Project 30 Day Blog 7/30

Day 07 - A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

Circa December 2010- C.E. Oathtaking

Let me share to you the message I dedicated during the 60th birthday of the person I look up to.

Dear Tita       ,

Thank you for being one of the most influential person in my life. I am very grateful to have an aunt like you. Thank you for sharing to us not only a house, but a home. I appreciate all the things that you taught to me, from being good at household, to study tips, and more importantly, life lessons. You're indeed a great teacher. Thank you for being an inspiration. I always admire you Tita. Happy happy birthday to you. I wish all the best for you. Good health, good vibes, good life. Stay as wonderful as you are. Have an awesome birthday.

Lovelots,

Maye

My Board Exam Experience: The Judgement

The crazy, happy adventures of a board examinee while waiting for the exam results.

We head to eat lunch after the brain draining exam. When we got home, I felt so tired so it's time for me to relax. I sleep immediately wishing that when I wake up, the list of the board passers were released already. However, I knew it wouldn't happen because the results are expected after 3 days.

Monday, I woke up early and pray. Nervousness runs in every party of my body. I wash clothes, watch television, take a nap, iron clothes, and all.just to keep myself busy. I refuse to arrange my review materials because I want to rest myself from seeing those formulas and. C.E. problems. It actually didn't work because whatever I do, I can still recall the board exam questions. I pray the rosary and attend mass in La Paz Church, I leave the rest to GOD because I know he'll give what's best.

November 23, Tuesday. Two days left of being crazy. It was Ivan's birthday, a classmate who also took board exam. He invited us in his celebration in their dormitory. At lunch time, someone sms me asking where am I, and I was supposed to reply that I am currently in the mental hospital. This 'waiting the results experience' made me insane. When I arrive in dorm, we exchange thoughts and board exam stories. Someone jokingly said 'Pasado ka" pause then 'ba o hindi?' That adds to tension but at the same time it made us laugh. It's also good timing to be with my C.E.mates because being with them just feels so awesome. Plus, we had the same board exam sentiments. I attended mass in Quiapo Church before I went home, talking to GOD gives me good vibes.

Third day of waiting. I never dare to browse the internet ever since. I had this feeling that I might cry whatever the result may be, especially if I don't see my name in the list of board passers. Tita Nida even sms me that they've been waiting for the results since Tuesday and it wasn't release until Wednesday morning. My heartbeat seems to be so fast the whole day. I am my phone from time to time, because I am expecting that the result will be sms to me. GOD is really my best companion especially in times like that. I pray the rosary and attend mass again in La Paz.

Though it is possible that the results may be release on the next day because it's already late night, I'm still expecting to receive a message that Wednesday night. It's past 9pm while I am watching Glee, when I felt terribly nervous. I received a sms from Pam saying "Congrats engr." I immediately stand up and request to my sister to turn on the computer. My reply to Pam was "Di nga?Seryoso?" She sent to me the website where she find the results. I immediately browse it, saw Leann in no.1, scroll, scroll, scroll a lot, scroll again and finally find 1432 OLORES, JESSA MAYE POBLETE. I was in doubt at that because they told us to search for the results in Inquirer website. I had a hard time finding where on inquirer.net I could find the exam result, until gotcha, I go to O and saw my name, I finally believe that I am already a licensed Civil Engineer. I called Mama and Papa to tell the good news, that's one of the happiest talk we had. I also sms Tita M, telling "Tita, engr.na po ako. Salamat sa support and prayers." I got flooded with congratulatory messages in facebook, chat, and sms. It feels so overwhelming. I didn't cried when I knew that I passed, I did when Tita M called to congratulate me. Joan and I felt a party ambiance in the house. I jump and shout to happiness. My gratitude also to Tita Nida and Ate Tats who were one of the first to know the great news. Afterward, I sent thank you messages here and there to all the people whose been with me throughout this journey. And most of all I praise GOD Almighty for the wonderful blessing, the gift of a dream come true.

Now, how many "exam" did I mention in the whole "My Board Exam Experience" blog?

My Board Exam experience: This is it!

November 20, 2010. Saturday. Lolo Teo's Death Anniversary.
First Day of Civil Engineering Licensure Exam.

I woke up at 5am and pray. I was assigned to take the exam in Manuel L. Quezon University, Quiapo, Manila. Before the exam, we sign up different identification forms here and there. At exactly 8am, we started answering the first subject, Mathematics, Surveying, and Transportation Engineering. I start solving from question 1 then skip the difficult one until question 30. Then back to unanswered problems, and find out the trick. Prayer is always powerful, because when I can't analyze a problem, I stopped for a while, pray, and then gotcha I got the answer. I finished the exam few minutes before 1pm. I was satisfied with my more or less than 21 sure answers and few reasonable guess. It was also fun to answer because most of the questions were taught in Review Innovations. I left the room hoping that the next subject would be as easy as the first. We had lunch for 1 hour. The second subject is from 2pm-6pm, Hydraulics and Geotechnical Engineering. It was indeed the easiest subject. I got a big smile as I go out of the classroom. Most of the questions came from past board exams, and others were discussed also in Review Innovations. My review center is the awesomest. I am very thankful as I go home.

November 21, 2010. Sunday. Second Day of Civil Engineering Licensure Exam.

I woke up again at 5am and pray. Two down and one to go. We took the exam in Structural Engineering and Construction from 8am-1pm, the subject where we all felt the tension and nervousness ever since we heard about the very intelligent examiner. Back sub technique is a no way. As for me, I am really not so sure with almost all of the answers I solved. I answered more or less than 15 items but I was very confuse because Madam Examiner prepared the trickiest exam I ever had. It's almost 1pm when I passed my paper, and that was it. I brought home the nervousness. On a lighter note, I was very surprised and touched because after exam, Tita Mirla, Tita Nida, my sister Joan, my cousin Ate Tats, my nephew Joaqui, and my niece Yanna was there to fetch me in MLQU. I felt I was saved from darkness.

I was just so thankful to my family, relatives, friends, friends of friends, the priest, the shirt seller and all who bid their good luck, prayed for me, and supported me. It was such a great help and inspiration. I would be sad to disappoint them, but they assure me that no matter what happen, they will always be there. I won't forget what Tita M said "Basta gawin mo ang best mo, kung bagsak man, wag ka mahihiya, kilala ka pa din namin." And at the end of the day, I was so grateful to GOD because I knew he guide me while I'm taking one of the most important exam in my life. GOD is good all the time.

Up next, the things I did while waiting for the results.

My Board Exam Experience: The Preparation

Before the Board Exam

We've been given 6 months to formally prepare for the licensure exam, wherein we have to enroll in a review center for 4.5 months of review and 1.5 months of refresher. Honestly, I became very serious on studying during the last month before the exam. Within the review period, I'm really not that focus. Anyhow, it's been a good attitude to attend class on time, copy all the notes in lecture, listen attentively to the instructor (when you're not sleepy.hee hee), and take the evaluation exams (though I usually open notes all the time) so I can assess my learning. Inspiration also helps a lot, motivation from family, friends, and all gave good vibes but also pressure. But based on personal experience, inspiration without action won't work, same as praying without studying isn't effective.

On the first month, June, we were just enjoying the review class and environment. We still felt very relaxed and got the positive spirit aiming to top the board exam. Second month, July, we had lots to review, yet on our mind, we still got plenty of time to prepare. The groundwork we had during August was almost the same as the previous month. We still had fun gimmicks, never ending chats, play, and study once in a while. Thus, when we took the Mid Pre-board Exam, the industrious reviewer only passed as expected, and yes, I belong to the not so industrious. The following month, September was so stressing to me. I got the motivation to study more and more in order to passed the Final Pre-Board and especially the real BOARD EXAM. I felt too much pressure, though I can't help but to be lazy sometimes, I was able to study well. However, what I've learned wasn't enough for the Final Pre-Board, thus I got failing scores again, but to defend myself, I only lack 2% in order to passed. In the refresher, month of October-November, I knew I had to keep my eyes on the goal. The objective is to PASS the BOARD EXAM, I didn't aim for topnotch because I knew I didn't work hard when I still got lots of time. I'm finally back to late night sleeping so I can review and catch up with the lessons everyday. Time has been very important, even in traveling I need to manage memorizing different formulas. Everybody is getting serious, it's cramming time. I was satisfied with the study habits I did within the last month. Though I am not confident enough on the last few days because I still left some lessons unstudied well, prayer has always been a great help in my journey towards my dream. Prayer and trusting GOD is indeed the perfect partner for everything. As this popular quote says, Do your best and God will do the rest.

On my next blog, I will talk about what happened to me during the board exam.

Prayer is indeed powerful

THANK YOU LORD!