Super Star Blogs!

The Study Hack

If you ask me, the two primary characteristics that make a medical student successful are not GPA and MCAT scores but passion and work ethic. I have touched on passion in a prior blog so I’d like to elaborate on work ethic and more specifically, study work ethic. A common concern I have heard from a number of premeds and frequently read on PreMed STAR pertain to studying and motivation. Please consider some of these techniques I embraced through my years of training (The Setup, The Strategy, The Motivation).

THE SETUP

1. Sleep/Eat/Exercise: If someone could put these 3 things in a pill providing all their benefits, they would instantaneously become a billionaire. Sleep and proper nutrition are essential for learning and memory. There are a number of brain foods and beverages that will enhance the study experience. Exercise in general improves cognitive function and may increase the size of the hippocampus which may benefit memory recall. Vitamin D gained from sunlight exposure and foods has also been thought to have neuroprotective effects. These three things can assist with improving mood, anxiety, sleep, stress and offer many other benefits.

2. Location Matters: You know yourself best. Consider clearing your study space. Consider going to a library or coffee shop. Remove all distractions!

3. Timing: Again, you know yourself. Are you a morning person? Then make sure to get enough sleep, grab your coffee (if that’s your thing) and get to it. If you are more of a night owl like I was, then go for it. Regardless of preference, it is known that reviewing your notes soon after you’ve learned the material allows better recollection.

THE STRATEGY

1. SQ3R

a. Skim the text

b. Questions (ask them and write them down)

c. Read the text

d. Recite (in YOUR OWN WORDS, mnemonics, sing it, record it, or whatever sticks)

e. Review the material (flash cards, highlighting, teach someone)

2. Pomodoro Technique

a. Pick 1 task to study

b. Set timer (typically 25 minutes)

c. Focus on task

d. End work when timer rings and place a checkmark on paper (1 pomodoro)

e. Following the first 3 pomodoros take a 3-5 minute short break

f. After the 4th pomodoro take a longer break (15-30 minutes)

3. Feynman Model

a. Pick a topic to learn and write on a board or top of paper

b. Write and speak the concept (especially what you don’t know)

c. Simplify what you have written in PLAIN ENGLISH (filter the content)

THE MOTIVATION

1. Know your Why: Understanding this may be the one thing that helps you get by the stressful premed studies and the even more stressful med school studies. The sooner you figure this out the better off you will be. Those who know their why rarely quit.

2. Reminders: Why are you doing this? Who are you doing this for? Place a photo of your loved one who is depending on you, your home country you want to fix, the GPA or MCAT score you are aiming for on your wall or use this reminder as a bookmark.

3. Think Positive: Be optimistic. The glass is half full. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and it is not a train. Always remember, it has been done before you and will be done after you. There are everyday normal people scoring in the 99th percentile and people doing what it takes to get there. Why not you?

4. Take a Break: Refreshing your mind is necessary. Spend a day with friends. Call your mother or someone who will provide support. Go for a walk. Read a book unrelated to your studies. Watch a motivational video. It is important to know there is another world out there.

iGrind Motivational Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce1NYsFPzXI

These are a few strategies that got me through and actually allowed me to somewhat enjoy studying. I hope they help someone.

Do you have other tips or strategies? Please share your study hacks below.

Congratulations to Catherine! Premed of the Week!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Hi, I’m Catherine Arias from New York. I came to the US at the age of 18 to start my pre-med journey and seek for better opportunities. I went to Nassau Community College and got my Associates in science and from there I went to Stony Brook University where I graduated with a BS in Biology and a concentration in Neurobiology. I’ve been working as an Ophthalmic Technician for 5 years and as a Surgical Technician for three years. Working on this field, help me connect to patients in a deeper level not only medically but also personally. I enjoy interacting with them and be their comfort when needed. I had the opportunity to work with amazing doctors who have helped me throughout this journey. Medicine is something that I feel very passionate about and I think it has its own beauty.

2. Who was your favorite teacher in school and how did he or she impact you? There is one that I would never forget. He was my teacher in Introductory Biology II in college. He always said “my exams are just as hard as medical school”. As soon as he said that I knew his class was going to be a challenge because his exams require a lot of critical thinking. I wasn’t doing very well on his class and I am someone that if I don’t get an A or B I bring myself down. One day, I went to his office hours because I was really thinking on dropping off the class and there’s a phrase he said to me I will never forget, “You are to giving up so quickly because you don’t look like a quitter; you have what it takes to excel in the class just work hard and have some perseverance”. I was amazed by his words and really every time I was taking a hard class, such as Biochemistry, I just remembered him and all the courage he gave me.

3. When did you first decide you wanted to become a doctor and why? I always grew up on the medical field since both of my parents are doctors but that critical point when I decided to become a doctor was when a very closed cousin died at the age of 20. He was born with infant cerebral palsy and was unable to walk or feed himself. He was always connected to feeding tubes and couldn’t talk or move. He is my role model because even though he was restricted in so many ways, he was always smiling and happy. He is the reason why I want to become a doctor; to be able to help more children just like him.

4. What area of medicine are you interested in? I am very passionate about two fields, which are Neurosurgery and Ophthalmology. Working as an ophthalmic technician solidify my knowledge about the eye anatomy and its beauty.

5. What’s the coolest experience you’ve had so far on your premedical journey? I would say it was when I went to Antananarivo, Madagascar with my mentor Dr. Patricia Wright. I always referred to it as the experience of my life; one that really change my perspective of viewing the world around us. I volunteered to assist midwives and nurses in delivering patient care to remote villages. We were able to assist children and pregnant women with malaria and give them the proper medical care to treat this condition. You can imagine my excitement throughout the experience because sometimes we don’t appreciate what we are given, especially coming from a country like the US when you don’t have limitations and you have access to medical care more freely compared to other countries. I met a woman and getting her medical history she told me how she gave birth to 11 children and lost 6 due to poor living conditions; my heart instantly broke. One thing I can say about Malagasi citizens is that they may not have all the resources that we do but they are the most happiest and welcoming people I have ever met, and that was a lifetime lesson for me.

6. What is your favorite book? Throughout my undergraduate journey, I read a lot of literature, but one book that really stood out to me was Enrique’s Journey because It really narrates what minorities, in this case Hispanic, go through for a better quality of life for them and their families.

7. Tell us one thing interesting about you that most people don’t know. I love playing tennis even though I haven’t been able to do it since I started college. Even though, I love dancing and going out on the weekends, I would rather stay home, lay on my bed and watch movies. That’s like the best day of my life after a long week studying for the MCAT.

8. If you couldn’t be a doctor, what would you want to do? I hope that’s not the case but I will stay in healthcare because I love interacting with patient and get to connect with them not only as a healthcare professional but as a person. I would probably go to PA school or become an optometrist since I already have experience on the field.

9. What has been your biggest obstacle as a premed and how did you (or are you) overcome it? I’m going to say one of them was coming to the US from another country and having the language barrier. I wasn’t at the same speed as other college students, but a whole semester of hard work, learning to write essays, working on my grammar and my communication skills really help me get through that rough path.

10. What do you like most about Diverse Medicine? Being able to connect with other premeds and get some advice from others going through the same path as me, as well as, seeing everything they have accomplished to be a step closer to their goal. I love their webinars with different universities since they are very informative and ease our minds in this process that sometimes can be tough.

Finding a Shadow

Reading Aishat’s amazing blog a couple of weeks ago, “The Untold Story of a Shadow”, made me think. So I decided I would share this with any of you who may be either having trouble finding a physician to shadow or don’t know where to begin.

Now, I realize that my experience may not reflect the potential experience that others may achieve depending on geographic location and so forth, but about a month or so ago I was very worried about being able to find a physician to shadow. I figured MAYBE my family physician (who is a D.O.) might allow me to, but he is affiliated with a major hospital and they sometimes tend to have very strict rules regarding shadowing. But I eventually just said to myself, “Well, you don’t know if you don’t ask”. So the first thing I did was contact an orthopedic surgeon I knew from when I had a rotator cuff injury a couple of year ago (makes me an existing patient, so easier to ask him). Well after 3 weeks of calling (long story short, he is very busy) he finally told the woman I was speaking to to just set it up. Yay! I found a physician to shadow!

Well, I didn’t stop there. I started calling local hospitals to ask if they had any type of shadowing programs. Several said no, but I was finally able to find one that did. NYU Winthrop University Hospital, which is a very good hospital on Long Island. Granted I had to go through an extensive application process and clearances, submit MMR paperwork with titers as well as get an updated PPD test (almost still needed a flu shot as well, which I couldn’t find anywhere because of the season, but fortunately the New York State Board of Health finally declared flu season officially over only last week!). But after all this I have now been accepted into their program and will be shadowing a physician in the Emergency Room. The best part about this? Well:

1) This is not a regular shadowing program where I will stand in the corner out of the way trying to remain silent and inconspicuous watching the physician for hours on end and doing little to nothing. This program is designed for the student to be directly involved with working with the physician. As they put it, you are a liason of sorts, between the physician and the patient. I will have to attend an orientation this coming Saturday with a P.A. to learn how to use the computer system in the ER because I will most likely be dealing with transferring ordered lab tests and results back and forth to the physician, as well as other things. So that, to me, just makes the whole experience so much more awesome and amazing!

2) I also have an interest in Anesthesiology which I had mentioned to the chairman of the Emergency Department who set me up with this program (again only met him over the phone so far) and he said that although Anesthesiology tends to be busy and sometimes it may be hard to get me into the OR, that he may be able to get me to observe a few procedures such as intubations and such, which I enthusiastically thanked him for.

Now, aside from all this, my family physician is also affiliated with the same hospital. I had to see him anyway in order to get the PPD test done, so while I was there I mentioned shadowing to him. He agreed, but said that the process that is required is lengthy. I explained to him that I had already gone through it with this hospital and that I was cleared with them for 1 year. So now I have him to shadow in August as well (I have to leave the month of July open for summer school).

So my point of this whole long statement? Well, I started off trying to figure out how to even find 1 physician to allow me to shadow them, and in the end I wound up with three and potentially 4 physicians to shadow, consisting of 3 M.D’s and one D.O. at one of the best hospitals on Long Island. So if you are worried about how you are going to find someone to shadow, don’t be. Instead just realize that just like everything else we do as pre meds it will require time, work, patience and most of all persistence, but it will pay off in the end. You may even wind up with more than you even expected.

So good luck to everyone in your pre med studies and activities!

Accepted! What It Feels Like!

Have you ever doubted yourself? You know, asked a few self-defeating questions. Am I good enough? Will I ever get accepted to medical school? Most of us have been there at some point in the journey. Chasing the med school dream isn’t easy. What is easy however, is giving up. How do you combat that urge to quit? How do you fend off the doubting voice in your mind? Here’s one suggestion; anytime you get that nasty feeling, take a moment to envision what it will be like when you get that message, “Congratulations, you have been ACCEPTED!” So, what thoughts will run through your mind when that letter is in your hand?

1. Is this real? Yep, you might have a moment of disbelief. Maybe your best friend is playing a real cruel joke on you. You’ve waited for this moment for so long and it’s finally here. Or is it? You’ll pinch yourself, slap yourself, and throw ice cold water on your face. After all that, you’ll look down at the paper in your hand and see that it’s still there.
2. THIS IS REAL! Naturally this thought will follow. This is the moment when you realize you’ll likely become a doctor. You’ll see an image of yourself in a white coat. You’ll see yourself holding a patient’s hand. You’ll see yourself teaching medical students. Yep…THIS IS REAL!
3. Am I ready? That nasty little guy named Mr. Doubt will try to sneak into your mind and steal your joy. He’s going to try to lure you into the comparison game. You’ll wonder what schools your classmates will come from. What their MCAT scores will be. Let me give you one piece of advice. WHO CARES!!! Forget about all that and just bask in the moment.
4. When do I start? I get it, you’re excited. After you’ve evicted Mr. Doubt from your brain, you’ll feel like you can take on the world and take it on now. The excitement to be a doctor will be palpable and you’ll be skimming your letter and searching websites to find your start date. Slow down buddy. You’ll get plenty of medical school, just enjoy your last few weeks of freedom.
5. Let’s celebrate! Now it’s time to start making those phone calls. Call your mama, daddy, siblings, aunty, uncle, friends, teachers, pets….whoever you can reach and let them know. Share the excitement with your loved ones. Get a group of people together, and have a celebratory dinner. You’ve done it!

Keep your eyes on the prize. Being a premedical student is challenging, but when you get accepted, you’ll realize it was all worth it. So, what thoughts do you think will (or did) go through your mind when you get your acceptance letter?

Congratulations to Aishat! Premed of the Week! – May 21, 2018 & May 15th 2017

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. I am Aishat (pronounced Ayesha) Motolani, a 21yr old international student from Nigeria studying Biological science at Albany State University. I was born and bred in the cacophonous center of excellence, Lagos. By contrast, I am a reserved person who loves nature. I have tried growing tomatoes, beans, pineapple, and several other crops, and I would like to believe that they were busy preparing for a special type of appearance. I am currently a senior and actively preparing for my admission into medical school. I am the first of five siblings and a first-generation college student. I see myself as a life-long learner, someone who loves caring for others and someone who loves to right the wrong. All medical students and physicians to me right now are #goals. Outside of my academics, I love promoting diversity, advocating for humanitarian causes, exercising, and writing poems and stories.

2. Who was your favorite teacher in school and how did he or she impact you? My favorite teacher in school is Ms. Jones, my biology professor (I bet she doesn’t know this). She has impacted me in so many ways. I had culture shock when I came to the United States. I had to pay extra attention to what my professors say, put in extra hours for studying, refine my communication and team-work skills, and work on several other interpersonal aptitudes that would enable me to get habituated to the new environment. Taking her class really pushed me to accomplish all those skills and helped boost my self-esteem. I had lots of self-doubts and she would quell them with her random motivational speeches and the-easy-on-the-eyes-guy anecdotes. And by the way, she is one of the few teachers who pronounces my surname so beautifully.

3. When did you first decide you wanted to become a doctor and why? In most developing countries or let me say African countries, it is a trend that female become doctors and males become engineers. So, I was swimming in that pool for a while. I and my friends in high school would fantasize about wearing white coats, hanging the stethoscope around our neck, and running down the hallway to save humanity (sounds familiar?). After high school, I spent 2 years trying to get admission into universities but all my efforts were to no avail. Those were one of the emotional years of my life. However, during those times, I sunk back into reality and I began to think about what I really want to do in life. This was when the Ebola virus started pervading West Africa. A particular doctor’s story resonated with me and as a result, my volition to be a physician became stronger. She saved the lives of up to 2 million residents by sacrificing her life. The patient who brought Ebola to my country was placed in quarantine. But since he knew he is going to die anyways, he was determined to spread the disease. While everyone was trying to stay away, Dr. Adadevoh sprang into action and resisted his release. She took on all his bodily fluids during the resistance. Consequently, she contracted Ebola and she passed away in 2014. Witnessing this event unfold stamped a seal of certainty on my decision to pursue a career in medicine. She embodied the selflessness and compassion that medicine demands and I wish to carry on that demeanor. My intrinsic motivation stemmed from my curiosity about the bodily organs and from my frequent visit to hospitals for malaria treatment and other ailments. Even though I visit because I am sick, I do feel comfortable being in the hospital and I get this subtle voice in my head that says, “ this is where you should be” (not as a patient though). I do not like to see people suffering especially when I know I have the potential to alleviate their pain. I want to help to restore people’s hopes of living and to treat people so that they can live the best life they dreamed of. So, the big picture is perfect – I decided to become a doctor.

4. What area of medicine are you interested in? I like to say that I am a totipotent stem cell when it comes to deciding the specialty I am interested in. As premeds, sometimes we do not know the demands of a specialty until we get into medical school and start analyzing all the different components. However, with that being said, I am drawn towards cardiology and pediatrics. I love the heart. It is perfectly designed and beautiful. Its rhythm is powerful and its functionality draws the line between life and death. I can go on with extolling this amazing part of our system. On the other hand, I gravitate towards pediatrics because I love children. I love to spend time with them and care for them. Their innocence just makes me believe the world would become more colorful. I would love to be a physician who helps with sustaining the good health of our future generation.

5. What’s the coolest experience you’ve had so far on your premedical journey? Coolest experience I have had so far is winning scholarships to attend conferences across different states. I love meeting new people from different backgrounds and I love sharing ideas and learning from visionary and experienced students and professors. I love traveling; so, visiting new places and seeing the wonders of nature are always refreshing and uplifting.

6. What is your favorite book? My favorite book is the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. A non-fiction book by Rebecca Skloot that narrates the origin of HeLa cells, the cell that pioneered cancer cell research, and the life of Henrietta Lacks and that of her children. It made me appreciate how far medicine has come in terms of ethics and the human side of the story is just heartbreaking. It is a story that has stuck with me for quite a while.

7. Tell us one thing interesting about you that most people don’t know. Most people don’t know that I understand Hindi, one of the official languages of India. I am a huge Bollywood fan, so 8yrs+ of watching Bollywood films earned me that skill.

8. If you couldn’t be a doctor, what would you want to do? If I couldn’t be a doctor in this lifetime, I would try again in my next life. I say that because I have had a near death experience before. And in that moment, I realized that life is only worth living when one does what the heart sincerely desires. I have nurtured this dream since the age of 12, so I am not settling for a plan B.

9. What has been your biggest obstacle as a premed and how did you (or are you) overcome it? The word obstacle scares me. So, I would say my biggest struggle is being away from my family. I have never been away from home. So, I was afraid of losing my identity and missing special family occasions. When I journeyed alone to a different country on a different continent, I became confused with who I was at first and that made me cocoon into a shell. However, I soon realized that home is not a place, it is the people I care about. My involvement with the community and school organizations made me feel at home, and I began to bond with so many people that I can call family as well.

10. What do you like most about PreMed STAR? PreMed STAR is a magical platform to me. When I log on, I feel like I’m on a train to my destination(medical school). The people on the train are kind and always willing to help one another through providing helpful advice and resources. My favorite feature is the profile. I have been working on it over the past years and now that I am applying, it feels less burdensome to fill out my work and activities section on AMCAS/AACOMAS. The webinars are awesome too because they offer great insights into the medical school application process.

The untold story of a shadow

*Cues in horror film sound*

Behold! Where can you find a shadow that does not melt into the air in the presence of bright white lights and shining white coats? The hospital!!! Of course, you can find students shadowing professionals in another field. But have you heard the story of a shadowing premedical student? Please, grab a popcorn.

Understandably, shadowing a physician is a recommended requirement for many premedical students. Medical schools want to make sure that we are not caught up in the fantasies of medical Tv shows or with the idea of being a doctor itself. Also, shadowing a physician, for those who are not working in the medical field, could serve as a period of clarity for students who are unsure of their career path. My only exposure to the world of medicine is through physicians. It has become a hobby for me because I could vicariously diagnose a patient, write prescriptions, and operate on patients through shadowing physicians. It is an exciting experience, but being a shadow has its own awkward moments.

For example, as I strode down the hallways of the hospital like a hero following my physician, I felt a stream of power flow through my veins until I step into the examination room. Upon entry, I retreat into the farthest yet close enough corner to watch the physician-patient interaction unfold. If there was emotional music in the background, it would have seemed like a real-world Greys Anatomy in play. I get introduced in a number of ways: “ This is my medical student.”, “She is a future doctor in the making.” ,“She is my student for today.” Even when I am introduced as a premedical student, the “pre” somehow escapes into thin air. As the physician types up patients’ history, locking eyes with the computer, patients lock their eyes with me while narrating their history. I smile, nod, and make all sort of soothing facial expressions to show the patient that I care. In the abyss of my mind, a voice whispers, “You are not a doctor.” You see the white coat is pure magic! (I was wearing my white lab coat).

As a shadow, calculating what time to emerge from being invisible to voice out my questions or to make a request becomes a hefty task. The tug of war between being considerate and being inquisitive is almost never-ending. So, I raise my questions only after keenly observing the four dimensions of space to avoid disrupting the physician.

Also, the shadow dreads being left in a room with a patient. At that moment, all kinds of stories pour out, leaving the shadow drenched in a rain of confusion. Below is an example of some conversations that ensue:

Shadow: “Ma’am, I am just a student. The physician would be back shortly.”

Patient: “But do you think I still have cancer?” “I cannot afford that medicine.” “My eyes are red, aren’t they?”

Shadow: “I’ll go check on the physician on your behalf, okay?”

As the door cracks open, the shadow resumes breathing.

Shadowing physicians is a wonderful experience. It allows one to absorb a wealth of knowledge while reflecting on the lessons learned simultaneously. It is incredible how the mere observation of a physician could sow seeds of motivation in one’s mind. I remember shadowing in the OR while studying for my MCAT in the summer. The amount of drive I gained during that period stayed with me throughout my fall semester when I took only upper-level science courses. Shadowing literally means being a shadow. But, you can amass mounds of treasure while you stand in that corner by gathering patients stories and physicians’ actions and weaving it into your own peculiar story of why medicine.

Do you have any specific shadowing moment you would love to share with us? Drop a comment down below!

PS: this account does not singly depict the experience of all premedical students.

Don’t Wish Your Life Away

“Thank God it’s Friday!” I hate this phrase. Okay, that’s a bit too strong. I strongly dislike this statement. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s wonderful to be thankful for Friday but why not be thankful for Monday through Thursday as well?

As a very young child I never really cared what day of the week it was. Every day was play day and I was grateful for that. However, as life became more complex, the days took on their unique qualities. Mondays were the worst! How I dreamed Wednesday would come. By Thursday, I could see the light and on Friday you could get me to sing any song (no matter how corny it may have been).

And then… It became like a drug.

Friday wasn’t enough for me. I found myself wishing for my basketball season to start in 2 weeks, my birthday in 2 months, Spring break, and finally summer vacation. I couldn’t wait to start driving my first vehicle. I couldn’t wait to graduate high school. I couldn’t wait to graduate college. Before I knew it, my 20’s blew by. My decade long medical training had engulfed my young adult life. These years were filled with a seemingly never-ending climb up the totem pole always eagerly anticipating the next round. Gone just like that. I realized that I had wished so many weeks and years away by always looking ahead.

Again, I hope you don’t miss my point. There is no problem with looking ahead for planning purposes or in excitement for your future. This is necessary and vital for success and motivation. All I am saying is that life goes by fast so don’t forget to live in the moment. Soak in your time in anatomy lab (even if it is on a Monday). Get to know a new classmate you never thought you’d cross paths with. Take a trip to a foreign land. Call up a loved one to check on them. Being someone strongly driven by rewards, I find it very helpful to set daily or at times hourly rewards which are healthy. This may mean going for a walk after an hour of studying or speaking with a great friend, grandparent or nephew every Monday morning. It’s these little things that enrich one’s life. These are the things that allow you to live in the moment and avoid painful regrets.

I once asked our very own intensivist, Dr. Dale what advice patients on their dying bed shared with him as he cared for them. He said, “they are typically too sick to communicate by the time they reach him in the ICU but he can tell so much about them by those loved ones who come around. It’s always sad when no one comes by to visit them but others have a full room of people sharing moments and fond memories of the patient.” I don’t want to be the bearer of sad news but these are the realities of life. We sometimes get stuck in the weeds and miss the larger picture until it becomes too late. Being a premed is tough but can be a lot of fun as can every step on your journey to become that DO or MD. Enjoy the moment and next week don’t forget to remind yourself, Thank God it’s Monday!

Congratulations to William! Premed of the Week!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Well, I am born and raised in New York City ( born in the Bronx and raised in Jamaica, Queens) and currently reside in Centereach in Suffolk County, Long Island. I am a non-traditional applicant with a lot of different experiences in my past. Some of them include my volunteer activities which include working with the Nassau County Auxiliary Police, The Jericho and West Islip Fire Departments as an EMT and New York State certified firefighter, and the Red Cross doing home fire alarm installations and of course disaster response when needed.

I have a pretty hectic schedule ( as I am sure we all do) being that I work full time at a medical diagnostics company and go to school full time as well as an STS (Science, Technology and Society) major. When I do have some unwind time to myself I enjoy just getting out of the house in the open air, maybe go to the park or a quiet part of the beach, or even go to a movie or out to eat. I am really very diversified in my interests, so I am constantly trying new things.

2. Who was your favorite teacher in school and how did he or she impact you? My favorite teacher so far was a professor and priest named Father Francis Pizzarelli. He is an amazing man. He not only teaches Sociology in college, but also runs a home for people trying to recover from addiction, in which he directly works with all the clients as well as handling all the finances of the place ( I believe he has over a 1 million a year budget or so). Just his energy and determination to do something he loves and puts everything into it is one reason I find him so amazing.

3. When did you first decide you wanted to become a doctor and why? Well, I know everyone always says this, but I knew I wanted to be a doctor before I went to high school. As a matter of fact I took 2 years of Latin in high school thinking it may benefit me in the medical field in the future. But, I began to stray and wanted to hang with friends more than study, and my grades began to reflect that. But all in all I think that may have actually been a good thing. That was showing that at that time I didn’t really have the maturity I needed to be in med school. So now that I have some time under my belt, I am 100% sure and ready for the challenge ahead!

4. What area of medicine are you interested in? My main interest in Emergency Medicine. I absolutely love working in the ED and the entire atmosphere there. I am also very good at connecting with people, which I think will benefit me as well. In the ED you are meeting people as a physician that have never known you before, so of course they will be very leary and apprehensive about your diagnosis and treatments prescribed to them, let alone even letting you touch the sometimes, especially if you seem to contradict something that their family physician has stated. Also, some people you will be meeting on what might be the worst day of their lives, depending on the reason they are there. I think being able to instantly connect with people and gain their trust is a very important trait in an emergency physician.

5. What’s the coolest experience you’ve had so far on your premedical journey? I think the best experience I have had on my pre medical journey is all the amazing people I have met along the way. This includes other premeds, their friends and family ( at times) and even my professors. When I first decided to go back to school and pursue this path, I expected a lot of bias and even prejudice because of my age (not that it would have stopped me). What I found from most people was quite the opposite. People going out of their way to help me in any way they can as well as commending me for what I am taking on and having the drive and desire to make it come true no matter what. It has really given me even more strength and let me KNOW that I will make it.

6. What is your favorite book? My favorite book was Angels and Demons. I read it before I saw the movie ( the book was better, lol) I loved it so much I couldn’t put it down, and read it in less than 2 days.

7. Tell us one thing interesting about you that most people don’t know. I guess one interesting thing about me that people don’t know is that I am really a big softy. I try not to let people know this because I don’t want people to try to take advantage of me in any way or any such thing, but I am kind of a softy. I also sing really loud with songs I like in my car and I really swear I sound just like them…lol.

8. If you couldn’t be a doctor, what would you want to do? If I couldn’t be a doctor I would probably look into something else medically oriented, like RN or NP or maybe even paramedic. I would still try to be in an emergency environment.

9. What has been your biggest obstacle as a premed and how did you (or are you) overcome it? I would say my biggest obstacle so far as a premed has been returning to school after being gone for a long period, and readjusting to not only studying again, but studying large amounts of material, writing reports, etc for at least 4 different subjects a semester, as well as finding the time for all this while working full time as well. The way I overcame this is really pretty simple. I set my future first, which means I set school and my education first. If I need more study time before an exam, I take a night off work to study. If my job gets in my way and I have to choose between work and school, I will find a new job. I always keep studying and school my first priority in life because without that, I will not attain any of the goals I have set for myself.

10. What do you like most about PreMed STAR? I think what I like most about PreMed STAR so far is all the different people you meet here and the amazing stories they have. I think if you are ever discouraged about any step of the process, if you come here, you can either find someone to talk to or read someones story of how they were in the same situation and how they turned things around in their favor. People are always very willing to help each other here, so there is no competition among premeds like in some colleges. It’s all just premeds trying to help premeds, and I love that.

How to Become a Morning Person

How to be a Morning Person

Have you ever woken up an hour early because you were so excited about something? You know, that feeling when you’re so giddy that you can’t sleep. Maybe it’s a close friend coming in town. When I’ve been in those situations, I wake up extra pumped. I’m pumped because I’m looking forward to the day ahead. So when I hear people say, “I’m not a morning person,” it makes me think they’re never excited about their days ahead. In my opinion, that leads to suboptimal performance. You want to wake up ready to take on the world! Here are 5 tips to help you become a morning person.

Plan your day the night before. By and large, we’re happy when we are in control of things. Unless it involves gifts, we tend not to like surprises. If you know what lies ahead, you’re more likely to be excited about taking it on. There will be no trepidation or fear of the unknown. Each night before getting in bed, take two minutes to review and plan your schedule for the following day.
Wake up with a prayer of gratitude. Nothing puts things in perspective quite like taking a minute or two to say your thanks for all the things you have in life. Just drop your “woe is me” attitude and think of all the things you can be thankful for. When you start each day by giving thanks for all that you have, it gets you in the proper mindset to take on the world.
Do 20 pushups. Get that blood flowing! Exercise provides physical stimuli and offers an adrenergic surge throughout your body. It’ll get the “wake up” molecules going.
Hey, don’t be nasty. Take a shower and brush your teeth. When you feel fresh, you’ll be more apt to interact with people. Engaging with others early in the day helps to get your thoughts in motion.
Eat breakfast. This is a no brainer. Your brain needs fuel and that fuel is carbs. The key here is not to eat too many processed carbs. Those might get you pumped for an hour or so but soon enough, that energy crash might hit you!

These 5 things will help you join the ranks of some of the most successful people in the world by becoming a morning person. You don’t want to be the person who kicks into full gear at noon while everyone else has been there since 8 am. An awful lot gets accomplished in the first few hours of the day, be sure not to waste them!

Are you a morning person? What tips do you to help others become morning people?

Congratulations to Shawn! Premed of the Week!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Hey, PreMed STAR family! I’m Shawn Thomas from Mesquite, TX. I’m currently a sophomore at Southern Methodist University double majoring in Biology and Health and Society (cross-cultural perspective on health) as well as minoring in English.

I am a nineteen-year old South Indian who seeks to make a difference in the world through spreading optimism and hard work within my academics. Through the help of my supportive parents who wholeheartedly invest in me as their youngest child, I have had the blessing of graduating from the number one high school in America to pursuing my own passions within the realm of college. My high school experience was unique in the sense that I was surrounded by students of a wide variety of races, incomes, and backgrounds who were undeniably brilliant. Nonetheless, everyone surrounding me was extremely humble. I am inspired to carry that humility within my own passions and profession.

Just to open up a little bit about my imperfections and not only share the successes, I believe a huge part of my desire to become a doctor comes from empathizing with others. Growing up, I had a terrible case of eczema that has gotten better overtime. Constantly, dermatologists were treating me trying to find the root cause – never giving up! I too want to be a part of that movement.

2. Who was your favorite teacher in school and how did he or she impact you? Actually, my cell biology teacher in college is my favorite teacher. Her exams and coursework were extremely difficult, but they were also rewarding. She carries this undeniable passion when it comes to teaching her students about cell biology that I admire so much. In her office hours, I shared my doubts and insecurities about being the best doctor possible for my patients if I am not the most successful student in my class now. She reminds me to evaluate what I have to offer for my patients and to keep focusing on learning the material with intent and that there’s room to grow. For me, I don’t mind putting in tons of hours into memorizing and understanding the material because what I get to learn is phenomenal and practical!

3. When did you first decide you wanted to become a doctor and why? I wouldn’t say I had one magic “a-ha now I know why I want to be a doctor” moment. Rather, I endured a combination of experiences the summer after my freshman year that showed me the light to a potential career path. I had the blessing and privilege of shadowing my local cardiologist and seeing how hard he worked each day in treating and checking up on his patients. The patients’ faces lit up every time the doctor gave them a sign of hope. Here, I had the revelation that I too wanted to be a bearer of good news (and of course the news might not always be good) and just put my best foot forward in providing care for not only those who need it but even those who feel they don’t deserve it. Everyone deserves healing despite their gender, race, or background. In addition, I was a Vacation Bible School teacher at both my church and at a church in Mexico that I went on a mission trip on (I’ll talk more about that in #5). I felt so overjoyed seeing my kids’ happiness when they had the opportunity to learn. I realized, in that moment, being a good doctor is not just learning but also teaching.

4. What area of medicine are you interested in? Right now, I am setting my mind on becoming a family (care) doctor. Nonetheless, I believe medical school is the key point of my life that will provide me the opportunity to appreciate a wide scope of fields and truly make a decision then. So, I am always open to another field if I find I have a calling. As of now, my favorite organ of the body to study is the brain and I am in love with my psychology classes. So, I don’t know if that’s a potential sign for the future!

5. What’s the coolest experience you’ve had so far on your premedical journey? In the summer after freshman year, I went on a mission trip to Broken Bow, Oklahoma where I was able to teach young children about the Word of God, reminding me that one day as a doctor I would need to hone these same leadership skills within different scenarios and cases. Seeing my fourth graders’ raw innocence and pure hearts made me fall in love with the field of medicine even more. I am currently planning for a trip to Peru to partake in a mobile clinic with my fellow college peers and friends in my organization, MEDLIFE.

6. What is your favorite book? When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi is, hands down, my favorite book. Why? I’ll try not to give too much away, but the book reveals the life of Paul Kalanithi, a successful neurosurgeon who discovers he himself has been diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. He questions the meaning of life since he must now look at medicine no longer as the caretaker but as the care seeker. His life story is aspiring and I find common ground with him since he remained true to both his love for writing and medicine.

7. Tell us one thing interesting about you that most people don’t know. I am a YouTuber with my very own channel Shawn Spills! To give insight into how this came to be, here’s why. Besides being a student pursuing the field of medicine, I was and still am infatuated with writing, specifically dystopian fiction. In high school, for my senior project, I wrote my own dystopian fiction based book called Captivated, which highlights the story of the kidnapping of a prince and the sudden disappearance of his sister. In college, I wanted to never let go of my love for writing just as much as I carry my love for medicine. So, I made a YouTube channel because I found much enjoyment in making scripts and making them come to life in the form of advice to my subscribers.

8. If you couldn’t be a doctor, what would you want to do? I am a big stickler on not making excuses. So, I don’t roll well with hypothetical, haha! I really have my eye on being a doctor and that’s not changing anytime soon. What I will say is I still would want to seek out becoming a published author soon.

9. What has been your biggest obstacle as a premed and how did you (or are you) overcome it? Honestly, my biggest obstacle has been ME. I set my sight on perfection. If I don’t achieve it, I am really hard on myself and let my worries consume me. This past semester I am learning to put things into perspective and learn to find happiness in the little improvements of both my academic and personal career. My advice to, y’all, my fellow premeds is become your own biggest supporter. Life will always try to knock you down. Keep getting back up!

10. What do you like most about PreMed STAR? Contrary to the stereotype that those studying medicine are cutthroat and competitive, PreMed Star proves to facilitate a home for developing collaborative world changers in the up and coming. I am inspired to login onto my account each day to see my fellow colleagues and new friends sharing their success stories and uplifting one another. To me, all doctors should possess one key quality: compassion. I would like to end my story with one of my new favorite sayings that I heard at my own sister’s white coat ceremony before her first day of medical school. “Patients don’t care how much doctors know until they know how much doctors CARE.”

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And then… It became like a drug.

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