Exclusive - PROPOSED TITLE: MUST READ: Medical Board Topnotcher Almost Quit School Before! Read His Full Story Here!

Nobody said it would be easy, especially when you've wanted to achieve something for so long, you have to really persevere in order to achieve it.

Karl Emmanuel Mercader did so. Now, he's the topnotcher of the 2017 Physician Licensure Exam.

Mercader shared that it was all a struggle for him. He didn't make it that far without his fair share of struggles. He said that he wrestled with crippling self-doubt that almost forced him to quit school and give up on becoming a doctor. 

Even as he was a consistent top student at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), Mercader had his fair share of trials.

He had to take a sudden leave of absence in his final year in medical school back in 2010 due to the stress brought by his internship at the Ospital ng Maynila.

"Very stressful po kasi being [sic] a public hospital and all, iyung dami po ng mga pasyente, and you're expected po bilang interns sa ospital na iyun to stay there nang kung misan, lagpas ng 36 hours straight po na walang pahinga at minsan po ay nalilipasan ng gutom. Eventually po, na-burn out ako," Mercader said in an exclusive interview with radio DZMM.

He recalled how ashamed he was back then, Mercader thought he had lost all his confidence and feared he won't be able to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a doctor.

"Shortly after umalis po ako [ng paaralan], naisip ko na baka hindi para sa akin talaga ang medisina, not everyone is cut out to be a doctor, ika nga. Kasi hindi po biro ang pagdadaanan mo para maging isang doktor. Ika nga, dadaan ka sa butas ng karayom to be a physician," he said. 

During his absence, he worked as a call center agent for two years in Alabang. He had no intention of coming back to school because of the luxurious life he was having from the more than ample pay.

Mercader only went back and resumed his studies because of his family's request and his 90-year-old grandmother, who had faith in his abilities even when he did not. He also thought about his 71-year-old father, Perfecto Mercader, who continued to ply the streets as a tricycle driver despite having cataracts in both eyes, just to support his needs in school. 

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"Iyung mga gabi when I was preparing for the Board na puyatan po, may mga times na parang gusto kong itigil na, bahala na lang. But when I see iyung tatay ko po na umuuwi, gumagarahe po ng minsan hatinggabi na po just to be able to provide yung daily expenses ko po sa school, namo-motivate po akong lalong pagbutihan," he said. 

Despite having these trials in life, Mercader still managed to score a grade of 88.58 percent on the Professional Regulation Commission's announcement last Thursday.

"Akala ko nga po noong una, ginu-good time lang ako ng mga kasama ko. Noong talaga bumuhos na iyung mga pagbati, sabi ko mukhang totoo na," said Mercader.

"Sabi ko po sa kapatid ko, paki kurot ako at baka nananaginip lang ako." 

Having gone through many struggles in life before this moment, Mercader learned that one should never give up on their dreams no matter how hard they may seem to reach. He also urged fellow youth to show gratitude towards their parents by doing well in their studies.

"Huwag po nating hayaan na iyung previous failures natin to prevent us from reaching iyung mga pangarap natin," he said. 

"Para po sa mga kabataan, ang maipapayo ko ay pahalagahan po nating iyung pagsisikap ng ating mga magulang para po makapag-provide sa kanilang mga anak by doing well sa pag-aaral nila. Huwag nilang i-take for granted ang pagpupursige ng parents nila to give them a good education."  

Mercader hopes that his story will inspire people to believe that all their sacrifices to help achieve their dreams are worth it in the end. 

Source: TNP, ABS-CBN

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