Day in the life of a Filipina Nurse Practitioner

Hi everyone, good morning—and happy Sunday. I’m writing this from a slow, gloomy morning here in San Francisco. It’s 10:41 AM, and instead of being out on a hike like I originally planned, I’m staying in, sitting with my thoughts, and finally giving myself the space to reflect. It’s been a while since I’ve made a video, and if I’m being honest, that absence says a lot about where I’ve been mentally and emotionally these past couple of weeks.

Lately, I’ve been feeling a little discouraged. Not because I’ve lost belief in what I’m creating—but because I realized I may have been forcing it. Over the past six weeks, I grew my channel by about 25,000 subscribers, which I’m incredibly grateful for. But I also want to be transparent: I invested over $1,000 in ads to push my message out there. At the time, it felt right. I believed—and still believe—in what I’m trying to share: a space that celebrates authenticity, truth, and being unapologetically yourself. But looking back, I think I approached it with too much urgency. I wanted it to grow fast, to reach people quickly, instead of allowing it to unfold naturally.

And maybe that’s where this pause came from.

Because the truth is, this platform was never meant to feel forced. It was meant to feel like an extension of me—raw, honest, and evolving.

I started taking YouTube more seriously at the beginning of June, not fully knowing what direction I wanted to go in. My earlier videos were about travel, food, baking—pieces of me, but not the full picture. Now, I feel like I’m slowly understanding my purpose here. This isn’t just about content. It’s about connection. It’s about documenting my growth, my questions, my uncertainties, and my truth as I live it.

And part of that truth is this: I’ve been questioning a lot lately. My career, my path, where I’m going—it feels like a quiet kind of quarter-life crisis. As a nurse practitioner, I know I still have years ahead before I can fully step into my goal of building my own private practice. There’s structure, timelines, expectations. And while I’m committed to that journey, I’ve also been realizing that I am more than just my career. I’m someone who feels deeply, who creates, who wants to connect, and who wants to remind others that they are allowed to be fully themselves.

That’s where this platform comes in.

Even when I feel discouraged by numbers—watch hours, engagement, algorithms—I remind myself why I started. Yes, I’d love to monetize this someday. Yes, I’d love for it to become a sustainable side income. But beyond that, I want this to be a space where people feel seen. Where someone can watch a video and think, “I’m not alone in this.”

Because I know what it feels like to sit in silence, to hide parts of yourself, to feel like your emotions are too heavy for others. And I also know how powerful it is to finally let yourself be seen.

Through making these videos, I’ve been learning to accept myself more—my flaws, my emotions, my imperfections. I’ve been learning that these things don’t make me less; they make me human. And in a world that often highlights perfection, I want to create space for honesty. For vulnerability. For real life.

I’ve also had to learn how to navigate judgment. Not everyone will understand what I’m doing, and not everyone will support it—and that’s okay. I’m learning to listen to what matters: constructive feedback, genuine connection, and most importantly, my own voice. Because at the end of the day, I have to live with myself and the choices I make.

One thing that’s become very clear to me is this: choosing yourself is not selfish. Taking care of yourself is not narcissistic. It’s necessary. You can’t pour into others if you’re running on empty. And this is something I’m not only learning for myself, but also witnessing in the people around me—patients, family, friends—everyone carrying their own invisible weight.

So maybe this season is about recalibrating. Slowing down. Letting things grow organically. Creating not from pressure, but from purpose.

I’m still going to make videos. I’m still going to share my life—my routines, my thoughts, my journey. But this time, I’m choosing to do it with more intention, more patience, and more trust in the process.

If you’re here, reading this, supporting me in any way—thank you. Truly. Whether you’ve watched a video, liked, commented, or simply spent a few minutes of your day with my story, it means more than you know.

This is just the beginning.

And if there’s one thing I hope you take with you today, it’s this: be yourself. Fully, unapologetically, and without fear. Because no one else can live your life for you—and the most powerful thing you can do is own your story.

With love,
Jasmine