Chapter 4

Maaga akong nagising dahil Lunes na ngayon and definitely, today is the first day of our Work Immersion. Kahapon nga ay nagpalitan kami ni Shane ng messages. I can say that she is also excited like me.

Having Uncle Danny with me, idiniretso ako nito sa school. Hindi pa kasi kami pwedeng dumiretso kung saan kami mag-iimmersion. Kailangan pa nila kaming i-orient saglit bago nila kami papupuntahin sa naka-assign na agency/company para sa amin.

Nang mapansin kong malapit na kami sa campus ay isinuot ko na ‘yung white lab coat ko.

“Uncle, bagay pong tignan sa akin?” tanong ko kay Uncle Danny.

Ngumiti naman ito sa akin nang makita niya ako sa rear-view mirror. “Bagay sa’yong tignan ‘yang uniform, Megan. Doctor na doctor ka na talagang tignan.”

A smile crept in my lips after hearing that. “Bolero ka, Uncle Danny!” natatawa kong saad sa kanya but that smile slowly vanished because of the reality my family felt towards this dream I’m pursuing. My inner self hopes that my parents would be as proud as how Uncle Danny is to me.

Not wanting to ruin the ambiance, I tried to bring back the big smile I had in my face. I don’t want to start our work immersion with this kind of emotion in my insides. I should be happy and feel excited as I am earlier.

That’s right, Meg. You can do this! Fighting!

Sakto namang ini-park na ni Uncle Danny iyong kotse. “Good luck, Doctora!” natawa pa ako kay Uncle Danny nang ibaba nito iyong nakakuyom niyang kamao, giving me the fighting hand gesture.

“Fighting, Uncle Danny!” gano’n din ang ginawa ko saka ako bumaba ng kotse.

Nang makapasok ako sa campus, I can see some Grade 12 students scattered in the ground wearing their work immersion uniforms. Magkakaiba pala kami ng uniform. Nakadipende siya sa strand namin.

As for someone who belongs to the STEM strand, our first uniform is black slacks and it’s up to us what to use in our upper since it would be covered with white lab coat. Then the other one is a pair of maroon scrub suits. Salit-salitan namin siyang isusuot.

Shane then arrived minutes before the orientation starts and we exchange words saying that the uniform suits us well, that it looks pretty cool on us. Excitement is written in our faces, not just us but the whole Grade 12 students.

“Good luck, work immersion students!” pahayag ng mga teachers at nagpalakpakan kaming lahat.

They even prayed for us na sana ay maging successful itong magiging experiences namin and they gave us congratulatory messages in advance. Ang marinig ang mga ganoong mensahe sa mga guro namin ay talagang nakakataba ng puso.

“OMG! Ito na talaga!” nagpipigil na tili ni Shane nang makababa kami sa kotse nila. Pinauwi ko na kasi si Uncle Danny at sabi ko ay sasabay na lamang ako kay Shane.

Agad naman kaming sinalubong ng hospital staff. Pagkatapos nila kaming i-welcome ay nagkwentuhan pa kami kasama ang mga ito. Ipinakilala rin nila ang lahat ng staff sa amin pati iyong mga practitioners from different fields. Nagbigay rin sila ng background information patungkol sa hospital for us to have knowledge about the workplace.

Matapos kaming ilibot sa bawat area nung hospital, saka kami in-assign ni Doc. Melanie, training coordinator namin sa may cancer care center. She also interviewed us about our plans and after hearing that we want to become doctors in the future, sabi nito ay bibigyan niya raw kaming chance na makapag-observe sa operating room which makes us excited in no time.

With the help and guidance of Doctor Melanie throughout our immersion, ang dami naming nalaman sa kanya. Na-assign din kami sa magkakaibang area. Be it be in the laboratory divisions, histopathology section, clinical microscopy and even in the chemistry section. We also did blood extraction and many more.

The following days, Doc. Melanie handed us the Laboratory Manual, Methods and Principles for us to discover the different methods and quality controls on every section in the laboratory, and lot of things.

May araw ding pinapayagan kami nitong magfocus sa work files namin at kapag free time namin ay saka kami nag-jojot down ni Shane ng mga experiences at mga bagong kaalaman namin sa aming Work Immersion Handbook.

Having this kind of experience is really really helpful in our part.

Nakakatuwa na nakakalungkot nga lang kasi parang kailan lang ay first day namin pero ngayon ay last day na kaagad namin. If only we could extend the time.

“Congratulations!”

“Hala, thank you so much po!” walang mapaglagyan ang tuwa naming limang magkaklase matapos sabihin iyon ng training coordinator namin pati ng ilan sa mga nurses at doctors na nag-assist sa amin sa loob ng dalawang linggo.

They also prepared some foods for us tapos ay binigyan din nila kami ng certifications. Kung sa iba ay matagal iyong two weeks, para sa akin na nag-immersion sa hospital na ito ay para bang isang araw lang iyon.

For the last time, they gave us messages and they are hoping that in the near future, sana ay may isa raw sa amin na magtatrabaho dito sa hospital soon.

When I got home, I immediately rested in my room. Noong weekends, iyong mga requirements naman ang inasikaso ko. Isusubmit na kasi namin iyon next week. Since I’m free, agad kong inasikaso ang mga iyon kaysa naman sa matambakan ako.

Iyong isa pa nga sa pictures namin wherein I’m wearing my lab coat uniform ay ini-print ko ng wallet size. After cutting it in a photo paper, I wrote something behind it saying, ‘I will make this into reality,’ saka ko iyon idinikit sa harap ng study table ko.

Going back to my immersion reflection, isinulat ko na rin lahat ng mga natutunan ko roon.

I want to use my knowledge and skills in helping people who are in need of my help. I want to change their lives. Hoping that one day, in God’s grace, I will become a successful doctor.

After writing that last paragraph of my work immersion reflection, I lazily laid my back in the bed. Finally, I’m already done with everything.

“Kumusta naman ang work immersion niyo?” tanong ni Ate Trixie nang maabutan niya ako sa loob ng library.

Gabi ng Linggo iyon. Gusto ko lang kasing magbasa ng kung anu-ano, maybe to waste my time in doing something useful dahil wala naman akong ginagawa. I’m bored at all and maybe reading some books will ease me. And I didn’t know that my sister would go here in the library.

Facing her, I gave her a smile. Bringing that up as our topic made me reminisce what we had experienced in the hospital.

“The experiences we had at the hospital were great. Gina-guide kasi kami ni Doc. Melanie. She tells us what we should and should not do in everything lalo na sa iba’t ibang section. I don’t know if it’s only me but I badly wanted to ask for some extension kaso hindi naman kasi pwede,” mahina akong natawa sa sinabi kong iyon.

“But to be honest, having that immersion, I felt like I was a real doctor,” mahaba kong kwento sa kanya.

I don’t know why she brought up this topic pero masaya ako. Kahit papaano, sa paraang iyon ay nagagawa pa rin niya akong kumustahin sa mga ginagawa ko sa school.

Matapos kong magkwento sa kanya, narinig ko ang malalim na pagbuntong hininga ni Ate. Hindi ko nga alam kung para saan ang pagbuntong hininga niyang iyon. Nakaharap lang ito sa isang bookshelf at may bitbit siyang isang libro. It’s something related to her course, I guess.

“That’s good for you,” she plainly answered saka niya isinara iyong libro at lumabas na rito sa library.

When I lose her from my sight, I shrugged both of my shoulders. Ilang minuto ang lumipas, saka ako sunod na lumabas sa library na ‘yon at nagtungo na sa aking kwarto.

“Tapos mo na requirements mo?” tanong ni Shane na nasa tabi ko.

We’re back to school again and what she’s pertaining to is our requirements in our work immersion.

I nodded at her. “Hm, ikaw?”

“I-rewrite ko na lang sila sa handbook. Baka kasi mamali ako kapag diniretso ko roon kaya nagscratch na lang muna ako,” she answered. Natawa naman ako. Ganoon kasi ugali ni Shane. Nag-i-scratch muna siya.

“Iyong mga pictures, ngayong gabi ko pa lang ipi-print. Sa’yo ba?” tanong nito sa akin. Kailangan din kasi naming mag-attach ng pictures sa daily report namin that’s why we had our daily photo documentation during our immersion days.

“Tapos na nga lahat. Kulit mo!”

“Wow. Sana lahat. Pa-share naman po ng kasipagan d’yan,” pagbibiro nito.

“Gagi!” saka kami nagtawanan.

Naging magaan na lamang ang schedule namin sa mga sumunod na araw dahil December na ngayon. Binibigyan pa rin naman nila kami ng activities pero hindi na gano’n kadami.

“Class, the faculty planned to have an Awarding Ceremony for the Work Immersion you did last month. It’s for you to be recognized especially for the effort and for the time you rendered in your specific workplace,” nagpalakpakan kaming lahat sa anunsyong iyon ni Ma’am Teresita.

“Makapalakpak kayo r’yan, lahat ba nakapagpasa na ng requirements? Hindi kayo makakagraduate kapag wala kayong maipasa,” tanong nito dahilan para magtawanan kaming lahat.

Ang ilan kasi sa kaklase namin ay hindi pa nakakapagpasa at sigurado akong sila iyong tinutukoy ni Ma’am. Maloko kasi ang mga iyon to the point na sa tuwing ipinapaalala iyon sa kanila ay puro ‘Ma’am, nakalimutan ko po’, ‘Ma’am, bukas na lang po,’ ang mga sagot nila.

“Janna, magpasa ka na kasi. Ang tamad nito,” pang-aasar ng ilan sa mga kaklase ko sa kanya.

“Baliw! Nakapagpasa na ako kahapon pa. Oy Kyla, sabihin mo kasi kay Ma’am na tapos na ako,” saad nito kay Kyla, secretary namin, na para bang naghahanap ito ng kakampi kaya mas lalo kaming nagtawanan.

“Ay opo, Ma’am. Nakapagpasa na po pala si Janna. Bali kumpleto na po lahat,” sabi nito sa adviser namin.

Though Ma’am Teresita is already at her 40’s, nagagawa pa rin nitong makipagbiruan sa amin. Kung minsan nga ay para bang kaklase lang namin siya especially kapag free time namin but of course, our respect for her is still there.

Our last subject ended with that funny kind of interaction with my classmates together with our adviser.

Like what our adviser told us the last time, nagkaroon nga ng Awarding Ceremony and it will happen today. We, the Grade 12 students were gathered inside the gymnasium.

From this Awarding Ceremony, the first certificate they gave us is the certificate of participation which is kaming lahat ang nabigyan.  May iba-ibang certificate din silang ibinigay and lahat ng natatawag ay pumupunta sa stage for photo documentation.

There’s also the Work Immersion Awardee and I couldn’t believe na ako ‘yung mapipili sa buong STEM strand to think na ang dami namin sa strand na iyon. And what surprised me the most is when they called my name as the Best in Work Immersion. That’s a special award and it’s only me who’s being awarded for it.

“Go na, dali!” Shane slightly pushed me so I could stand.

Nang marinig ko ang palakpakan ng kapwa ko Grade 12 students lalo na noong binanggit ‘yung pangalan ko sa pangalawang pagkakataon ay saka pa lamang ako tumayo at dumiretso sa may entablado. Hindi lang kasi ako makapaniwala.

Ma’am Rina Tadeo, the faculty head, handed me the certificate and a medal. May ibinigay rin siya sa aking small envelope na galing daw sa Glenville Medical Centre kung saan kami nag-immersion.

“Congrats!” sinalubong ako ni Shane na may malaking ngiti sa kanyang labi. “The best talaga ang President namin!” dagdag pa nito.

I can’t help but to smile because of her. I also congratulated her. Ganoon din sa mga classmates namin. We even had our group picture kasama ang adviser namin. Then iyong iba ay nagkanya-kanya ng selfie. Nakita ko pa ngang ni-my day ni Shane iyong isa naming picture sa kanyang messenger at IG account saka niya ako minention.

“I wanna celebrate with you but I really need to go to my sister. Alam mo naman iyon,” she gave a sad smile.

“Ano ka ba, naiintindihan ko naman. Let’s celebrate this weekend,” pahayag ko sa kanya which she nodded.

Shane has a sister. Grade 7 pa lang iyon. Every lunch time, pinupuntahan niya iyong kapatid niya sa room nila para samahan niya. Her sister is an introvert person kaya kailangan niya itong samahan but Shane once told me na kahit papaano ay nakikipag-usap na raw iyong kapatid niya sa iba. Umaasa nga siyang sana ay magtuluy-tuloy iyon which is I think hindi naman malabo.

When Shane left me, saka ko naman hinarap iyong bag kong nasa bleachers. Pansin ko ring kakaunti na lang kaming naiwang mga estudyante rito sa loob ng gym.

I sat at the bleachers. Facing my bag, I took out one of my notebooks. Matapos kong buklatin iyon, hawak iyong mga certificates na nakuha ko ay iniipit ko ang mga iyon doon.

“What are you doing?” nagulat ako sa taong nagtanong no’n. When I faced who spoke behind me, nakita kong si Aldridge iyon.

“Uh, keeping these certifs in my notebook?” patanong kong sagot sa kanya though it’s very obvious what I’m doing.

“Why do you keep them in your notebook? Don’t you want to let your family know the achievements you got? For sure, magiging proud ang mga iyon sa’yo,” Aldridge assumed.

Nakangiting napailing lamang ako sa kanya. “Sana nga. But you see, my family is different. It would be miracle if that happens.”

“What do you mean?” takang tanong nito pero hindi na ako muling nagsalita.

Done putting the certificates I got in between the pages of my notebook, inalis ko naman iyong medal ko saka ko iyon inirolyo at inilagay sa secret pocket na nasa likod ng bag ko.

Zipping out my bag, I stood up but Aldridge took my hand before I could walk pass him. Nakakunot ang noong nilingon ko siya. His hand was still on me.

“Let’s grab lunch.”

“I’m not hungry,” I refused right away. 

“Come on, let’s celebrate your achievement. It’s my treat,” he added.

Sinubukan kong bawiin ang kamay ko sa kanya pero bago ko pa iyon magawa ay nagsimula na itong maglakad dahilan para matangay ako dahil nga hawak-hawak niya iyong kamay ko.

In the end, I had no choice but to be with him... to be with Aldridge.