To the ex who was certain I’d fail the medtech boards, I'm a doctor now.
Six years ago, when I was reviewing for my medtech board exam, you caught me sleeping after studying and told that meant I was going to fail. "okay lang yan matulog ka lang, may next board exam pa naman" knowing I was juggling board review and 1st year med that time.
You said it so confidently too, like one moment of rest erased all the work I had been putting in.
Then the results came out. You were so sure I didn’t make it that you didn’t even check my name first. You looked for your friends’ names before mine, because you had already passed the medtech boards ahead of me and I guess you really believed I wouldn’t.
But I passed.
You congratulated me, sure, but you never apologized for the way you spoke to me and doubted me. And maybe that stayed with me more than I wanted to admit. I should've broken up with you the moment you said it but I stayed for 3 more years.
Your words did damage. Even years later, when I was preparing for the PLE, I still carried the weight of what you said and how you treated me back then. That kind of doubt sticks. It gets in your head. It makes you question yourself even when you’re doing everything right.
But look at me now.
I passed the PLE on my first take too.
And not only that. I now own my own laboratory.
Do you remember when I asked you before if you wanted to be the medtech in case I ever opened a lab someday? You got mad because you thought I was pitying you and told me you don't need my help?
Funny, looking back now. Because that “someday” happened.
I’m not writing this because I still need validation from you. I don’t. I’m not expecting a response. And this isn’t because I haven’t moved on. I have. I’ve met someone I genuinely want to spend the rest of my life with. I just think it’s wild how someone can speak so lightly about another person’s future and not realize how long that hurt can last.
This is just me finally getting this off my chest, once and for all. Saying what I never got to say back then.
And after this, I’m done with it. I’m never speaking about this again.
Still, I made it.
Twice. I never failed.
- RMT, MD