Pursuing medical course despite all odds

Taking up Doctor of Medicine entails a lot of sacrifices, sleepless nights, and self-doubts.

 

This was the immediate response of Jaymee Quindara,  26 years old, who leads the pioneer graduates of the MMSU College of Medicine this year.

 

A native of Brgy. Catbangen, San Fernando City in La Union, Jaymee is the son of Jerry and Imelda, who are both engineers by profession.

 

Jaymee wanted to become a medical doctor so that he can take good care of his family and other people. Prior to his dream, he took BS Nursing at the Union Christian College in La Union.

 

"I opted to take up medicine at MMSU, because it was the suggestion of my aunt upon knowing that MMSU produces high caliber professionals," he said.

 

Asked about how he felt after knowing that he was going to graduate as the topnotcher of his class, Jaymee said he was equally humbled and pressured of the honor and that he felt being looked up to by his classmates and the whole MMSU community.

 

"It is a very humbling experience and I am sure it is not only me, but my friends and family as well," he beamed, adding that "what really matters to me and the rest of Class 2019 is that we somehow made it".

 

Jaymee recounted that during his four years at COM, he experienced sleepless nights, and sacrificed his attendance to family celebrations and other important events. He lamented that there was a time when he doubted if he could really make it to the medical profession.

 

"When you are in a medical school, you must read a lot of books. Classroom learnings are compressed in just three years," he shared, admitting that he once doubted his ability to become a good doctor.

 

For Jaymee, the most difficult part of being a medical student is going through clerkship because all the lessons learned in three years must be culminated and applied in the community.

 

"Forgetting some of the lessons is inevitable. As I went through clerkship, I kept asking myself if I'm doing the right thing, if the patients are getting better, and am really helping them," he said.

 

Jaymee admitted that there were times he wanted to give up. However, he always reminded himself of the reason why he wanted to become a medical doctor. 

 

Now, after four years of struggles, Jaymee is graduating with flying colors. His next step after graduation is to go internship, take the Physician Licensure Examination, and go to residency training.

 

"If I become a licensed doctor, I want to stay in the country and work in small communities," he said.

 

Treading the road toward his dream career might be tough for Jaymee, but in the end, he remained focused coupled with patience, strength, passion, and most all, faith in God. 

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