Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Family Time

So, I've been home for almost two weeks now. On one hand, it has been great being able to relax and do absolutely nothing (and I really mean nothing)... especially now that I am coughing my lungs up due to some bug I caught. On the other hand, it's been a little boring, and I am beginning to feel a little anti-social. I've seen my family a lot, but haven't seen ANY of my friends. I was really looking forward to a high school friend (Chelsey's) christmas party, but I was too sick to go that night with a raging fever. Great timing right? The one time there is something to do!

Yes, I have been enjoying day dreaming about my upcoming life as a doctor, and "preparing" by watching many many episodes of ER thanks to Netflix. But, it's been lame not being able to really celebrate with anyone. I guess that is what Winter quarter will be all about! I somehow managed to schedule classes so that I only have class Tuesdays and Thursdays, which is, my friends, a very beautiful thing.

One thing I'm also looking forward to is New Years. I'll probably go to SF with S and J and get into some sort of mischief! But I'm also just looking forward to the new year. It will be a year that I no longer have to dwell on rejections and wait for my fate to be determined. It's going to be a happy year, one of bittersweet endings like leaving LA, saying goodbye to my sorority family and graduating UCLA, but also with inspiring new beginnings like getting an apartment, starting med school, and making new friends. The one part of this upcoming year I wish I could change is the fact that my mom won't be there to share any of it with me. She is being deployed to the war and is going to miss not only my graduation, but my white coat ceremony initiating me into the wonderful world of medicine. And what scares me even more than that, is the haunting thought that she may not ever return at all... So as much as 2010 is going to be a fabulous year, I guess we can't have it all, right? I find it easier to only think about the happy things going on, I suppose I'll deal with the hard stuff if/when it happens.

Anyway, I ended up cancelling my Rush interview. I just figured I might as well open up the interview spot to someone who actually might attend that school, I know I would want someone to do the same for me. Not to mention the snow in Chicago probably would have made the trip an utter hassle. Although, it would have been pretty cool to see the city where ER takes place :P

Well, tomorrow morning at an extremely ungodly hour (3:30 AM) - which, I guess is bed time for a lot of people my age - I will be embarking on my family journey to Mississippi to visit my mom for Christmas. I'm definitely excited about going. You know me, always love to visit new places! Can't wait for seafood! And it will be good to keep mom company. I think she is starting to get a little stressed out over there. Wish me luck, and Happy Holidays to all!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

University of Arkansas SOM

Yesterday, I was offered an interview by University of Arkansas Med School. I just had to laugh, since I was accepted to Davis just about a week ago. UC Davis is a much better school and cheaper than any of the OOS (out of state) schools I haven't heard back from. I would have loved to at least see Arkansas, but it would be a waste of money for me to go. One things that intrigued me about the offer email was that they mentioned an exhibit they were inviting us to see the night before the interview: EGYPT! Now, if you don't know me... then you don't know that I LOVE anything involving ancient Egypt. Obviously that is not going to change my mind... that would be an expensive exhibit to see!

I still haven't decided if I am going to cancel my interview for Chicago. I'm waiting to hear what my mom says. Oh, and here is another thing you may not know: my mom is in the Navy and is being deployed to the Middle East. I would tell you which country, but she won't even tell me! Anyway, she is in Mississippi right now training, and my dad, sister and I are going to visit her at Christmas.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The first days of the rest of my life

Just a mere 5 days ago, an unexpected call pointed my life in the direction I will be heading for years to come. I was getting dressed to go to lunch with Nan (my grandma), and I got a call from an unknown 916-number. Since I had a dentist appointment scheduled the next day, I figured it was the dentist's office calling to confirm my appointment. Boy was I pleasantly surprised...

"Is this ________ _______?"

"Yes this is her"

"Hello, this is Ed ____ calling on behalf of the UC Davis SOM Admissions Committee, and I have some very good news"

"(stomach drops) And what is that?"

"Well, I would like to say congratulations, as the admissions committee is offering you admission"

"(freak out as quietly as possible) OMG Thank you sooooo much! I am so happy! I can't even tell you how excited I am"

"Well, good things come to those who wait"

"Wow... so what do I have to do now?"

"Just say that you accept and that you'll be joining us in the summer"

"I 100% accept!!!!!"

"But you won't be joining us in the summer? hahaha"

"No I will!!!! hahahha"

And boy will I.... After finishing an unmotivated, discouraging quarter a few days prior, this call made me the happiest person in the world. I can't believe that all of my dreams are coming true. I have wanted this and worked toward it my entire life, and it's actually happening! And much sooner than I thought. Now I can relax for the rest of my amazing senior year at UCLA. And to be perfectly honest, I don't even think I need to worry about choosing any other schools that I could potentially get into over Davis because it is a much better school than any of those I haven't heard from yet. So it looks like I am going to Davis come July! I love the school itself, but I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about living so close to home. I mean I love my family, but I love to explore new cities and be totally on my own. Alas, there is always residency for that, I suppose. And by attending Davis vs. out of state schools, I have a much better chance of getting into a dream residency in SF!

Which brings me to my newest dilemma: whether or not to cancel my Rush Medical College (Chicago) interview coming up. I'm pretty sure I won't be going there, but since I already paid for the flight, and I can only get half of my money back (and in airline credit!). I might as well go, and maybe just maybe I will fall in love or something. But at the same time, I will be taking the interview spot from someone who really wants to go there... I guess I have some thinking to do.

Lastly, since I have been home and there is not much to do... I have been channeling all of my excitement into SDN. How much of a loser am I for regularly checking the Davis thread for potential classmates? :P