Not being accepted to medical school on your first attempt is very humbling. You go through a whole array of thoughts, feelings and emotions. Especially for those that have extensive work experience in another career you may ask yourself “should I go back?” I am currently on a 60-day on and 60-day off deployment rotation to Burkina Faso West Africa with the Department of the United States Air Force. My primary responsibly is to work as a Flight Paramedic providing aerial medical casualty evacuation of sick and traumatically injured United States Armed Forces Personnel operating in the region. In my off-duty time, I spearhead a fundraising campaign and assist with infrastructure enhancement for Gisele’s Primary School for Orphaned Children. I have raised over 10,000 dollars on behalf of the school. Working with Gisele and helping these children is both humbling and gratifying. I have asked myself, “is this my main calling in life?” Although I experience a strong sense of elation with this on-going project, my desire and passion for being a physician is steadfast. 

Prior to submitting my application for the 2019 cycle I recall saying that “I would go to a Caribbean Medical School be going to a Special Master’s Program.” Well….I did not get in and after extended personal research and contemplation an off-shore school is not the best path for me to become a physician. 

When I decided to truly commit to my journey of becoming a physician in 2014, I told myself, “ okay I just need to complete the required science classes, and those along with my life and work experience, this will be enough to get me into medical school.” I allowed myself to believe this lie. At the time this thought process sat well with me because I have no choice but to work full-time, or so I told myself. From that moment on until Summer 2018, I viewed the required coursework for entry into medical school as an obstacle to be merely overcome. I did not embrace the classes and material as a partner on my voyage to fulfill my dream of becoming a physician. When I took classes, I focused on how the material could be applied medically and filtered out the information I deemed non-applicable. When I received my MCAT score in August 2018 life abruptly changed for me. I had been instantly humbled and became more appreciative and respectful of what it takes to become a physician. I now know that my desire and wishful thinking are not enough. My past accolades pale in comparison because they do not compare to the level of responsibility of being a physician. The goal that resonated with me was that I needed to change my approach to achieve my dream of being a doctor and transform myself into a full-time student.

Before now, I had not attempted to create a support system. For my entire adult life, I have been accustomed to relying on myself to handle my affairs. There was always assistance available, but I did not take advantage of it. Despite some not so pleasant events and circumstances in my life (some self-imposed and external factors beyond my control), I am choosing to use past failures as a platform to establish future success. 

I have been accepted to Lincoln Memorial University’s Biomedical Professions Master of Science Program, in Harrogate Tennessee. The program begins August 2019. I am very grateful and thankful for this opportunity. I will demonstrate my ability to be a better student academically and have a second chance to prove to the admissions committees that I am a prime candidate to be a future physician and leader in medicine.  

If you do not take anything else away from this blog PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE take everything good that you did in the last application cycle and bring it forward with you this cycle. Everything that was not so good determine what that was and get rid of it. Whatever is salvageable but needs refinement, make it better! 

#Lead from the front! #Its not how you start its how you finish! #Its a marathon not a race!

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