NGP!

What are the three most important letters (apart from G O D) to any medical student (myself included) in my uni if you'd ask them ? Undoubtedly the following: N G P. These three letters are short for words that are like honey to the ears of a med student - Non-Graded Pass. THIS is basically what we live and study for all year...and patiently/dreadfully wait for our entire holidays.

Earlier today, God blessed me with these three wonderful letters on my academic results website, and I couldn't be more overjoyed. I was so nervous and anxious as a couple of the exams I sat for didn't go as well as I would have liked them too, but God's grace is abundant and overflowing, and He allowed me to pass! So, I am really really grateful and happy to say that I am officially half a doctor! Hoorayy!!

You know what the sad part is? Here I am, peeing my pants before clicking the page to check if I had passed because I honestly thought I wouldn't make it through, here I am praying like I've never prayed before, heart palpitating, sweat dripping down my forehead....and when I fiiiinally clicked the page and saw those three holy letters, I was soooo happy that I started tearing. At this point in time, all I wanted to do is convey the good news to my family, and you know when you get good results and you tell your parents, I don't know about you, but..all I want is for them to at least be happy together with me and for me and show some form of excitement, or celebrate with me, or treat me to something like dinner or anything nice for the night. Instead, this is what transpired.

Me: "Amma guess what!! I passed 3rd year! Woohooo!!"

Mom: "Oh ok, You know ah..the dry cleaners ironed your bharathanatyam suit wrongly. HAIH. Now I have to iron it myself all over again!"

(p.s: she later went on to scold me for wanting to eat out for dinner)

Me: "Appa guess what!! I passed 3rd year! Woohooo!!"

Dad: "Ok lah...you can have extra scoop of ice cream on your birthday dinner" (continues his path walking to the kitchen to do something else)

Me: "Grandma! I passed my exams!"

Grandma: (holding her toothbrush in her hand) Can you give me some toothpaste? I ran out of toothpaste, would you be so kind to get me some toothpaste?

Haiz, sometimes it's soooo disheartening to have a family who doesn't get excited or take your achievements seriously. I know what you may be thinking, and many of you will tell me "I'm sure they're very proud and happy for you, they love you very much, etcetc" BUT the bottom line is...I really wished an achievement as important as this was celebrated and appreciated for at least longer than 2 seconds, and with something perhaps a little more encouraging than an "Oh okay".