End of the road, top of the world
I am on top of my world. I have achieved my life's grandest of pursuits over a ten year stretch, and along the road have collected wonderful relationships and experiences. I am very lucky.
This was not something I did on my own, but rather because of people like you.
I'd like to thank:
*Christine --
For being there from the beginning. When we met, I was a schmuck struggling to prep for the MCAT. I talked a big game, but made my insecurities just as visible. She didn't care if I became a doctor, a lab tech, a teacher, a psychologist, or whatever. She made me laugh and feel secure through med school rejection letters. She made me laugh and feel secure through biochemistry exams. She makes me laugh and feel secure today. And now, when I feel I can do anything this world has to offer, I possess a confidence that comes from her. Even if I were to fail, she'd be just as proud. I never have anything to lose. Marrying her was the best decision I've made in this whole process, and the memories we create everyday are far more satisfying than any achievement I could ever attain on my own.
*Neil, Ryan, Marty, Justin --
Talk about the beginning. Justin was there when I was terrorizing him at 12 months old. Marty, from eighth grade. Neil and Ryan, from freshman year of college. The greatest group of friends ever. These guys picked me up when everything was shades of gray and I couldn't fight anything but myself; the brief period when I became a man. Their kindness in those days--when I can't say I would have stuck around for the chaos myself--clearly made later achievements like this possible. Besides my wife, I will always choose to hang out with these guys above anyone else. Adulthood does funny things to friendships. People are getting married, moving away, having kids, building homes; and it really adds to the dynamics' degree of difficulty, but whenever we find the time, it always feels like college again, and it is easy to forget the time that has forged its way in between. Special additions for people like Jimmy--who has become a great friend the last few years; Harish-- a partner in crime who tells me my vices are okay, and with whom I have the greatest banter of random sports minutiae; Andre-- who, wonderfully, has found his way back into my life. Great friends are a blessing. Letting them slip away by time or circumstance is unconscienable.
*Family--
This group always believed in me, almost to a fault. The complexity of the road, of the struggle, of its intensity, was never really well understood. But they just always believed that I would get the job done. That I would figure it out. Having people who love and believe in you so blindly creates a challenge in itself. If you fail, you are not just failing yourself, but rather shattering an image of infallibility that others hold of you. Honestly, family has been one of the biggest struggles I've had in this pursuit, but ultimately I'd much rather deal with misinformation, misunderstanding, and general neglect of detail than ever have to feel there was reason not to believe in myself; to feel someone I loved thought I could not achieve. And that was never something I had to wrestle with.
*Mentors--
Namely, Dr. Jones, Dr. Perez; and also the help of Dr. Lehman, Dr. Foxwell, and Dr. Regenold. They led by example; provided leadership, support, and advice; and in some cases had direct contact with Dr. Louie, the training director at San Mateo, who I fully expect will be my next great mentor. Dr. Jones makes me want to work with children. Dr. Perez gives me hope that you can have a career dealing with misfortune without permanent personal difficulites. Dr. Lehman and Dr. Foxwell threw their weight around on my behalf and showed great kindness despite huge power differences in our relationship. Dr. Regenold helped me get into Med School, perhaps the biggest challenge of all.
*Luck--
Couldn't have done it without a little luck. Guessing the correct options on a few exams. Meeting the right people at the right time. Luck has an immeasurable impact on each of our lives and I understand that without a healthy dose of it, I could still be the guy with the BA in Psychology trying to get into med school.
So thanks, if you're apart of this list or if you're not. Everyone has had an impact. I couldn't be happier with how things have shaped up in my life, nor could I be happier about the prospects of my future. I hope to be a doctor that remains grounded and compassionate with the same friends who got me here. I hope to help others as I have been helped along the way. And I hope to really make a difference in the lives of children while living a life of personal fulfillment and inspiration. And I wish to you the same.
posted by jerm at 11:59
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