The road to success was paved with challenges. Limited financial resources meant having to juggle academic responsibilities with finding ways to support their education. Despite these hardships, they remained steadfast, proving that perseverance and determination could overcome any obstacle.
Abigail Escueta Cayanan, fondly called Gail, hails from Trece Martires, Cavite, and has long aspired to become a nurse.
On February 11, 2024, she fulfilled a significant milestone in her journey by graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. Jude College in Dasmariñas, Cavite.
Abigail Escueta Cayanan secured the Top 1 spot in the May 2024 Philippine Nurses Licensure Exam (PNLE) with an impressive rating of 92.60%.
Photo courtesy: Facebook/Abigail Escueta Cayanan
In an interview, Gail revealed that becoming a nurse was her only dream growing up. Even as a child, when participating in school skits, she relished wearing a nurse’s uniform.
As she got older, the idea of becoming a doctor briefly crossed her mind. However, Gail understood that her family’s financial situation would make it impossible, so she stayed committed to her goal of becoming a nurse.
Gail recounted the financial struggles her family faced after her parents’ businesses went bankrupt, leaving them unemployed and burdened with significant debt. Despite this, her parents worked tirelessly to fund her education and even managed to pay for her review center.
Adding to her challenges were the negative remarks from people who doubted her ability to pass the board exam or achieve a top rank. However, she rose above the criticism and proved her resilience and determination.
Despite the negativity surrounding her, Gail chose to rise above the comments and focus on her ultimate goal. However, during the licensure exam, she faced a moment of anxiety when she noticed she had shaded the wrong answer, smudging her answer sheet in the process. This mishap left her worried that the machine might not properly read her responses.
When the results were finally released, Gail was overcome with emotion. Despite the minor challenges she encountered during the exam, she shared that she didn’t find the test particularly difficult overall.
Her confidence stemmed from the immense effort she had devoted to her studies and her rigorous preparation during the review period. Gail also credited her family, especially her mother, for their unwavering support and encouragement throughout her journey.
Congratulations, Abigail Escueta Cayanan, on your remarkable achievement!