MY DEFINING MOMENTS ( Elizabeth Anne Yturralde- Medina)
I feel that I have lived a full 35 years and yet there is such a big world to conquer! In this stage of my life there is still a big thirst for learning, enjoying, keeping up with the daily struggles of life and yet I look back and see that a lot has already happened and with the grace of God he has fulfilled most of the grand plan I perceived when I was younger. In my younger years since I was exposed at an early age to the wonderful world of Medicine, it has been my one and only dream. I had an affinity for science and reading , which was a big help with what I wanted to be.. a doctor. As early as kindergarten if people were to ask me what I wanted to be when I grow up the only answer I could come up with was to be a doctor. My mother was of course my greatest influence and Idol because she was a successful Obstetrician-Gynecologist and she was self made. She didn't come from a family of doctors and yet she was determined to be a good doctor. She would often tell me of her struggles in the province. They were a rich now poor later family relying on short term businesses and deals made by my grandfather.
The other apple of my eye was my father, He was a good man, a lawyer by profession, he became a fiscal, but later on he decided to be a government employee and he handled the assessor's office in the City of Angeles. I was told by my mother that my father is a very noble man he was paid very less than what he should have if he practiced his profession. He was anti-corruption and I had fond memories of him taking care of me when I was young I often visited him in the office. My father and mother married late so I was not so fortunate with having trips, outings with my parents since my father was already diagnosed with Chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis when I was growing up. He passed away when I was 9. And even though I was so young then my relatives felt that I should be the one to deliver my family's eulogy to him since I was the closest to him and my mother couldn't deliver our message to the family because of extreme grief. That particular stage in my life was really an eye opener to our family because we suddenly lost our strength, I couldn't get my hugs and songs from my father anymore. There will no more Sundays where we were complete when we hear our mass. The death of my father left my mom a widower at 53 years old. This is one of the first major trials we have encountered in our family and I can say a defining moment in our lives. My brother and I had only our mother to rely on financially, emotionally, physically she was our everything. My mother showed strength, grace and proved that she can raise our family on her own. She worked non-stop and made investments, some of which were successful some not so much but in the end she was able to provide us with education, all the luxuries that she thought were necessary balancing out luxuries that are beyond our means. She continued to flourish in her businesses and practice and she raised us well despite being a single parent.
In my elementary years, I was a consistent honor student always part of the top 5 in my class, I was also very active in extra curricular activities. Teachers would always pick me to join quiz bees, interschool competitions in english, religion, science. I was not very confident, I was a bit shy but I forget that when Im on stage, I was always the one picked to host in programs, angel in the program, muse for my class, a commentator in the mass, I frequently performed ballet, hawaiian, jazz in school programs. I think that helped with my confidence later on. In High school I was still part of the Honors class but I tended to relax with my academics and didn't really aim too much.
I remember my mother talking to me while I was in High school, she was a strict mother but at the same time she still tried to listen to me, she asked me what I planned to take for college, which I answered with anything premed, so she said I should go to her alma mater , University of Santo Tomas. I was a curious eager student thus even if I knew what course I wanted I decided to take the different examinations of the different Universities in Manila, all the universities I applied to fortunately accepted me but I had my eyes on being a pre-med student in UST thus I took up B.S. Medical Technology. After four long years in college again the question is should I continue to pursue my dreams of being a doctor? Applying in UST again was quite a feat we were a graduating class of 300 and there were different courses aiming to be a part of the Medical school of UST which had less than 400 slots. Should I rest and take a vacation or move on and get to pursue my dreams right away. A crossroad I dealt with since my college barkada was cut in half, half made it to UST and the other half didn't make it and went to school in other medical institutions. Fortunately, God heeded my prayer and I was accepted in UST. As a freshman it was a whole new world I made new friends, new classmates, new teachers. It was hard, tedious, challenging and exciting at the same time. Sleepless nights boosted by coffee, group studies, endless handouts, lectures and books filled up my world but to keep me insane I still had my get together with my friends, family which kept me sane throughout my journey in medicine. I was lucky because I had best friends way back when I was in my grade school who are still my best friends until now. They have kept me grounded, happy and rejuvenated when I take my weekend breaks.
Another defining moment was the Medical Board exams, I had a difficult time staying indoors only studying I thought that I wouldn't be able to retain all the information! There were too many books, handouts, tips, sample questions it could make anyone crazy! I had to turn to God to make me centered and focused , I went to novenas and masses at St Jude in malacanang and it always gave me a sense of peace after. The exams went by so fast but still no one really knows if what they answered was the right one, and if the correct answers we made enough to make me pass? Such big questions! Alleluia! With hardwork, determination ans God's grace I passed!
The next step was choosing my career, I originally wanted to become an Obstetrician like my mother but I was skeptical because my mother never was around most of the time because she was always busy, she had so many patients and she was managing the hospital too. So while I was in my clerkship and Internship I leaned towards Pediatrics since I also loved children! So I did some thinking and I decided that my love for children would certainly help if I take up Pediatrics, My mother supported me in my decision and I applied and was accepted in St. Luke's for my pediatric training.
Another pinnacle in my life is my personal life, love life as we call it. During my residency training in Pediatrics I was in a long relationship with a lawyer. It was happy and harmonious but sometimes because he was a strict authoritative figure there were clashes but most of them are fixed and yet some are unresolved. I chose to take a short break from the relationship to examine matters and somehow God brought me to my husband at least that is what I think it is. I have known my husband for years before we were able to go out, we started as aquaintances then friends but we werent in touch for a long time, thus my theory that maybe it was God's plan for me to be with my husband, I am not sure what it was but God paved a way for med to rethink if the lawyer was right for me but somehow my husband made me see that communication was the best key for a successful relationship! That made me choose that I wanted a simple open relationship with no complexities. Communication, our friendship and understanding made the difference. It was a defining moment because I believed that if I would have made a different choice then I might have a different life right now. I am blessed to have a happy loving marriage with three children and I am so thankful that I have made the right choice with God's blessing.
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