Starting Down the Lonely Road

Going to medical school has always been my dream and goal, and I'm finally about to start doing something about it.  I've made a plan, and I'm going to stick to it.  My studying commences September 15, culminating to the ultimate test, the MCAT, on January 15. 

It's going to be a long road, balancing my job as a graduate teaching assistant, and an overloaded schedule in grad school (as well as my master's defense in the fall and a presentation in Memphis in October!).  

But I'm more determined than ever to finally set foot on the path I've been moving toward my entire life.  

Everything I've been doing for the last 5-6 years has been to set myself up to be a successful doctor, and more importantly, a doctor who makes an impact on the world. 

Right now, I'm working on my master's in sociology, and I'm hoping to apply to MD/Ph.D. programs starting in September of 2015.  

I don't know where life is going to take me: if I'll stay in my program, if I'll leave in May, if I'll even be in the same state, no, country, a year from now.  

But that is what this blog is for.  To document my experiences as a grad student, intro to sociology instructor, and future med student.  

I can only hope that my experiences will help someone else in the future.  

But in the meantime, I'm preparing for my first-ever trip to Asia (South Korea and Thailand) where I will spend three weeks exploring with my good friend, Bri.  Aside from being a wonderfully exciting opportunity, it does have its med school reasons, too.  

I want to study international health and infectious diseases, but I've only spent four weeks out of the country in Guatemala to volunteer.  As such, I'm using this experience not only to explore a new culture, but also to begin to prove to med school committees that, despite my youth, I'm more passionate and serious than ever to study international health and get involved with world relief efforts.  

I'm sad to say that tomorrow will be my last day volunteering at the hospital for a while; I'm taking a break until January to focus on my classwork and my study schedule.  

And finally, I'm excited to get started on some new projects with the KU Work Group in the fall.  I worked with them starting in February of this year to improve the resource guides on their Community Toolbox Website, but I'm hoping to start helping them publish success stories once I get back from my trip.  

That's all for now.  I surely won't be posting everyday, but I want to use this blog as a way of holding myself accountable to everything I have planned between September and January.  

I'm already taking the road less traveled, and now I'm ready to start making things happen on that road! 

Natalie