1/4 M.D.
So I have officially finished my first year of medical school. The last year went by so fast and so many things have happened that I cannot believe it’s been a year. This Spring semester was probably the hardest semester of my entire educational career, including graduate school. The amount of information and the intensity of the topics we learned this past semester were really challenging. In fact, mid-way through the semester I had the fear of not being able to make and failing. It is pretty ironic as I have always been a an of faith, a man of hard work and dedication, but this semester just tested my character and faith at a whole different level. There were many nights were I doubted myself, I doubted if I was really meant to be here, if I was meant to be a doctor, I doubted if I would be able to make through the semester and pass my classes. Furthermore, being alone here and away from family and friends just made it all even harder. I had no one to cry to, no one to give me a hug and some words of reassurance.
Nonetheless, I did not give up. I sacrificed my social life, I gave up on the gym, and worked twice as hard as most of my classmates. It was hard indeed, I always had worked hard before and had become used to being the best of my class in grad school and in undergrad, but being in med school is something else. I came to realize that my classmates all come from top colleges and Ivy League schools and that just meant I would have to work twice as hard in order to do great in my classes.
I also turned to my faith. I grew up Christian and it has been my faith that has kept me going through all my adversity. I re-assured myself that God had brought me here to IU, to Indianapolis, to represent my Latino community, my family, and myself. I was here to succeed and not to fail and thus my strength was renewed. I have realized that “As a man thinks, so he is”, thus I quickly learned that I had to re-new my mind day in and day out.
Now I can look back and see how much I have grown as a student, as a friend, as man of faith, and as human being. Medical school is a journey like no other and even though there will be ups and downs, I am blessed to be here, and I am ready for the challenge ahead.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11