CatSU Nurse Licensure Exam Topnotcher: “Anything is possible if you put your mind into it”
EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (ED)"I always tell myself that
it's either I top this exam or I fail it. There's no in-between. This
achievement has taught me that anything is possible if you put your mind into
it,” shared Mikael Angelo Rabino Romero, Catanduanes State University’s (CatSU)
lone topnotcher, who secured the 10th spot in the November 2024 Philippine
Nurses Licensure Examination.
With a rating of 90.60%, the
Viracnon topnotcher shared the
challenges he faced during his preparation, including unexpected hurdles that
tested his resilience.
"One unexpected challenge
was when our review center shifted to online classes due to flooding in Quezon
City. When it happened, I relied on the study habits I developed during the
COVID-19 lockdown. I paced my studies and ensured I had enough time for myself,"
Romero explained.
The CatSU grad topnotcher
completed his elementary education at Virac Pilot Elementary School and
graduated from Catanduanes National High School. His father hails from Virac,
while his mother is from Batangas.
When asked about his motivation for
pursuing a career in nursing, the son of engineer parents emphasized his sense
of duty to the people around him. He credited the influence and support of his
family and community for helping him overcome daily challenges.
Looking ahead, Romero plans to
pursue medical school. In the meantime, he is dedicating himself to bedside
care and teaching.
As he aspires to become a doctor,
he lives by his guiding principle: “Take one step at a time. Failure is the end
only if you stop trying.”
Romero is one of the 29,349
passers out of 34,534 examinees in the November 2024 board exam, where the
University achieved an outstanding 96.32% passing rate for first-time takers
and a 92.36% overall performance rating, surpassing the national passing rate
of 84.99%.
