I got my offer letters on May 12th and accepted an offer on May 20th.

COVID-19 has turned my plans upside down. My graduation ceremony was cancelled. From April until early June, I had scheduled a trip to Ghana and Europe with friends and family. Despite the current social situation, my acceptance into medical school was accounted for prior to COVID-19. In our itinerary for our Europe trip, my friends and I booked time to process our potential medical school acceptances, rejections or waitlist offers. Instead of hearing about the outcome of my application process in Budapest, I read the results aloud in my parents bedroom way too early in the morning. My undergraduate degree consisted of years of preparation and consideration about pursuing a career in medicine.

Yet, it is almost of August and I have not really realized that I am starting medical school. I have talked about it quite a bit. My aunties, uncles and friends have all been updated. Even my favourite professors and elementary school teachers have been notified. I have said that I am going to medical school, but I have not realized that I AM GOING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL.

Bruh, I’m going to medical school in less than 40 days.

So I need a day. I need a WHOLE day to fully come to terms with the next chapter of my life. A day to reflect about what a career in medicine will cost me but also what I can be hopeful to gain. A few moments to juggle the joy and support of my community with the weight of my imposter syndrome. Time to reconcile with the privileges that I have been afforded but the major responsibilities I now bear. I will take a day to really hear myself when I say: I am going to medical school. 

What I plan to do this day???

Cooking

Cooking has become a recent favorite pastime of mine. It adds some structure to my day and makes me feel accomplished when I put together a great meal that would normally cost me over 20 dollars. I will definitely be uploading some of my favourite recipes later! Hold tight!

Journaling 

This is super important for my relationship with myself. I have to remain honest about the difficulty of the path ahead, my strengths and my weaknesses. I can engage with my fears while reassuring my values. By listing my expectations, I can start working on being more flexible with reality. Life has rarely turned out exactly as I envisioned but I wouldn’t trade it either way.

Things to journal:

1. Expectations
   1. What do I envision medical school to be like? Does that differ from what I have heard from other students?
2. Concerns
   1. What am I worried about? Why am I worried about these things? Who told you to worry? 
3. Goals
   1. What are some things that I want to do? What are some habits I am hoping to break? What are some great things I need to hold onto? What are some fun things I have to make sure I do before I graduate?

Netflix

I am currently binge watching Good Girls (Season 3) and I want to take it slow but finish it before I start school. But this series is AHH-MAZING

I have no idea whether this day of realization will actually work. Maybe, my moment of clarity will take place on a plane or in my new dorm. Either way, it is coming hopefully I am prepared before it arrives.

Until next time.

Yours ever,

Nanayaa