A Gratitude for My Success

A Gratitude for My Success 

Dear Professors, Associate Professors, Lecturers, Doctors and my dear friends,

I would like to express my deepest thanks and gratitude for the teachings, guidance and motivation during the past 4 years.

I owe my success to you.☺

Below is a speech that will be delivered during the Celebration & Appreciation party in Psychiatry Dept, PPUKM on 27th May 2016, specially dedicated for you.

Looking back at the past 4 years’ experience, I felt it was a miracle for me to pass this program without getting any extension. It was very challenging for me as there were many unexpected obstacles along the way.

Some of you may know that I have SLE. Besides having joint aches and lethargy, I started to become forgetful n can't concentrate well. Before the part 2 exam, my illness was considered refractory as I was given iv cyclophosphasmide every 2 weeks and I developed tonsillitis almost after every cycle of the cyclophosphasmide. I would be frequently asking myself whether I would be able to succeed or not. It’s quite difficult to explain how I experience all these in words, but let me illustrate it by sharing with you a story of an "old car in a race "....

“I feel like I am in a race with my other friends to get to the top of a mountain. They are using new 4wd car. While I am using an old car. My car is slow and keeps on breaking down along the way for multiple reasons i.e. flat tyre, fuel leakage, and it needs to take short breaks in between because the engine gets hot fast whenever I try speeding the car. As I am going up the slope, my old car starts to shake and the engine seems like it’s going to stop anytime. My worse fear was that my car will stop and will roll down the hill. However, a few good Samaritans help to push my old little car along the slope whenever the engine stops and they restart back the engine. Later on, I start to wonder, how long will this last? I tell my old car... "Don’t worry, although other new cars are almost nearing the finishing line...at least you have reach this far, which no other old car like you can possibly do, I am so proud of you dear old car"....

Just before the part 3 exam, I had a mild flare... I felt having psychomotor retardation and going blank at times. I did quite badly in my mock consultation viva. My physician managed to adjust my medication 9 days before the final exam. Again...I started asking, “Will I pass this time? Maybe I should defer my exam?” However, the encouragement and support from people around me finally helped me through.

What I learn from this:

1. You need perseverance – you need to have persistent effort despite having difficulties. Some events may bring you down & demotivate you.....but don't let it continue to affect you. Take it as a learning curve to improve your weaknesses or find your other strengths to overcome the weaknesses.

2. You need good support from people around you. Teamwork is important.

3. You need a source of motivation.        For me, my children continue to motivate me.

4. You need to be humble and kind to others regardless of their race, religion or social status - you will never know when you will need help from people you least expected.

I hope my story can motivate others especially the juniors in creating a story of their own success. 

Finally... My success is not merely my own effort alone.

I owe it to many people who has been supporting and motivating me especially all the lecturers, the psychiatrists, as well as the clinical psychologists. Not forgetting the staffs.

Thanks also to all my friends in the "UKM support group",  especially Ros, a good friend - who tried several ways to keep up with my studies during the period when I was not able to open my eyes.

Without these people around me, I don’t think I would reach this far.

Thank you again for being the "GOOD SAMARITAN" which I believed God had sent to me during my 4 years of journey.

You will be well remembered.

-RYNA May 2016-