My own "rough" road to RPm

Psychology has always been and will always be my first love

How do I start with this?

--Basically, the same question which bothered me for 2 fucking months.

I'm an incoming 3rd year med student in UST-FMS. I don't actually need to be a licensed Psychometrician, but I took the RPm boards anyway. I know that I wouldn't be using the license or practice psychometrics but like what I said a few words ago...I took it anyway.

I just wanted a sweet escape from my lingering negative thoughts--a distraction. I had to cope, I had to find me again.

I'm not proud of what I did. Because for some people, taking the RPm boards is serious business. In my case, I took it not because I had to or I badly wanted it. I took the boards so I can channel my frustrations into something (I think)  that is potentially productive.

I finished 2nd year med in mid-month of May. By the end of May, I finally decided to take the boards. I crammed the requirements, went to PRC and then...BOOM. No more turning back! Got my exam permit! All I had to do was condition my self for the "review" and take the exam on July 21-22, 2015.

It was not totally a "walk in the park," I tell you. By June, I went to London. Stayed there for a couple of weeks to relax and enjoy my vacation before 3rd year medicine. My self-review got totally delayed.

When I got back in the Philippines, reality hit me in the face. I had less than a month to prepare for the boards. I did self-review only. I read my old books, took some online tests, and random helpful psych-related reviewers I found online (I'll be writing a separate post for my personal review essentials which I found useful). Indeed, I wasn't prepared.

I was able to skim through the important key points that I had to remember. Thanks to Medicine, I was well equipped in taking all sorts of exams and able to "study smart."

I felt kinda anxious as the date of the examination approaches. I had my self-doubts and sad spells. I knew that the other testtakers even enrolled in a review center, newly grads have fresh memories of Psychology, etc. And what did I do with the time that I had? Where did all the time go? Mostly, I guess, in scanning notes and slacking off.

We had I think, 3-4 hours to finish the exam per subject. With too much test anxiety, I managed to finish the tests in 1.5 hours mostly. Except for TOP (this one's the easiest). I rechecked my answers once, then submitted my paper. I had a bad habit of taking a rest during the extra hours that I had. Thank God, St. Jude College (testing site), was just a 5-minute walk from my dorm.

I had to deal with a lot of pet peeves during the exam: typos and grammatical errors. I hope they can improve the board exam or just dedicate an ample of time for revisions.

It was really frustrating trying to remember familiar concepts that I know, I knew. Haaaaaaaay, but that's the decree of not being prepared. Sometimes I wish I could've been more ready for this.

Anyway, here's a photoblog:

brought my DSM-IV-TR to London

Thanks to my Ninang for this board exam prayer starter pack. I couldn't have done it without all the love and prayers from special people :)

Thanks to our helper for giving me this Elsa eraser =))

Of course, there's always time to play GTA 5 haha priorities

for my anxiety management

daily hugot while studying

Apparently, I also had the chance to watch The Ryzza Mae Show and Eat Bulaga ( dami kong time talaga)

bonding with my high school barkada at Cafe +

Training and Development

Not sure if board exam or picnic (thanks to my sister for the goodies)

from my roomie, tita J! thanks for all the support

Not really a Rogerian but this quote just hit me

Dami ko talagang time mag-laro hahahaha

thank you Janina, Ikee, and Michelle for all the love

thank you Leanna for the screenshot

I made it! yeayyyyy! RPm and suprisingly just a few decimal points away from the top 10 :)))) ouch

Congratulations UST for being the top performing school in the Psychometrician board exam! 

Special thanks to my professors in UST Psychology department for providing quality Psych education. It has already been 2 years since I graduated from Psych, but the knowledge that my professors imparted, remained intact. 

Thank you Juhn for being my official guide through application until whenever.

Thanks Aliza for the tips, reviewers that you sent me, and so much more!

Thank you Leslee for telling me which books to read.

Thank you Inna for taking time to listen to my rants and frustrations.

And for all those who have stuck on me, thank you!

RPm and M.D. in progress 

6 relevant songs for my relevant feelings

1. The Scientist by Coldplay

"Nobody said it was easy, Oh it's such a shame for us to part."

This song definitely breaks my heart a million times. Thank you Coldplay, for giving me "all the feels."

2. Up by Olly Murs feat. Demi Lovato

"I wanna turn the clock, yeah, right back to where it was."

This song hit me from pre-chorus to chorus. Every fucking line.

3. Don't forget by Demi Lovato

"But somewhere we went wrong."

Please don't.

4. Miss missing you by Fall Out Boy

"Oh, we’re fading fast, I miss missing you, now and then."

Morbidly sweet song for moving on.

5. King of wishful thinking by A New Found Glory feat. Patrick Stump

"That you had made a whole in my heart. And now I've got to fool myself"

I know, I will. Someday, somehow. 

6. Still into you by Paramore

"it's not a walk in the park to love each other."

So damn right, with all its troubles and inconveniences.