LUNA, Apayao – “If there is one thing, I learned from this experience is to use the Galatea effect to your advantage- it won’t hurt to believe in yourself. I believe I could, so I did,” shared 22-year-old Kassy Yana Bati-el Pasiwen from Malama Conner, Apayao.
Yana graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Saint Louis University, Baguio City. Recently, Yana secured the top 9 with 85.60% passing rate in the August 2024 Psychometrician Licensure Examination.
Yana is the first born of Dr. Teresita Pasiwen, Municipal Health Officer on LGU Conner, and PCol. Reynaldo Pasiwen.
In an interview, Pasiwen said that she didn’t think much in deciding to take her course. But, in high school, she found Psychology interesting. Her initial plan was to take Psychology as her Pre-Medical course.
Some challenges Yana faced during her schooling
Yana was in her second-year college when she was told her mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer which affected her personally. According to her, she tried her best to rearrange her given schedule to free her every Thursday for her mothers’ chemotherapy.
“It was sad for me and for everyone around her. I remember crying a lot in church kasi doon niya in- announce. Pero my mom is a fighter even with that diagnosis, she was helping herself to be physically and mentally strong (nagtratrabaho parin siya sa RHU in between chemotherapies) kaya pati din po kami nadadala. May times nga na nakakalimutan naming may cancer siya kasi, if you’re going to look at her napakalakas niya” she said.
Yana sometimes thought that the world was being unfair to her, she was envious of her friends and classmates who could fully focus on their review, her batchmates who celebrated their graduation and had their own parties and tarpaulins, yet she at that time she was waiting for progress and hoping that her mother will be in a better condition.
“Taking care of your ailing mother is usually expected during middle adulthood and not in one’s emerging adulthood years. From that moment on, I learned to accept the situation and worked with it,” Pasiwen said.
Exam preparation
In preparing for the exam, Pasiwen shared that on June 25, 2024, 47 days before the board, her mother was admitted due to severe headaches, the same day when their grandmother passed away. They had to go home to Apayao for their grandmother’s wake and burial service.
On July 08, 2024, 34 days before her board exam, after she received her Notice of Admission (NOA) form from PRC, her mother was in comatose. Pasiwen found herself in an Indian seat reviewing IO Psychology on the floor outside the ICU of Sacred Heart Hospital. She found it ironic and heavy as she had to review despite the situation.
She said that her whole review season was physically, mentally and emotionally tough. There were moments that she doubted, “what if hindi nalang ako magtake?”, but a lot of people pushed and motivated her to take her board exam. She remembered her mom who encouraged her, believing she could actually top the board. Despite the struggles, she challenged herself to finish one core book per week.
“It was a lot of crying and anxiety, whether pauwi ako ng bahay galing hospital, during a random review night, on the way to the review center, five minutes before the lecture, or even going out of the hall during lectures para lang umiyak.” “For me, it was like “bakit ako kakabahan sa board exam eh there’s a more stressful situation I’m facing out there?,” she said.
Yana aimed to top the board exams, she prayed, cried and manifested it. She kept on studying.
“Excelling in the examination is not only my success but also my family and relatives who gave a helping hand,” Pasiwen stated.
From “I will top this board exam” to “kahit pumasa nalang,” the amount of self- doubt she felt after those sleepless night she worked hard on studying, her sacrifices and challenges now paid off.
She is top 9 for PLE.
Yana dedicates her success to her loved ones especially to her mother who underwent brain surgery and is currently confined at Baguio General Hospital.
She expressed her gratitude to DOST-CAR and has a message to the DOST Scholars “being a DOST scholar is a recognition of your potential to contribute to the advancement of science and technology, which plays a crucial role in building a better world for ourselves, our love ones, our communities and the future” she said. “I hope this potential inspires each of you to continuously strive for excellence while also committing to making a positive impact as leaders in innovation and development not just in science and technology, but also in service to humanity,” she added.
“To all aspiring Psychometricians, pursuing Psychology as a course will be more meaningful when we are driven by a passion to contribute to a community where meatal health is not stigmatized but embraced and openly discussed. Additionally, the path to becoming a licensed psychometrician will be more fulfilling when we take our lessons to heart and apply them to our daily life,” Yana advised the aspiring Psychometricians.
“I’d like to conclude this message with the origin of my name, Kasiyana: it’s alright, things will get better, and hope is alive.” By Krizza Joy Castillo
