The Prep and The Feels

Sak Pase = What's up


I am currently awaiting that wonderful and nerve-wracking day next week that I will be leaving the country for school.

My last day at work last Thursday was bittersweet. I was happy because I was quitting to move on to the next step in my life. I was also happy because I realized how many people truly believed in me at that office. The encouraging words I received were so wonderful.

I thought that I would be relaxing and sleeping my days away until my time of departure, but today is actually the first day, since Sunday, that I've had time to relax. I've been shopping for clothes, shoes, and other necessities since Monday. I've also been packing and freaking out about packing because I realized that American Airlines is only allowing me to carry two checked bags to St Maarten. I had no space for everything I need to go with me to the Island. So yesterday, I called Tropical Shipping and the wonderful lady there gave me the idea to go purchase those huge storage bins with lids from Target, fill them up with stuff, tape them shut and then ship them through their company. I ended up shipping two bins. It only cost me $55 without the insurance on them. The insurance is optional. Not a bad deal at all.

I received my email address from AUC and the first thing I did was take a screenshot and send it to some of my friends with the caption "this is really happening, make it stop." THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING. I also received an email about the details of the White Coat Ceremony, the time and where we'll be eating afterwards.

I think I'm all set for this journey. I got everything that I think I'll need. Only thing left to do is to finish packing. My laptop is about to die and I'm too lazy to go get the charger (It's raining outside) so I'll just end the post here.

TTYL

Path To Becoming A Doctor

Sak Pase!

So, for the readers who know nothing about medical school, I figured I would explain the path to becoming a doctor. By no means is this a complete picture of what it takes. This is just a snapshot.

1) College - you can major in anything as long as you successfully complete your med school pre-requisites. Matter of fact, nowadays med school admission committees are looking for well-rounded applicants so majoring in something other than a science might be something good. You're only in college once (YOICO?), might as well major in something you're passionate about before medical school. At least that's the way my mind sees it.

2) Take the monster standardized exam called the MCAT (tun dun dun). Even though medical schools claim that they do a "holistic" review of every applicant, MOST of them cut you off based on your MCAT score and GPA. They don't initially care about your other attributes, characteristics, extracurriculars or that you won a Nobel Peace Prize.

3) Apply to medical schools through the AMCAS or AACOMAS application systems. AMCAS is for MD programs and AACOMAS is for DO programs. It's honestly a very long and draining process. You need letters of recommendations, official transcripts, you life history, patience, and then more patience.

3a) Make sure you google what kind of doctor you want to be. MD or DO. Google is very helpful.

4) MEDICAL SCHOOL. Usually, 2 years of basic sciences and 2 years of clinical sciences.

5) RESIDENCY. From what I've heard this is the hardest part of your education. Residents can work up to 80 hours or more a week. Ask me how that's possible. You need residency to complete your training as a physician. You get paid as a resident, however not close to what you'll be making as a fully certified and licensed physician.

6) Spread your wings and fly. You're a doctor!

SN: There are multiple board exams you have to take along your path.....The USMLE.....Step 1, 2 and 3 exams.

TTYL!

Long Time

Sak Pase!

I realize that I haven't posted in a while. I have no excuse honestly SO I'm just going to say that I've been busy preparing for school? Not good enough? 😅

In all honesty, I have been super busy though. Lots have happened. I finally found someone to take over my lease at my apartment so I am super excited. AUC sent me my financial aid packet and although it hurts me that it's all loans, what other choice do I have? I mean according to google, I will owe over 300K in loans after I'm done with it all. If you're trying to be a doctor for the money.....run... I mean SPRINT the other way fam.

I've received lots of emails from AUC in the past couple of weeks. I got an email about campus tours when we arrive on campus. There are two on tours on Thursday, May 3rd (That's the day arrive on the Island so I doubt I'll be able to participate and there is one tour on Saturday, May 5th (Can I really wait that long to tour the school though? lol). I also got an email about my registration appointment for Friday Morning at 10am. It's exciting to think about....I'm going to register for my classes IN MED SCHOOL. ahhhhh. I also got my master calendar for the semester. All I had to say to that was "goodbye life." Finally, I got an email from the Director of Admissions for my region that says the following :

Now, how sweet is that? This idea makes me heart AUC even more. However, since they're only giving us 5 postcards, I'm honestly not sure if I'll be able to participate because I have more than 5 people to thank for supporting me. It wouldn't be fair to send postcards to some and not all.

I leave Tampa next week. It's bittersweet. This has been my home for what will be 7 years in August. I'll miss it and I hope to come back to visit. If you think about it, I won't have my own home anymore to come back to when I visit the US for breaks. Even after I'm done with the Island after two years and I'm back in the US for rotations, I will still be moving all over the place for rotations and eventually residency. That's insane to think about. I'm not complaining. I'm grateful, honestly. These are just some passing thoughts.

I think I'm ready for the big move next month. I've got my books, my stethoscope and my blood pressure thingamajig....It's called a sphygmomanometer but who wants to type out that long word...wait, I just did. (-_-) The only things I am missing are scrubs, some more summer clothes and of course, a bathing suit!

As Spongebob would say "I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready."

Now, this has nothing to do with this post whatsoever but I wanted to share a video of me and my friend Charles singing "Bibanke" by Asa a couple of years ago. Yes, I was smaller back then -_- and yes I messed up a little but thank God for growth!

TTYL!