Goodbye, See yah again!
By: Sarrah de la Rosa
It was the last few days stay in Barangay Lower Sto. Niño. Community ocular inspection, interviews, purok meetings, general assembly, collation of data and data presentation were all finished. We are ready to feel our own beds, fill the gaps with friends, sign in to networking sites, post pictures and experiences, hangout and most especially, be with our own family. I was not able to fully understand the phrase “Homesick” until the 28 days community exposure was undergone. It was finally ending, but happiness was not the only feeling we have, it was mixed with something else. It was combined with sadness, the sentiments of “I already miss this place” and “I will surely come back”. It was unexpected.
A day before our departure, the group made a simple feast to express how grateful we are to the people who helped us all throughout. We invited Barangay captain and ma’am Aging (BHW) but due to some matters, they were unable to attend. But still, we have Uncle Junior (the owner of the lend house) and Kuya Michael’s Family (our neighbor) who treated us as their own relatives. And in our surprise, Uncle Junior gave three whole “Kabir” chicken for our Farewell party. Up until the end, the group was overindulged with food from his farm/garden. Everyone luxuriate themselves with food. It was totally FUN!
We experienced 28 days of independency, own washing of clothes, rotational household chores, hours of walking each day in between the rice fields for barangay assembly/purok assembly/by purok interview, almost every day eating of vegetables (from the farm) and “bulad”, sleepless nights for data presentation, arguments, and etc. Although descriptions of events were all privations; those were actually the only means in achieving the goal of our stay.
The school’s visionis “The ADZU-SOM envisions a medical school whose curriculum combines competency and problem based instruction with experimental learning in the community, responsive to the health care development and the needs of communities, sensitive to the social and cultural realities of Western Mindanao, and imbued with the belief that we exist not only for ourselves but also for others“. After reading this vision the first time, I also visualized myself in a state where the three learning strands, Working Problem Strand, Professional Skill Strand and Population Medical Strand (more info on the learning strands on “Community-Directed Curriculum: The Introduction”) were being used. Of course, it goes smoothly in my head, but when you’re in the actual situation, things will not always go with what you wanted. You stutter when interviewing, forget some of your learnings, hate yourself for not being able to help them since you’re not yet a doctor, but at the same time, be fully motivated to persevere and reach your own and the school’s vision and mission. We may not get it right at the first or second time, but as we increase our experiences and practiced; analyzing problems, professional and communication skills will enhance.
I described the school as “cunning”. Due to their curriculum/system, you are not optioned to be as they envisioned, you are forced because of the area and situation you will be experiencing. And I am thankful for that. I guess this is the school who caters such ideals and brings their students closer to what a medical doctor is really needed in the country. This is what SERVICE to the Filipino people means. This community strand medicine allows medical students to directly experience reality of life without the assistance of any guardian or parents- INDEPENDENCY. Those involvements trained each one not only by medical books but as early as first years, we are dispatched to communities who needed the assistance especially in terms of health related matters. We may not be able to diagnose nor give prescriptions, but the referral system, helping them extract and identify their problems, and brainstorming ideas for solutions are great help.
In my opinion, each freshmen student expected the sufferings/hardships in a medical school, but with community exposure, one must not only need to be mentally prepared, but also physically, socially and emotionally ready. Similar in treating the patient, you should have a holistic approach.
Nonetheless, the experiences and the feelings of able to help and assist the people and barangay towards its best are the greatest rewards one could ever have.
As we depart, we said our farewells. As we come back, proposals and plans for them should be ready. But as of now, it is time to say “Goodbye, See yah again!”
