Stiffany Adanza
Fifteen years ago, a Philippine icon in the entertainment industry whom I greatly idolised and respected, named Francis Magalona, or Francism, was diagnosed with Leukemia, a blood cancer. Seven months later, he passed away. Two years ago, I was told that I had Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. And immediately, I thought, how many months? Will it be like Francism?
Leukaemia patients do not usually live for more than five years after diagnosis, and it is a painful way to die. Until 2001, when a team of researchers led by a chemist and doctor, Dr. Brian J. Druker, researched and developed a drug that turned a fatal cancer into a manageable chronic condition.
During many times when I was working on my thesis and I question why, I question how, I question, when is it going to end, I thought of my medication. If they did not finish their research, I would have three years left to live. But they persevered, so that people like me can live longer. The thought of this has kept me through all the excruciating pain of writing 40,000 words and reading hundreds of articles for my research. That is the value of what we have achieved here, my fellow MCIS graduates – we have contributed something that may save a life, change a perspective, make the world a better place. We did not develop a new drug like Dr. Druker, but I am sure our contribution will benefit someone somehow.
In a speech, Steve Jobs attributed his boldness, passion, and commitment to a line he heard which goes, “If you live each day as if it were your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right,” This is how I have lived my life since I was diagnosed with CML. And unknowingly, this is how we all survived. We took it one quiz at a time, one assessment at a time, and one presentation at a time. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “You don’t have to see the whole staircase – take the first step.” Living in the present is such an effective way to appreciate life, value important things, live without regret, and get the job done.
We couldn’t have survived without the help of the people around us. Our professors and lecturers, my thanks to Dr. Hayati, Dr. Nathan, and Dr. Rashid. Thank you to our friends and classmates who are our live-action chatbots and Google searches who struggled to give us the answers. To the IPU staff, we appreciate all your support. I am sure a lot of us will be coming back to taste the delicious meals at the cafeteria or to have some quiet time in the Library, to still go to our clubs, to marvel at the cherry blossoms, and to keep in touch to show how grateful we are to this institution. Thank you, IPU New Zealand, for the many opportunities. I have never been featured in a newspaper in the Philippines, but in just one year, I’ve had two fifteen minutes of fame here! I will not forget the opportunity to be able to write for the