Just Keep Studying

It's almost October, which means the semester is almost over (the last day is December 2!!). Suddenly, myself and several of my peers have come to embrace a certain reality: we are making it. We are doing this thing called PA school. We are still here, still working hard, passing our classes, and enduring. December will be a milestone for us. It will prove that we survived, and that we can be successful.

Throughout the semester, we may not have always received the grades we wanted. Admittedly, receiving a lower than desired grade is a blow to our confidence, and the disappointment lingers. Somehow, we must focus on the bigger picture. We are training ourselves to be excellent providers, and to constantly strive to do more, learn more. Every day that we get out of bed and devote all of our  time to studying is admirable and worthy of praise. It would be much easier to quit and go back to a more comfortable life. But our very nature is what pushed us to this point. Somehow, we must joyfully embrace the process, and be daily humbled by the great privilege of this program. Today I am preaching to the choir. In the middle of October, I''ll probably be freaking out again since we have  a ton of exams, and then freak out again in December during finals. But, I have to remind myself that the anxiety stems from the deepest desire to stay here, and to become a PA. :)

Open House and Divine Intervention

So I volunteered for the student panel for our campus open house. I figured it would be fun and I wanted to help any prospective student for our program. Ironically, I never attended an open house at any university prior to PA school. I just applied and hoped for the best.

Anyway, I listened to the advising committee as they informed the prospective students about the school's expectations, pre-requisite requirements, etc etc. And then they started to talk about admission deadlines and the interview process, and I got goosebumps.

They said that you must apply as early as possible (the application opens in May), and that the school has already reviewed the pool of applicants they would like to interview. Thus, if you submitted your application in September, you were WAY TOO LATE. They also stated that interviews start in November, and finish by January at the latest. Last year they had 1887 applicants for 75 slots.

Ironically, I didn't take the GRE until August, and I submitted my application in mid-September. I overnighted my application fee so that it was received ON the due date. And by a total fluke, my school held one last round of interviews in February. And somehow, I got in. I'm still in disbelief. I'd like to claim sheer luck for being here, but that would be too short-sighted. Yesterday was a neon yellow sign from God that He put me in this program, on this campus, for a reason. My fervent prayer is that I set the example and give all of the glory to Him. Prior to the open house I was happy and grateful to be in this program. Now I stand in awe of this opportunity, and of the future that the Lord has for us.