Tips from a Board Topnotcher

BY: ROCHELLE MARIE FLORES

If you want to read a story on how to succeed in college, then you should be asking other people who become laudes, achievers, winners, etc. I am telling you right now that this is not a story of achievement but rather, is about my struggles, actions, and motivations before and during the board exam. But before anything else, let me dedicate this article to those who failed their exams, got stuck in manus/thesis, cry over a project that does not work. Yep, you read it right! This is my story. College is not friendly to a sleepy and introverted person like me. And it gets harder as you get older, especially with the major subjects. But I am not discouraging you. Nope. My point is the fact that I top the boards means you have hope as well, no matter how hard studying is for you. It’s true people only see your success but never the tears behind those achievements. That’s why I am going to tell you a story about it.

I started studying before the pandemic hit and plan to take the board exam last April 2020. Again, this is not an easy road. Pandemic happens, boards got canceled, and every part of my plan changes. You know what makes studying for boards harder, uncertainty. You never know whether PRC will cancel your boards or not. It will be hard to decide whether to study or start looking for a job. Anxiety will be your enemy. So, I will share the things I did to thrive despite those challenges. Number 1: be ambitious! I had a goal back then. I wanted this. I wanted to ace the boards. Do not let anyone dictate your future and manipulate your mindset. If you know that you can do it, then it is enough to fly and soar high. You just got to believe yourself and work hard for it. Speaking of working hard, make sure to set goals. It will be your direction. Wake up in the morning with the goal in mind. It doesn’t have to be reading notes or computing every day, it can also be resting or sleeping all day. Yes, resting should be part of your routine because it will be your fuel to get energized and your break from burning out. Relaxation can vary from person to person so explore the things or hobbies that can keep the fire burning. From talking to friends or family to watching Netflix, reading books, drinking coffee, remember that you are not lazy if you do these things because you are entitled to do so and you deserve it. Also, it will be helpful if you have people whom you can lean on. They will be your pillar when times get tough, and everything seems to be in chaos. Lastly, do not give up. I know each one of us has a fighter inside us. It will be tough out there, but you are tougher. Fighting a global pandemic for more than 2 years now is proof that you had a warrior in you.

Board exam can be scary, it will be tiring, it will exhaust the life out of you. But then, there are things that you can do about it. That’s the best part of it, you have control over your actions and decisions. So, make sure to face it head-on!

Thanks for listening to my Ted Talk haha. Hope this article reminds you that it is normal to feel lost before taking a board exam and you are not alone. However, it does not mean that you can never succeed at anything. Yes, you can, and you will. People like us just need to work twice as hard but that is the reason why life is more fulfilling for us.