#bsbms

So we, iMed 2017, finally marched - or shall I say, Sablay-ed - yesterday. We’re officially degree-holders (yes, that’s the degree, up there in the title). But unlike most graduates there yesterday, our journey in our program is far from over. We’ve got two more years to go, in fact, before we can call ourselves full-fledged doctors.

It was odd - we all considered it as a “fake” graduation, because this was just a reminder that - hey, we’ve finished the first four/five years of the program. Sure, our Intarmed class decided to celebrate by having a Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation Dinner, but we all knew that we’re still about to be clerks in a few weeks, and we’re simply not done.

I’d always assumed that it wasn’t really that important, that it really isn’t a big deal. There isn’t much you can do with a BS BMS degree. But yesterday’s ceremony proved me wrong. It was a reminder that I was fortunate to have gotten into Intarmed in the first place - and that I couldn’t have done this without the other 35 amazing people of iMed 2017. It was a reminder of all the hard work and sacrifice we, and our families, have done over the past five years - and a reminder that there is still more to come, as well.

It finally sunk into me, while shifting my Sablay from right to left, that I finally have a degree. And while singing UP Naming Mahal, left fist raised, all I could think at that moment was this - Thank you, UP, for this opportunity you have given me.