyang ina ang pangarap na maging isang ganap na nurse. Graduate sa kursong nursing ang kanyang ina tulad niya. Ngunit taong 2006 matapos ang ikalimang kabiguan sa licensure exam hindi na umano ipinagpatuloy ni Jean ang inaasamasam na pangarap.
Huminto ito at sinabi sa sarili na baka hindi para sa kanya ang bagay na ito, kaya naman minabuti niyang itigil na lamang ito at mag focus na lamang sa itinayo nitong tindahan. At dahil na rin malaki noon ang gastos sa mga pagrereview sa pagkuha ng pagsusulit minarapat na lamang ni Jean na hindi na ito ituloy. Sa mahabang panahon hindi na rin umano naisipan pang balikan ni Jean ang pagrereview dahil na rin sa mga anak at bunsong anak na nag-aaral din ng nursing sa kasalukuyan.
Ngunit laking gulat ni Jean ng tanungin muli ito ng kanyang anak na si Anne na isa ring nurse sa ibang bansa. Sasagutin ng kanyang anak ang mga gastusin sa pagkuha nito ng exam, hindi na nagdalawang isip si Jean sa sinabi ng anak agad nitong inasikaso ang nasabing pagrereview.
Kalaunan sa madaling salita nito lamang Mayo 2022 nakuha na Jean ang minimithing pangarap na maging isang ganap na nurse. Matapos ang anim na take sa exam at sa mahabang panahon na pag-iintay, nakamit din ni Jean. Hindi man agad-agad nakuha din ito sa tamang panahon. Marahil may purpose ang Diyos kaya nangyari ang mga bagay na ito.
Samantala silipin ang galak na galak na post ni Anne sa socmed kung saan umabot na sampung libo ang nagbahagi ng kanyang istorya at libong reaksyon mula sa mga netizens na nakabasa sa kanyang istorya;
“I grew up seeing my nanay fail several times. I grew up knowing my numbers well. I knew it by heart. Seventy five is a pass. Below that is a fail. Maybe that’s the reason why I always strive to excel in my academics. Excellence means I get line of 9s. I used to wonder when I was little, “Pwedi ihatag ko nalang iban ko nga grades sa school pangdugang sa board rating ni nanay?”.
My nanay stopped on her 5th try— putting an end to her RN dream last 2006. She believed it wasn’t for her. It always cost her a lot. The review. The examination. And everything in between is so expensive. I can still remember how she waited for the published newspaper the following morning only to face endless frustrations. Another failure. I was nine years old and in fourth grade that time.
She stopped taking the examination for nurses but she never stopped acting like one. I’ve been taught to use a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope since I was six. I knew systolic and diastolic since I was in grade school. Few years back, there was an emergency childbirth in our barangay. Legally speaking, home births are no longer allowed in the Philippines but my nanay can’t take seeing the woman in agony without helping her. She delivered the baby safely before help arrived.
Until recently, my nanay decided to take another shot. She believes that there’s no age limit for our dreams and aspirations so we supported her. My younger sister booked the earliest possible NLE date. She was quite hesitant at first because she thinks she needs more time but we told her that if she fails again this time, she could at least try again next time.
My nanay will soon be taking her oath as a registered nurse at the age of 55. It took her 30 looooooong years to get that RN after her name. It’s been long overdue, yes. It’s even older than me. She earned her bachelor’s degree in 1992 and qualified in 2022.
Never stop trying even if the Universe tells you otherwise. Do it for yourself and you’ll have no regrets. Finally, she’ll soon get rid of our sari-sari store and retire as a tindera.
Salamat Ginoo! Indi gid matakos ang amon nga kalipay sa bugay nimo.”