alitejada97
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- Jun 13, 2025
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Hi everyone,
My name is Ali, and I just completed my first year of medical school. I’ve wanted to be a physician for as long as I can remember. What draws me to medicine—and especially plastic surgery—is the balance of science, art, and purpose. I was a studio art major in undergrad because I love creativity, and I’ve never liked being confined to just one thing. I thrive in change and diversity, which is exactly what I see in this specialty.
Before med school, I worked mainly in the restaurant industry and as a scribe. Now, during this summer between first and second year, I’m focusing on solidifying any gaps from my first-year coursework (I averaged about an 85% in most classes and around 70% on NBME exams). I know I need to improve, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come and I know I’m not off track.
I’m currently working part-time as a server out of necessity while trying to break into the world of plastic surgery—whether that’s through shadowing, mentorship, or research. Unfortunately, my school doesn’t have a plastic surgery program or any built-in exposure. As far as I know, we haven’t had a student match into plastics in years. Keep in mind the mission of my school focuses on primary care.
Because of that, I’ve taken the initiative to reach out directly to numerous physicians in the field—both in my med school state and back home in New York. I’ve sent email after email in hopes of shadowing, mentoring, or simply getting some advice. Sadly, most of these efforts haven’t led anywhere. I understand how busy everyone is, but it’s been discouraging at times.
I’m also an underrepresented student in medicine and the first in my family to graduate high school—let alone pursue higher education. I don’t have family support—just me, myself, and I trying to make this dream happen. Worth mentioning, I also tried connecting with peers, but our paths are often very different, and most if not all people in my glass are not pursuing plastics.
Plastic surgery is my future—I’m manifesting it. But I know I can’t get there alone. If anyone reading this is open to offering guidance, a shadowing opportunity, research help, or even just words of encouragement, it would truly mean the world to me.
Thank you for reading.
— Ali T.
My name is Ali, and I just completed my first year of medical school. I’ve wanted to be a physician for as long as I can remember. What draws me to medicine—and especially plastic surgery—is the balance of science, art, and purpose. I was a studio art major in undergrad because I love creativity, and I’ve never liked being confined to just one thing. I thrive in change and diversity, which is exactly what I see in this specialty.
Before med school, I worked mainly in the restaurant industry and as a scribe. Now, during this summer between first and second year, I’m focusing on solidifying any gaps from my first-year coursework (I averaged about an 85% in most classes and around 70% on NBME exams). I know I need to improve, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come and I know I’m not off track.
I’m currently working part-time as a server out of necessity while trying to break into the world of plastic surgery—whether that’s through shadowing, mentorship, or research. Unfortunately, my school doesn’t have a plastic surgery program or any built-in exposure. As far as I know, we haven’t had a student match into plastics in years. Keep in mind the mission of my school focuses on primary care.
Because of that, I’ve taken the initiative to reach out directly to numerous physicians in the field—both in my med school state and back home in New York. I’ve sent email after email in hopes of shadowing, mentoring, or simply getting some advice. Sadly, most of these efforts haven’t led anywhere. I understand how busy everyone is, but it’s been discouraging at times.
I’m also an underrepresented student in medicine and the first in my family to graduate high school—let alone pursue higher education. I don’t have family support—just me, myself, and I trying to make this dream happen. Worth mentioning, I also tried connecting with peers, but our paths are often very different, and most if not all people in my glass are not pursuing plastics.
Plastic surgery is my future—I’m manifesting it. But I know I can’t get there alone. If anyone reading this is open to offering guidance, a shadowing opportunity, research help, or even just words of encouragement, it would truly mean the world to me.
Thank you for reading.
— Ali T.
