pAtCh aDaMs mE wAs...

I won't forget this day, folks. Meeting adjourn! These were the last words that put my breath back to normal. There was a time, I had a meeting with the Gods and Goddesses. I was subjected to a panel of deans from St. Luke's College of Medicine. My case was about being absent without leave for three years, commonly of what is known as "AWOL," a mortal sin to do.

I was like placed in the lions den while being soaked into a burning sulfur and experienced gnashing of teeth, every question that had been thrown at me. Their inquiry is much like of a spear that stubs deep into my soul. I was just waiting for the verdict to be raised and tell something like: “ you are expelled from the college,”

I have imagined myself wearing Patch Adams’ coat. Feeling so small, helpless and little, I was placed to sit in the middle. My floor was given and I made my first strike:

“ Good morning sir , ma’am; I’m here today for reconsidering my status due to the fact that I had to stop and apply for a job to help my family,” “ Much is required to whom much is given,” This was the pre-letter I made for them:

Dr. Teofilo O.L. San luis
Dean of St. Luke’s William H. Quasha
College of Medicine

Dr. Vivian C. SiodoraAssociate Dean of Continues Learning
And Research, St. Luke’s William H. Quasha
College of Medicine

Dr. Teresita Caja
Associate Dean of Student Affairs
St. Luke’s William H. Quasha
College of Medicine

Dearest Ma’am, Sir,

I, Oliver M. Tejada, a bonafide student of St. Luke’s – William H. Quasha College of Medicine, batch 2001, hereby submit my letter of reconsideration, for continuing my endeavor to this chosen field. I also would like to give back all the praise and thankful thoughts to the college and my sponsor, Dr. Homobono B. Calleja for the continues faith in giving me the scholarship program.

I’m amenable to the fact that I have had irregularities and inefficiencies with my duties during the time of my internship program . Primarily because I have had multitude of hard undertakings during the time my father was severely ill. He suffered a major stroke few years ago that lead into End Stage Renal Disease and eventually suffered Renal Failure that put him into a condition wherein he had to be dialyzed 3 times in a week. Being the only child in the family, I have devoted my time at same instance that I had to work and earn money, on my own, to sustain myself and my father’s medical liabilities and medicines. As a matter of fact, he was confined in our institution for a certain span of time till he was transferred to other institution due to financial constraints.

Concomitantly, I had to sustain the everyday living of the family that my father have long been abandoned. He got worst to the point that I had to choose between my career or taking care of him and my family at the time being during his dying days.

Despite of all the hardship and effort that consumed us financially, mentally and emotionally, my father’s life had still came to an end. He died at exactly 5:45 pm, 4th of March in the year 2004.

Everything in this world is just temporary. Life is so short but the craft so long to learn. To live the life to the fullest ---I now decided to return and opted to finish my degree and devote my time to this endeavor. A matter of choice for me to be passionate again in this field of learning and helping others; or end up as an idly incompetent, lost- soul individual.

At a certain perspective, despite of all the blessings our college, my mentors have given me, God have chosen to give me much---he subjected me to trials of life.

I believe that I have lost a lot of things the time when I was away. Nevertheless, I have gained and learned things beyond what can be learned in the four corners of the classroom. Life is not all achievements. It holds true that life is not always a straight line. From the long and winding journey, to the most bizarre and roughest road I have learned how to get along and live with it. By this, I saw the other streets and avenues of life, whereby, I believe will carry me through to my personal legend and purpose in life. There is far more to life than what it offers. God is teaching me as much as I learn from the fact of life, for the lord sat upon us the never-ending perplexity of living because everyday is a new beginning.

It is fine to fail at times or even commit mistakes accompanied by frustrations, as long as they will not stop us from trying, learning and living. In fact, everyday is a learning experience. Each new day has its own surprises, and wonders. More so, that each day is a new beginning.

Teaching and helping others are just one of my passions and they will always be. I have been with it and started it within my family for I do believe that charity begins at home. Through my chosen profession, this endeavor continues and look forward to serve others more. Now, God as my witness and know all men by these presents: I'm still willing and interested to continue with my strong conviction in finishing my course in medicine; to share these blessings to others, especially to the sick and to the poor like your servant in here.

I have once dedicated my devotions to the vision of the college and have put my personal interests aside but rather have focused for the interests of others instead. By this point in time I would like to ask for an appeal and reconsideration for my plead.

Your appeal on these matters would greatly be appreciated and respected by my loyalty to the college. Thank you very much and God bless.

Life
I may never see tomorrow,
there's no written guarantee
And things that happened yesterday
belong to history.

I cannot predict the future,
I cannot change the past,
I have just the present moments,
I must treat it as my last.

I must use this moment wisely
for it soon will pass away,
and be lost forever, as part of yesterday.
I must exercise compassion,
help the fallen to their feet,
Be a friend unto the friendless,
make an empty life complete.

The unkind things I do today
may never be undone,
And friendships that I fail to win
may nevermore be won.
I may not have another chance
on bended knees to pray,
but I thank God with a humble heart
for giving me this Day.

CARPE DIEM!

olivertejada 04/06/04


Respectfully yours,
Oliver M. Tejada

“ Aren’t you aware of your responsibility and obligation to the college and know the fact that we may discontinue your study in the college?” interrogatively asked Dr. Siodora.

“ Yes doctor…I’m very much aware of the fact that: you have the ability to prevent me from graduation, stop me from getting that title nor getting into that white coat---but you cannot stop me from dreaming; dreaming of becoming a doctor. You know what’s the good in dreaming?--- there are no rules…( I paused)

“ Dear doctors, I want to be like you, and God as my witness, I want to become a doctor, and be the best person that I can be; I want to become a doctor with all my heart, because of that, I have lost so many things: my father died just a couple of weeks ago, as much as I have lost my could-have-been family in life; but I have also gained everything, I have learned what life has more than what it offers.

“ Isn’t it that helping others, especially those who are in need, is being a doctor? Well then, I have helped my family, and still helping them. They too are others whom I consider citizens of the world, just like us, like our patients; and I hope this doesn’t negate me from becoming a doctor. There was a time when I have saved a life of child, whose parents gave me thanks and sent a letter to the college with a thankful heart, I told myself then: “ what’s the difference between a doctor---and just a someone who have saved a life, than with a doctor whose patients die, because they can’t do anything about it?” I sighed.

“ I want to become a doctor and be the best person that I can be. I’m not running after a crime, but I’m running after the most noble thing to do in this world, that is to be a doctor; to help myself, my family and serve others. You have a choice doctors: you can have me as your professional colleague or you can make me as just as an outspoken person there, who keeps on dreaming to become a doctor; and still help others. So if you may… I plea myself to put my feet back and set them to the path of life. Thanks you very much sir, ma’am…”

Let us altogether experience the "Ah !" of life and the glorious of leaving...

Right there and then, the wind courses into my direction and the flag has been raised up. Thank you LORD.
link me!