Tausug girl dreams high, lands 6th in 2015 nurses’ board exam

COTABATO CITY – A 20-year-old nursing graduate of Notre Dame of Jolo College (NDJC) has
proven that she, a Tausug from war-torn Jolo, can excel in national board
examinations.

Graduating cum
laude with Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Catholic-run college in
downtown Jolo, Tazmeen Amin Mariwa ranked No. 6 in this year’s national nursing board examination, the first for NDJC nursing grad.

Landing Top 6
out of 17,000 takers is a miracle and a bonus from Allah,” Mariwa said as greetings
keep pouring in through her social media account. She has a passing rate of
84.80 percent. The top passer was
Benedict Rey Montas Serrano from Bicol University in Legazpi City (86.40
percent).

Showing humility
despite the honors and recognition she earned for making it big” in the board
exam, Mariwa said the gift was so precious it came during the fasting month of
Ramadhan.”

The good news
came reached Mariwa three days before she turned 20 on June 27. My greatest
gift from Allah,” said the youngest daughter of government servants - Reza
Cyrus Angsa Mariwa and Gemmalaine Amin Mariwa of Sulu Department of Trade and
Industry and Department of Interior and Local Government, respectively.

Fr. Romy Saniel,
NDJC president, described Mariwa very shy and reserved but very amiable.”

One can hardly
recognize her as an achiever because she seldom participated in academic competitions,”
Fr. Saniel said of Mariwa who was a consistent honor student from elementary to
college.

After graduation
last March, Mariwa and the nursing graduates of NDJC took intensive review
classes at Ateneo de Zamboanga University Review Center in Zamboanga City.

I really wanted
to become a nurse in order to help my parents who have sacrificed so much for
me and so I worked hard for it. My
success is not mine alone. It is a collaborative effort of my parents,
relatives, teachers and friends,” said the shy Mariwa, known in school as
Taz.” As a nurse, I want to be an instrument for elusive peace in my troubled
land.”

You have to
conquer your fears in order to reach your dreams in life,” said Mariwa who, her
parents said, dropped out of grade school because of fear of strangers.”

Her parents
never gave up on her they journeyed with her until the day when she had to
deliver her message as a NDJC Cum Laude.

She belonged to
Class Salus Advocatus” (defender or protector of good health) of NDJC which
registered 94 percent passing rate in the 2015 nurses’ board exam.

One may ask,
What made Mariwa and this group excel?”

Fr. Saniel has
ready answers. He said the group has been consistent during three years but got
more serious during their last year at NDJC.

Taz together
with some friends initiated group studies during their vacant hours which
turned into bonding moments and food trips,” Saniel recalled.

We have been
oriented to claim it, just claim it in our hearts and minds,” she said of the
review classes. If ever you can’t make it then its fine because you’ve done
your best,” Mariwa said, quoting review mentors.

However, landing
Top 6 out of 17,000 takers is a miracle and a bonus from Allah.”

Saniel said this
is a living testimony that an ordinary Muslim Tausug girl like Taz, from the
war-torn town of Jolo, can excel when given proper motivation and support.

Speaking during
the 57th NDJC Commencement Exercises last March, Mariwa saidand Fellow
graduates, the past four years have given us so many experiences which
transformed us into someone who can. We can dream big for our families. We can dream
high for a peaceful and prosperous Mindanao. We can truly become the pride of
our Alma Mater, NDJC - Catalysts of Change, Lovers of Peace and Genuine Witnesses
of God’s love.”

As previously
announced by college administrators, NDJC graduates landing in the top 10 of
licensure examinations will get P50,000 cash reward.

For
making the school proud,” Fr. Saniel said a motorcade around Jolo down town and
a recognition program for is scheduled on July 1.