The MT (Medical Transcriptionist) Training Experience

The graduation and Nursing Licensure Exam are all done.  But after that, the big and terrifying question is, "What's next?"  Me and this good friend of mine were talking about serious things one time like dreams, goals in life and well of course our career path. He opened up about something that I'm not that so familiar of, that I even forget it time after time.  

“Why do you keep on asking me about it, it’s MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST!”

Well I cannot blame him for that, like I said, I’m not familiar on that field.  But basing on to the term that he said, I guess it is all about typing out the words from an audio file.  Since I love typing and computer stuff I tried to ask him about where I can have the training.  So he gave me the information regarding this. Since Kathlene, my friend from college also was interested with the training; we then decided to enroll ourselves for the training.  But, disappointment came when I realized that we both were in the waiting list because it was fully booked.  So hopes and prayers were in my head that time, wishing that we can still attend the training.  Then one night as I was about to go to sleep, I received a text saying that we can attend the orientation.  I was puzzled.  Meanwhile, I called Kathlene to confirm if it really is true.  “YES, it is true!”  I was startled.  I cannot explain the feeling that I have that time.  But then again, I doubted the text and the answer from Kathlene.  It was just so hard for me to believe everything.  I decided to call someone behind that text I received in the middle of the night .  His voice (Sir Marc's) was so professional. I was imagining him to be that cool and serious type.  And again, he said “Yes, you both can attend the orientation.”  Finally, after 3 times saying those “yes”, the spirit of excitement slowly turned back to normal.

The day of the orientation came.  But I had no idea regarding the venue of the orientation (I felt so dumb for not asking where the venue is!).  That time I was lost.  I went to CAP building then to TESDA office and then again to CAP building.  Just imagine me rushing everything, thinking that I’m almost 5 minutes late.  This “lost experience” of mine is just the perfect example of what too much excitement can do to me.  I learned from this.  So next time, I need to bring myself back to reality and set aside all those eagerness first.

That guy from the other line when I called in the middle of night that I described as that serious type turned out to be the jolly and good-humored guy.  He made the orientation great we introduced ourselves then called it a day.

We were many at first but then the number decreased.  I guess it is because of the schedule, the typing, and some other reasons.  Typing is really hard at first.  I know, because I've been there.  I was so slow in typing way back 2 years ago, but after some practice you can then be that “touch typist.”  Hearing tests were also hard but the hardest part among all is the transcribing itself.  Those different accents, those words that are so hard to fathom, those different guidelines that we need to follow, those days when we press F4, F7 and many more function keys, and those great times when I have learned other short cut keys—some were really hard at first but the good side is that we have learned.  Like what people say, it takes time to master everything.  So, we have practiced typing and transcribing by having different exercises. 

After or even during some exercises, we had some bonding moments--eating lunch with my classmates and talking about almost everything.  That is one of the good sides of training.  We get to meet new, cool, jolly and God-fearing friends.

I cannot describe the feeling that we had when we were together.  We laugh at simple things and I even learned different expressions from them “baknang, nauyaw!”  (Ilocano words for rich and judgmental). Maybe you will not find it to be hilarious at all.  But, the funny thing with these words is the way they delivered them and those words kept me laugh and it reminded me of them. 

The experience I had at CTEISI was overwhelming.  

Sometimes in life, it is not just about the learning, it is also about the laughs and the moments that you friends have been through.   

If there is one thing that I’m sure enough, it is that I will miss them and that I will treasure those moments that I have been with them.

Thank you Kathlene, ate May Ann, ate Harolyn, Rhodesa, Jonalyn, Gladys, and lastly Ma’am Julie and Sir Marc! :D  

Realizations...

Many people say that life is unfair, but what can I say life has never, ever been fair. Bitterness is not actually on my blood right now, but it's the truth and reality that's talking.

Back in the days before when I was still at school...

•  We review much at night until we find ourselves asleep in the morning drooling at our study tables but in the end the person who is known to be the "gangster" and the "black sheep" in class gets all the credit.
• Sometimes you wait along the long line in the canteen just to get a simple delicacy and satisfy your hungry stomach because you can't eat at a boring class of a very strict professor and you can't buy outside because of the limited break time given by the administration, but then out of nowhere you heard the sound of the bell then  you just roll your eyes and end up wishing that you were deaf and did not hear the bell rung.
• We have done most of the work in one project but one classmate brags that he/she did the work and would be praised by the instructor and when the individual grades are to be given and then you accidentally saw the higher grade of that someone.
• When we make all these mistakes in life and yet those who did more were the ones who were not scolded.

I may not have listed some moments during a student life, but there are a lot of experiences that may say that life has always been unfair but sometimes through these various experiences in our lives we do embrace the fact that we make mistakes but we should also be determined and realize that mistakes are made for us to fathom that better comes before best.

disabled by death notes...

Death note, this has been a popular series in Japan, became a topic of every addicts in movies, series and Japanese manga. It's a simple notebook but a fearful one, because with just a stroke of the pen shaping the letters of your name, BOOM! you better pray and say goodbye.

I've never thought that this death note that I've always loved to watch may soon be seen in the real life. I grew up in the mountainous place of Abra, it's full of cultures that people might love, sceneries that tourists might by dying to see. But what's saddening is that amidst the physical features of what Abra can give to my fellow Filipinos, lies a mark of burden in every heart of those Abrenos. They've been suffering a lot of frustrations made by those killings, as if Abra has become the second Mindanao of the Northern Luzon. People die like they're just chickens in the backyard, killed simultaneously, killed by people bombard with NO CONSCIENCE at all. People are killed even in the broad day light, in front of the cathedral where police men are even scattered all over the place, killed by just asking your name, killed even if you're just walking in the streets, what's more painful is that none of these cases have been cleared, relatives of the people who were killed are thirsty to have justice in their hands. But what's happening? Killers or suspects were never seen behind those bars, nor they were never sentenced to some punishments which they SHOULD suffer.

How long will these things happen? People who love to be on those powerful seats pretend to be blind with the tears of those caring mothers, they pretend to be deaf by those words of small children they left. No wonder why I hear some Abrenos migrating to some other places in the Philippines or in the other countries, I only have one reason in my mind, "to escape the chaotic place they grew".

To those killers, are you even aware with the name Jesus Christ? Do you even think before pulling the trigger? Always remember, you may have guns to kill a single person, but these victims have the most powerful weapon--PRAYERS. People may be blinded by giving them money, but God never sleeps.  Surely, there will come a time that all these killings may finally be stopped, and that the people behind these killings may soon be seen.


-consilium in penna-
-mda-

PANGARAP NG ISANG DILAG..

isang mapait na nakaraan ang bumubuhos sa bawat luha

tuwing naalala ang isang dagok sa buhay na puno ng pagdurusa

wala man lang nagawa ang mistulang mayuming prinsesa

sapagkat tanging armas ay ang kanyang malinis na konsensiya

lingid pa rin sa kaalaman ng karamihan sa kanilang bayan

 anim na buwan na ang nakakalipas ng siya'y bumalik sa kanyang tahanan

isang krimen ang nangyari sa harap mismo ng kanyang mga mata

ang kanyang ama'y pinaslang ng mga taong walang awa

hustisiya ang laman ng kanyang mga panalangin

ngunit ang mismong hukom ay nakukuha sa mga bayarin

galit at paghihinagpis ang namuo sa kanyang mukha

dahil ang hustisiya na pangarap ay animo'y mawawala na

sa bawat araw na lumipas, di pa rin matahimik ang dalaga

lumabas siya sa katauhang tahimik at muli'y magpapakita na

naging matapang ang prinsesa at siya'y tumayo sa harapan nila

na wari'y ibabagsak ang mga taong kumitil sa kanyang ama

ang mayuming dilag kasama ang mga manunulat

ay nagsalita na para mga mata ng mga tao'y mamulat

sa mga pagdadamit ng kabaitan ng mga nakaupo

at sa wakas, sa araw na iyon mga pangarap na ri'y natamo

- sana'y mabuksan ang mga mata ng mga mamayan at mga taong may kapangyarihan, ako man ay walang maipagmamalaki, ngunit sa pamamagitan ng tulang ito, sana mga tao nama'y wag masilaw sa perang binibigay ng mga taong gusto lamang ay isang trono, wag maging pipi at bulag sa mga nakikita at naririnig, ngunit sana'y magsalita na, hindi para sa sarili ngunit para sa mga tataong mga mabibiktima pa ng mga taong makasarili at mapanlumo sa pera.

-michelle alcantara-

tiny voices of the children..

I was walking along this known street in town where this group of 5 children caught my attention. They are holding a garbage bag full of cans and bottles.  Wondering where they will go, I got the risk of following them. Until they end up to this junk shop and sold all those cans and bottles. Almost a minute as they walked away from the junk shop, I went to the man who runs the shop and asked about the money that he gave to the children.

"I gave them 50 pesos in return", the old man uttered while still fixing the children's cans and bottles.

I hurriedly run to catch those children and saw them go beside a tree together with a creepy man with a long beard. They were shouted all through the top of the bearded man's voice. Suddenly, the creepy man grabbed one of the child's shirt when he heard him sobbing. That was the first time that I became strong to face my fears, and finally hear the thoughts of what my heart believes in. I didn't even hesitate to go beyond the scene and shouted the bearded man to stop. He gave me a very fierce look, my feet was shaking but I tried to remain calm in front of him.

"I saw what these children did, they gave you the full money that they have, are you not even satisfied?", I asked, while my fists are grasping the force of my madness.
"Who the hell are you?", the creepy man asked.
"Let's just say that I'm a girl who knows how to listen to these children".  I paused for a while.
"These children caught my attention because of the hardship that they possess, they're trying to shout to all the people about their condition, but what are you doing? You're punishing them with the wrong reason", I continued as I try to stop my tears to fall from my eyes.

The children hid at my back as I finished my words.  I called the police station after that, while the bearded man tried to escape. I shouted as loud as I could pretending that he got my wallet , so that the people around will catch him, . There was a man dressed with a military attire who had a caring heart to catch this silly man. He caught the guy and walked to me.

"Can you give this girl her wallet?", the military man said.
"I'm sorry, He did not get  my wallet, but he did something bad with these group of kids here, how do you call that, hm.. human trafficking", I said, as the kids grabbed my arm and tried to embrace me.

The police arrived and caught the bearded man. The kids were subjected to a government institution. I tried to visit them every sunday to at least have a day with them and God.





-I made this story, to at least remind us about the tiny voices of those children who are asking for help. The problem is that it's already obvious.  These children are shouting in front of us and yet we pretend that we don't know anything at all. What happened with camaraderie? What happened with Christianity? You may only be one person but you can save many people. Think about it...

HIM AND HER..

Washed from the ocean of tears

Went to an island full of bliss

She was confused with the place

Then walked to find grace

Turning her head all around

Lies a man, she finally found

Happiness was seen in her face

But his was too hard to trace

They walked within the sands

And talked about great lands

She was full of smiles

He was full of lies

Lifted from her spirits

She grabbed his hand

Asked if he was alright

But she only got a nod

She was still wondering

He was slowly coping

Then she figured out

He’s still trapped in the past

Here comes the moon

And he’s still waiting for “soon”

Here she is waiting for him

Trying to get him out from dim

They shared words for many days

He’s lips was finally raised

He finally got her hand

Asked for acceptance while knees were bent

She felt happiness

Answered his forgiveness

With the sweetest yes

Then here he is again, felt so blessed!

 -michelle alcantara-

teenage woes in school..

In some point of a teenage life there have been many regrets in their lives. No doubts, coz it's literally seen in every moves of a teenager. 

Here, i've listed 5 things that are being experienced by some of those teenagers...

1. She could have read many books rather than surfing the facebook all day long, in return she got a low score and didn't even pass, then here comes the dialogue, "at least I didn't get zero". But come to think of it, does it always have to be like this? thinking of the downs as a moderate achievement, couldn't it be better to be the highest pointer rather than one of the lowest?

2. She could have managed her time, instead of cramming. This is one of the most obvious deeds of teenagers, they're just poor in managing their time or in other words, poor in prioritizing the more important things. If only you've managed every second then there would have been no problem at all, right? How about just listing all your works for that day in a simple paper then stick it to your wall or door, at least that might remind you of the things that you're going to do.

3. She could have just dropped the phone or switched it off! Come on, nowadays, phone's one of the best forms of communication. Texts, calls, sometimes you won't even bother other things. Textmates, phone pals, now probably, you're smiling now thinking of that person behind those calls and texts. But why don't you try to realize my dear that this are done in the right time, and in the right place. How about doing this things after classes instead of doing this during your "boring discussion" with your teacher. At least, even though it is boring, you learned something, while in that texting and chatting, you might enjoyed but did you even learn a single fact, maybe a gossip i guess...

4. Problem with relationships, Oh God! this shouldn't be!!!. well, i have 2 words for you dear, DRAMA QUEEN!!!. You're just talking non sense there are so many boys in there, cheer up girl, you're beautiful. Don't waste your tears and time for that undeserving guy! Soon enough you might find that TRUE GUY for you. I have 1 word as an advice for you, PRAY! :)

5. Lastly, i should have just listened to my mom, now i have to suffer the consequence of all these things that I've done! Mothers know what's best for you, this saying has been used all over the years. Trust me, it works a lot. Maybe some of those brats are not really close with their mothers, but you should always think that even though you act like that, in the end they will always be the person who will cheer you up. Eventually you'll realize how important it is to have a mother. 

So this are just one of those teenage woes in school, soon i'll be writing more about teenage life.

HOPE YOU LIKE IT! :)

-michelle a.-