The alarm is set....

[Signaq]

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I just set my alarm clock to wake up early for my first formal prereq class tomorrow morning.

It's been 20 years since I was an undergrad....
It's been 11 years since I was a graduate student....

Before I hit the hay, I thought I would take a sec and document the moment. The term nontraditional gets tossed around a lot, but for some of us old folks, it's really a big deal to be hitting the books again, to be taking such a big chance. I would've made a lousy physician in my 20's -- more worried about the boyfriend and on-campus parking than learning anything useful in college. Now I want to savor every moment, and just the act of turning on the alarm clock for my MATH CLASS tomorrow makes me feel so proud for taking a chance.

 

[meliora27]

Good luck

 

[agirl]

deleted

 

[COMedic2Doc]

Good luck! Hope the journey before you is one full of Victories and that you're able to enjoy the trip.

 

[grt398]

Best of luck to you

 

[dgmarma]

Congrats...I share your enthusiasm!! I would have made a TERRIBLE doc in my 20's too. I have one more week of panic and anxiety, I feel like a kid on Christmas. LOL My classes start next tuesday NEXT week.

Good-luck tomorrow. I am sure if you are this excited about setting an alarm, you are motivated and ready to hit the ground running!! Have fun!

 

[phospho]

I just set my alarm clock to wake up early for my first formal prereq class tomorrow morning.

It's been 20 years since I was an undergrad....
It's been 11 years since I was a graduate student....

Before I hit the hay, I thought I would take a sec and document the moment. The term nontraditional gets tossed around a lot, but for some of us old folks, it's really a big deal to be hitting the books again, to be taking such a big chance. I would've made a lousy physician in my 20's -- more worried about the boyfriend and on-campus parking than learning anything useful in college. Now I want to savor every moment, and just the act of turning on the alarm clock for my MATH CLASS tomorrow makes me feel so proud for taking a chance.

that is an awesome post! enjoy the rollercoaster, it will be worth it in the end. I wish you the very best of luck!

 

[keitaiKT]

I remember the night before my first day of pre-med post-bacc classes. I was so nervous, wondering if I really knew what I was doing, and so afraid I couldn't do it. That was five years ago, and now I'm over halfway done with med school. I don't regret any of it for a second, and I certainly don't regret taking a nontraditional path to medicine, since it meant I got to do a lot of cool things before settling down to this path. If I could do it over, I would have spent more time enjoying the luxury of being a student and less time freaking out over whether I would get into med school or not.

Good luck and enjoy every second of it, even the stressful stuff! 😀

 

[lainey234]

I went back to school after 10+ yrs. It was stressful and amazing! I still remember how bad my hand was shaking as I took my first orgo exam, my first exam since my less than illustrious undergrad. You can do it, best of luck to you!

 

[drechie]

Your post really speaks aloud to me. I hope you lead a great path. I can not wait until the day when I start my own. Best of luck.

 

[dgmarma]

So Signaq... how'd it go??? Hope you had an awesome day!!!🙂

 

[Signaq]

First of all, as my kids would say, you guys ROCK! So inspirational 😍

1. I didn't sleep through the alarm.

2. I had a funny moment during lecture when I was trying to balance my 3-ring binder and my 20 pound paperback textbook on my lap and those little half-desks. I briefly thought to myself, "I have to order a new full size desk pronto", and then I remembered I was in SCHOOL and not at work where grown-up sized furniture is the norm. I looked like Will Smith in the beginning of Men In Black trying to balance all the paperwork on my lap.

3. My drive home was a little smoother, dinner tasted a little better, my smile was a little brighter, and I'll sleep a little bit heavier because I'm doin' it PRE-MED STYLE! Holla! (now my kids are cringing!)

 

[punkiedad]

First of all, as my kids would say, you guys ROCK! So inspirational 😍

1. I didn't sleep through the alarm.

2. I had a funny moment during lecture when I was trying to balance my 3-ring binder and my 20 pound paperback textbook on my lap and those little half-desks. I briefly thought to myself, "I have to order a new full size desk pronto", and then I remembered I was in SCHOOL and not at work where grown-up sized furniture is the norm. I looked like Will Smith in the beginning of Men In Black trying to balance all the paperwork on my lap.

3. My drive home was a little smoother, dinner tasted a little better, my smile was a little brighter, and I'll sleep a little bit heavier because I'm doin' it PRE-MED STYLE! Holla! (now my kids are cringing!)

Congrats on your first day.....the time will fly.........never give up...even if you think of it on a bad day.........best of luck to you!!

 

[CremasterFlash]

You are doing what others would if they had the guts.

You refuse to live a life of quiet desperation.

You refuse to leave unexplored the path that speaks to you.

You refuse to let your dream dry up like a raisin in the sun.

Good on ya and good luck.



Some inspirational lyrics from one of my favorite punk rock bands:

When I was young I was invincible
I found myself not thinking twice
I never thought about no future
It's just a roll of the dice

But the day may come when you got something to lose
And just when you think you're done paying dues
You say to yourself "Dear, God What have I Done?"
And hope its not too late cause tomorrow may never come

Reach for the sky cause tomorrow may never come
Reach for the sky cause tomorrow may never come

Social Distortion - Reach for the Sky

 

[tc13]

Way to go! You'll get there.
On my fridge is the scantron from my first exam when I returned to college after a twelve year layoff. That exam is from Feb 2005. Next to it is a copy of my med school acceptance. One step at a time and the next thing you know, you'll be heading to med school.

 

[Frankdotcom]

You are doing what others would if they had the guts.

You refuse to live a life of quiet desperation.

You refuse to leave unexplored the path that speaks to you.

You refuse to let your dream dry up like a raisin in the sun.

Good on ya and good luck.



Some inspirational lyrics from one of my favorite punk rock bands:

When I was young I was invincible
I found myself not thinking twice
I never thought about no future
It's just a roll of the dice

But the day may come when you got something to lose
And just when you think you're done paying dues
You say to yourself "Dear, God What have I Done?"
And hope its not too late cause tomorrow may never come

Reach for the sky cause tomorrow may never come
Reach for the sky cause tomorrow may never come

Social Distortion - Reach for the Sky

👍

Great post.

Good luck to you in your studies!

Congratulations on taking the plunge. The first step is always hard.

 

[craniopage]

Congrats Signaq! What classes are you taking?

I just registered for my first post-bacc classes (starting Jan. 26) and changed my SDN status to PRE-MEDICAL!!! Feels pretty sweet.

 

[Joannavr]

I'm with you there. Sunday night I was all giddy and set two alarms, hopped out of bed at 7am and raced to school like an eager....well like an eager non-trad.

This morning, I went a little slower, stopped for coffee.

Tomorrow, I'm nervous because 3 days into the week I have a mountain of homework and reading in front of me!


It's a RELIEF to go to work and not have to worry about anything hahaha.

 

[Signaq]

Hey...

I am taking a bunch of review classes this spring and summer to get ready for the real thing this fall -- intro to Chemistry, Human Biology, a math review class....I don't want to get ahead of myself and jump right into Gen Chem or Biology, only to find out that I'm in way over my head. This way I can settle into the groove.

I'm also taking Introduction to Inupiaq, a native Alaskan language. My family speaks a slightly different dialect (Nome versus Kotzebue), but I guess I can't be that picky.

How about the rest of you?????

 

[paramedtech]

Thats awesome to hear that you are pursuing your dreams, good luck this semester hope all goes well.

 

[ladyscorpian14]

Do u go to the uinversity of Alaska ? 😀

 

[Signaq]

Hi Lady S.
Yeah, I'm at UAA, although you'd never know it today. 48 degrees, bare roads, sunny skies. I thought I was in Miami! Are you a SeaWolf too? They need to get that Blackboard up and running, huh?

Funny thing #3478 about going back to college: I forgot about those shopping bags they give you at the bookstore with all the magazine subscription offers prestuffed inside.

 

[ladyscorpian14]

Yes I am a very proud Seawolf not there this year in maine but will be back in the fall have you talk to the pre-med advisor forgot his name but really sweet guy he's in the ENGR building. He teaches for the medical school program there. I can't wait for the new Science building to be open next fall😍

 

[Signaq]

Yes I am a very proud Seawolf not there this year in maine but will be back in the fall have you talk to the pre-med advisor forgot his name but really sweet guy he's in the ENGR building. He teaches for the medical school program there. I can't wait for the new Science building to be open next fall😍

Yeah, I know of whom you speak -- heckuva nice guy and seems to have all his ducks in a row. He was the first (of many) who told me that nursing is seen as little more than a glamorized E.C. by adcoms , but then he told me that many adcoms have big love for the OLDER STUDENT

BTW, I'm from Maine, Lady S. Whatcha doin' theyah, mista? I heah it's some wicked cold!

 

[ladyscorpian14]

Im in south portland going to smcc it was cheaper. But now I'm joining the guard so that should help with the out of state tuition. Last year being a freshman I jump from one program to the next now i pick the justice program at uaa and it gives me the most electives for my pre-med requirments😀 It's horrible here in maine I think it's colder here in the winter compare to Alaska