9 months later...
Wow, its time to update this journal!
Since my last post, I've taken the MCAT and did well enough to apply to medical school. I spent my entire summer working full-time in Ann Arbor in a lab at the hospital while applying to medical school. For those of you that don't know, this process first requires a primary application which includes a personal statement in which you state why exactly you want to be a doctor, descriptions of all your extracurricular activities, and explanations of research that you've been involved in. Once schools get these primary applications, some give all applications secondary applications while some choose who to send too. These secondary applications are usually more specific essays, like why that school or an explanation of some cultural experience you've been a part of. After this, schools decide if and when they would like to interview you. You then have to do more research on their school as well as on other aspects of the healtcare field, like ethics and health-care policies. You have to decide what exactly you want to say when they ask you to "tell you about yourself" and what makes you unique. I basically spent the summer really discovering what makes me me and what exactly is important to me. While the application process was stressful, I'm glad I had this time to discover myself and all of my strengths. The whole year before, with class and MCAT studying, all I ever heard was that I'm not good enough to be doing this. I needed this time to really look at myself and discover the things I have that others can't offer- empathy, compassion, and a sense of cultural competency gained from personal experience. I learned that its ok that I'm not applying to top notch medical schools because they aren't top notch for me. I want to be the type of physician that patients feel comfortable talking to and striking up conversations with. I want to be that doctor that nurses and PA's like. I NEVER want to make people feel like I'm above them- I want them to feel like an equal part of the team. Schools that value research value such competitiveness and hierarchy... this isn't me. Does this mean I won't make a good doctor? No, it means I'll make a great one.
Anyway, since then, I've gotten 5 interviews. 1 school (Wayne State) wait-listed me, 1 put my application on hold until next month (Rosalind Franklin in Chicago), and 3 accepted me (Michigan State, Creighton (Omaha), and Drexel (Philadelphia). I'm over the moon by this. Sooo many people told me my score wasn't good enough, and now look at me! My parents came here to give their children a better life. My dad had to study by candlelight, and my grandma had to fight the system to learn to read. Neither of my parents went to college, and now here I am about to go to medical school. My drive comes from them, it comes from knowing that this is what they came here for. Everything I do is in honor of them and of my past.
Some tough things have happened this semester too. My mom decided to go to Malta in mid-September to see my grandma, as she hasn't been doing so well. A week after she got there, my grandma passed away in her arms. Many people think I couldn't have been close to her because she lived so far. On the contrary, I was so close to her. She fought the system when she was little to get the little education she has. She was so feisty and taught me I can do anything I set my mind to. She always encouraged me to further my education regardless of what anyone else says. I get my determination and my drive from her. She also taught me how to be selfless, how to use my talents to help others and never keep more than I need. Because of this, I hope to use my MD to help immigrants here in the United States and to help the poorest people abroad. If she would have lived just 1 more month, she could witnessed me being accepted to medical school. I dreamed of sending her a picture of me in a white coat, showing her that her lessons meant something to me. I carry her in my heart everyday, and I know she is praying for me and supporting me in everything I do. I love you, nanna, RIP.
My mom was devastated. I called Malta and she cried to me for the whole phone call. She didn't leave the house for the longest time. Meanwhile, my dad's back hurt so bad he couldn't walk. He forced himself to go to work because he knows if he doesn't he'll get laid off, and he can't afford that because both of his daughters want to go to medical school. The amount he sacrifices for me is truly admirable. My sister was also going through a tough time with lots of exams in weeder classes that are made to discourage people from pursuing science. It was during this time I was flying to interviews (I had to pay!) and trying to focus my energy on getting into medical school. Since she came back, its been better. Although I held her while she cried the first night, she seems to be focusing her energy into supporting Emily and I like nanna told her to do before she passed away. My dad is feeling better due to some shots and my mom's cooking I'm sure. Since my acceptances, I'm able to support my sister in ways I wish someone could have done for me when I was her age.
All of these experiences have really helped me define who I am, and, through counseling, I've learned to look at myself in a positive light. I don't have to get into top-notch medical schools and/or be a douchebag in order to be happy with myself or to be successful. Its not in me to be that way. I've learned how necessary it is to take time for myself. I now take a Yoga class and love it. I've become more adventurous- I go out more and try new things more often. I'm more spontaneous. I'm like I was in Chile and its amazing. I'm so different than I was in high school and even when I started college and I'm loving the person I'm developing into. This process is hard, but the results are so worth it.
Since my last post, I've taken the MCAT and did well enough to apply to medical school. I spent my entire summer working full-time in Ann Arbor in a lab at the hospital while applying to medical school. For those of you that don't know, this process first requires a primary application which includes a personal statement in which you state why exactly you want to be a doctor, descriptions of all your extracurricular activities, and explanations of research that you've been involved in. Once schools get these primary applications, some give all applications secondary applications while some choose who to send too. These secondary applications are usually more specific essays, like why that school or an explanation of some cultural experience you've been a part of. After this, schools decide if and when they would like to interview you. You then have to do more research on their school as well as on other aspects of the healtcare field, like ethics and health-care policies. You have to decide what exactly you want to say when they ask you to "tell you about yourself" and what makes you unique. I basically spent the summer really discovering what makes me me and what exactly is important to me. While the application process was stressful, I'm glad I had this time to discover myself and all of my strengths. The whole year before, with class and MCAT studying, all I ever heard was that I'm not good enough to be doing this. I needed this time to really look at myself and discover the things I have that others can't offer- empathy, compassion, and a sense of cultural competency gained from personal experience. I learned that its ok that I'm not applying to top notch medical schools because they aren't top notch for me. I want to be the type of physician that patients feel comfortable talking to and striking up conversations with. I want to be that doctor that nurses and PA's like. I NEVER want to make people feel like I'm above them- I want them to feel like an equal part of the team. Schools that value research value such competitiveness and hierarchy... this isn't me. Does this mean I won't make a good doctor? No, it means I'll make a great one.
Anyway, since then, I've gotten 5 interviews. 1 school (Wayne State) wait-listed me, 1 put my application on hold until next month (Rosalind Franklin in Chicago), and 3 accepted me (Michigan State, Creighton (Omaha), and Drexel (Philadelphia). I'm over the moon by this. Sooo many people told me my score wasn't good enough, and now look at me! My parents came here to give their children a better life. My dad had to study by candlelight, and my grandma had to fight the system to learn to read. Neither of my parents went to college, and now here I am about to go to medical school. My drive comes from them, it comes from knowing that this is what they came here for. Everything I do is in honor of them and of my past.
Some tough things have happened this semester too. My mom decided to go to Malta in mid-September to see my grandma, as she hasn't been doing so well. A week after she got there, my grandma passed away in her arms. Many people think I couldn't have been close to her because she lived so far. On the contrary, I was so close to her. She fought the system when she was little to get the little education she has. She was so feisty and taught me I can do anything I set my mind to. She always encouraged me to further my education regardless of what anyone else says. I get my determination and my drive from her. She also taught me how to be selfless, how to use my talents to help others and never keep more than I need. Because of this, I hope to use my MD to help immigrants here in the United States and to help the poorest people abroad. If she would have lived just 1 more month, she could witnessed me being accepted to medical school. I dreamed of sending her a picture of me in a white coat, showing her that her lessons meant something to me. I carry her in my heart everyday, and I know she is praying for me and supporting me in everything I do. I love you, nanna, RIP.
My mom was devastated. I called Malta and she cried to me for the whole phone call. She didn't leave the house for the longest time. Meanwhile, my dad's back hurt so bad he couldn't walk. He forced himself to go to work because he knows if he doesn't he'll get laid off, and he can't afford that because both of his daughters want to go to medical school. The amount he sacrifices for me is truly admirable. My sister was also going through a tough time with lots of exams in weeder classes that are made to discourage people from pursuing science. It was during this time I was flying to interviews (I had to pay!) and trying to focus my energy on getting into medical school. Since she came back, its been better. Although I held her while she cried the first night, she seems to be focusing her energy into supporting Emily and I like nanna told her to do before she passed away. My dad is feeling better due to some shots and my mom's cooking I'm sure. Since my acceptances, I'm able to support my sister in ways I wish someone could have done for me when I was her age.
All of these experiences have really helped me define who I am, and, through counseling, I've learned to look at myself in a positive light. I don't have to get into top-notch medical schools and/or be a douchebag in order to be happy with myself or to be successful. Its not in me to be that way. I've learned how necessary it is to take time for myself. I now take a Yoga class and love it. I've become more adventurous- I go out more and try new things more often. I'm more spontaneous. I'm like I was in Chile and its amazing. I'm so different than I was in high school and even when I started college and I'm loving the person I'm developing into. This process is hard, but the results are so worth it.