21/12/2025
๐๐๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐จ๐ฅ๐ || ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐ 3
๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ: ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐?
Nursing students frequently feel exhausted due to the long clinical assignments, late-night study sessions, and the endless pages of care plans. However, some people have found their place of renewal rather than rest amid pressure and exhaustion. For students like ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ต๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ผ and ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฝ๐๐ป๐ฎ๐ป of the West Visayas State University โ College of Nursing (WVSU-CON) ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฉ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ, the gym has evolved beyond a simple place to lift weights.
For Sharmaine, her fitness journey started with something as simple as wanting to be strong enough to open her own water bottle. โI just wanted to be strong enough to carry my own luggage when traveling,โ she shared. What began as a humble goal gradually evolved into a meaningful pursuit. โFive months ago, I finally gathered the courage to start training in a real gym. Someone once told me to โjust show up,โ and that simple reminder changed everything.โ
Nowadays, the mainstay of Sharmaine's regimen is strength training, a discipline that supports her body and boosts her self-esteem. โEach session reminds me how far Iโve come,โ she said. โItโs not just about getting stronger physically, but about becoming more independent and believing in myself.โ
Pierreโs introduction to the gym came from curiosity and a desire to move. โAt first, it was purely out of curiosity,โ he admitted. โBut over time, it became something deeper. The gym became a part of my routine and, eventually, my lifestyle.โ What started as an experiment turned into a commitment to growing not just aesthetically but also his mindset.
Both Sharmaine and Pierre see striking similarities between nursing and gym culture. โFor me, both are grounded in discipline, time, and consistency,โ Sharmaine explained. โYou have to show up, even when youโre tired or not in the mood, because progress only comes when you keep going.โ
Pierre agreed, adding, โIn the gym, I need perseverance to push through a set when Iโm exhausted. Nursing demands that same strengthโespecially during sleepless nights or long duties. Both require consistency and a strong sense of purpose.โ
Lifting weights is a lot like the everyday struggles of nursing. Every rep is like another care plan with both each done with focus, repetition, and patience until it becomes second nature.
For Sharmaine, the gym became a coping mechanism amid the hustle and bustle of nursing school. โIt helps me manage stress and regain balance,โ she said. โAfter a tough day, the gym allows me to reset, clear my mind, and remind myself of what Iโm capable of.โ
Pierre shares the same sentiment, saying that fitness has taught him the importance of self-care. โWhile caring for others is essential in nursing, taking care of yourself is equally important,โ he reflected. โBy staying healthy physically and mentally, I can perform better and give better care to my patients.โ
The people who cheered her up were more memorable than the heaviest weight Sharmaine ever lifted at the gym. โOn my first day, Coach Frank believed in me before I believed in myself,โ she said. โAnd my friendsโHans, Pierre, Lance, Yego, Chen, RB, Wine, Ice, and Ysahโhave been my motivators and spotters. They remind me that growth isnโt just physical. Itโs about believing in yourself and surrounding yourself with people who push you to do better.โ
Pierreโs lesson came from the pain of progress. โThereโs a saying, โNo pain, no gain,โ and Iโve realized how true it is,โ he said. โThe pain we feel after a hard workout mirrors the struggles we face in life. The soreness means youโre growing. The same goes for every challenge in nursing or in lifeโit all builds strength.โ
If thereโs one thing both nursing students hope others will take from their stories, itโs the power of showing up. โStrength begins the moment you decide to show up for yourself,โ Sharmaine said. โProgress doesnโt have to be loud or perfectโitโs about choosing not to give up.โ
Pierre echoed the same message: โConsistency and self-discipline are key to growth. Whether in the gym or in life, you have to keep showing up, even when itโs hard. Thatโs where true strength is built.โ
For these nursing students, the gym is more than a place to lift weights as itโs where they lift their spirits, sharpen their discipline, and build the kind of resilience that carries them through both the wards and life itself.
In a profession defined by compassion and endurance, theyโve learned that to care for others, one must first learn to care for oneself, and sometimes, that begins with just showing up at the gym as itโs either โone day, or day one.โ
Words by Ethan Niolar
Layout by Benney Albito
Photos Courtesy of Sharmaine Catipunan and Pierre Joshua Lagarto
