Making Progress

The week before my birthday on Dec. 14th I decided to quit my only job, which was part-time and causing me emotional and physical pain. I didn't have another job in place and knew I was going to lose my excellent benefits, but it was still not worth it to me too stay any longer. However, in doing this I was walking by faith and not by sight, and God came to my rescue because of my faith. In my last week on my job I interviewed for another position that was full-time with another company. That same week I got word that I was hired, and started Dec.20th. God is truly good. I am so thankful for this opportunity, so now I can move forward toward my goal of obtaining my own place. My dear friend and fellow former post-bac student has an interview in January at UIC, and I am claiming it for her that she will be accepted for the c/o 2012. I will be right behind her in the medical school c/o 2013 or 2014 depending on what I get accomplished and when in 2012, but my goal is still the same to attend medical school despite the odds. I just have to continue walking by faith and not by sight, judge not by appearances, and take risks.

God Works in Mysterious Ways

Today I had an interview for a job position that I thought sounded like it would be perfect for me. I would be working as an autotransfusionist under Specialty Care, Inc., which they would train me to do. I would work in the OR at 4 different hospitals, and be on call. I thought this exposure would be exactly what I needed, and the experience would benefit me when I am in medical school and residency. However, during the interview after I answered his questions about myself the interviewer basically spent half of the time dissuading me from pursuing the position, and encouraging me to not put off medical school. If  I had decided to take the position I would be required to work for 2 years. He told me how much the position is grueling, and how the surgeons especially will look down on those in this position. I was so touched by his genuine honesty and encouragement. More-so because he was once himself like me.  I learned that he was pre-med too, and put his dream off and regrets it to this day. He did the autotransfusionist position and after working in that position was promoted to his current position as hiring manager. He feels that I am a better candidate than he ever was for medical school, so I should pursue it and not put it off for a few years to work. He told me that he knows I am going to be a doctor because he can see it in the answers I provided, and in my experiences listed on my resume. I was touched. I believe everything happens for a reason, and to think I was dragging my feet to go for this interview(my second this week).God works in mysterious ways.

Renewed

I am a huge Apple fan(I have a Mac Book Pro, Ipod Nano, and plan to get the Ipad 3 next year), and was devastated by the passing of Steve Jobs. However, it is in his passing that I have discovered his amazing commencement speech giving in 2005 at Stanford University due to a great medical student blogger. What stuck with me the most was connecting the dots of our past "bad" experiences that make up our big picture.  We are usually upset and mad at having "failed" at something, but when we look back over it in retrospect it was usually for our good and part of the big picture. However, we can't look at current "bad" experiences or "failures" and project into the future what we think will come of it. We can only look back and discover how those experiences helped to contribute to our big picture/ goal/ dream. An exercise that I did that is posted on her blog is I wrote out all of my "bad" experiences or "failures," and then wrote what good came from them and how they helped me to get to this point.  It truly works. I did this and now I feel renewed. It is still too early and fresh for me to look at my MCAT score and wonder why did this happen, but I will trust that it happened for a reason that is part of my big picture.

MCAT Score

Well, I got my MCAT score back today and it is nowhere near the 39T I had envisioned for myself. This was my first time taking it and the thought of doing it again hurts like no other, but I won't get in this season with my numbers. I don't think. I'm still trying to figure what I should do now. Nevertheless, something will work itself out because "And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love the lord and are called according to his purpose." (Roman 8:28)

Paid Clinical Work Experience

Paid clinical work experience is what I would like to add to my C.V.  My current clinical experience has only been on a volunteer basis. Ideally, I would love to get a paid clinical research position because that would look great on my C.V. for medical school. I have been on a search for a clinical position for over a year and a half. Right now I work in a non-clinical position that does not pay very well and is only part-time. In an ideal world I would work full-time in a clinical position, but I am more than open to working part-time. I interviewed today at a doctor's office in Aurora, IL that has both its pros and cons, but I think I want it because they are willing to teach clinical assistants, which is what I would be, how to draw blood. That would be extremely beneficial to know how to do that and be comfortable doing it before medical school. At any rate, I'm leaving it in God's hands now because I only want His will to be done.

Medical School Application Update: I am busy working to perfect my personal statement, so that I can ask for recommendations. I know it is getting late and I feel the pressure, but I trust in God for everything and walk by faith not by sight.

MCAT DAY EXPERIENCE

I’m from Chicago, IL, but I had to take the MCAT in Merrillville, IN because I registered in July, and by that time all the seats were taken for the Chicago, IL dates. It worked out perfectly for me because I had time to take a day for myself and get away from all the distractions of home. My exam was on 8/23/2011, but I left for Merrillville, IN on 8/22/2011 to stay in a hotel room overnight. I stayed at Red Roof Inn, which had the cheapest hotel rates when I searched online for hotels nearest my testing center. When I got there I made sure to drive by the testing center, so I would know where it was and not be nervous searching for it on the test day. Thankfully, the testing center was only a mile away from my hotel. I had to check out my hotel room by 12pm and my exam time was 1pm, but I had to be there at 12:30pm to go through  all the procedures to be admitted for the test. Therefore, everything worked out perfectly. 

The exam was supposed to be 4 hours or at least that is what AMCA would have you believe, but it is longer than 4 hours. It said in the official guide to the MCAT to come 30mins early, so I was there at 12pm even though I test at 1pm. They let me take the test at 12:30pm. I didn’t finish until 5:07pm.  However, never have I ever been so calm in my life over an exam.

I was so calm and at peace because I meditated, visualized, and prayed about how I wanted to perform and what I want to score on the exam. My favorite scriptures are (Mark 11:23) and (Zechariah 4:6): "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.(Mark 11:23)," and "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)" With these scriptures in my head, I had peace of mind and remained calm throughout the test. 

MCAT DAY

The big day is finally here for me. The day that my three years of preparation as a post-bacc pre-med student has prepared me for. I have come a long ways from the girl that graduated with no science background with a BA in History(General) who once was considering law school, to now taking my first major step to acceptance too medical school. A day that many feel sicken with nerves and doubt, I feel very calm and relax and owe it all to the glory of God. See, I know that it is not by my power or might, but by the spirit of the Lord. (Zechariah 4:6) I also know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13) Therefore, I have faith that I will perform the way I have envisioned.