You are the quiet kind of brave.
You’re the one who kept showing up when the world gave you every reason to walk away.
The one who sat through the heartache of opening results—again—only to read the words: “Not this time.”
The one who heard the whispers behind your back…
- “I passed on my first try.”
- “Maybe this isn’t their path.”
- “Sayang naman.”
But you…
you stayed.
You stayed when it felt easier to disappear.
You stayed while others celebrated, posted their license numbers, and wore their white coats.
You stayed, even when the dream looked you in the eye and said, “Try again.”
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And do you know how heroic that is?
We live in a world that celebrates speed—first takers, topnotchers, medals, and prestige.
But they forget the silent warriors.
The ones who rise from the floor, pick up their broken confidence, and whisper, “One more try.”
To the one who has taken the exam five times,
You are not weak. You are not slow.
You are forged in fire.
Every attempt carved out something deeper in you—
Patience.
Endurance.
Humility.
And a level of compassion that can’t be taught in any review center.
You don’t love this profession less.
In fact, maybe you love it more—because you fought for it with every fiber of your being.
You may not have passed fast, but when you finally did, you passed with character.
And that, Doctor, is something no exam score can measure.
To the One Still Trying
To the one who hasn’t passed yet—who is still trying, still hanging on…
Please don’t give up.
I know the nights are long.
I know the pressure is loud.
I know how heavy it feels to tell your family, “Wala pa rin.”
I know how it feels to see your friends move forward while you feel stuck in a loop of self-doubt and shame.
But hear this:
Your delay is not your defeat.
You are not a failure.
You are a future doctor in the making—and you’re being shaped into someone unforgettable.
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Your story will be the one that comforts others.
Your voice will be the one that says, “I’ve been where you are. Don’t quit.”
And one day, when you finally pass—and you will—you’ll cry not because of the license, but because of what it cost you to keep believing.
To Everyone Still Climbing
Don’t measure your worth by timelines.
Don’t compare your journey to someone else’s highlight reel.
Because the vet industry doesn’t just need fast minds.
It needs resilient hearts.
It needs vets like you—vets who know what it’s like to fall and rise, again and again.
Vets who show up, even with trembling hands and tired eyes.
Vets who carry both knowledge and empathy into every consult room.
So here’s to you—
- To the ones who didn’t pass on the first try.
- To the ones who’ve taken it five times.
- To the ones preparing for their sixth.
- To the ones still studying in silence, carrying both fear and faith in their chest.
You are not forgotten. You are not falling behind.
You are growing.
You are becoming.
You are walking through the fire that will one day make you unshakable.
And when you get there—and you will—
You will not be the same.
You will be stronger.
Kinder.
And the kind of vet this world so desperately needs.
Keep going.
I’m proud of you.
With love, faith, and deep respect,
—A fellow vet who sees your worth, and believes in your future
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Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
