Who needs motivation?

[radian313]

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So you applied, maybe took the mcat 2-3 times, maybe this is your 3rd cycle, and you are starting to feel this isnt for you? Well if you have a will then you have the way.....you'll either find an excuse or a way to get in if you want it bad enough....

I was in your shoes some years ago....in fact straight out of undergrad, where i went from a 2.5 to a 3.4 (graduating). Took the MCAT didnt do so well due to my mother having surgery that summer. I was stupid and went to an overseas school (one of the better ones).

I started my MPH at the school, got a 3.9 and then matriculated into their medical program. Did alright in the program, but then after some time my sister passed away. I decided to come back to take care of my parents work at a local federal agency under their Ebola Quarantine project using my MPH.

I met a wonderful DO, who pushed me to retake my MCAT and I did fairly well. Having a great deal of clinical, real world experience, and decent stats, I got into a few DO programs.

I got in and did really well only to get sick later, and require open heart surgery. I thought my life was over, my "wonderful" fiance couldnt deal with it and wanted a break and left, I had to take a medical leave, and then ofcourse had to deal with the open heart surgery itself.

After 10 hours of life saving surgery, I was good. Something the surgeon told me that hit me hard and frankly I teared up ( I dont usually tear up as EMT school toughened me to my core).

"You know man, I get it, you woke up thinking she would have called you, but let me tell you something, today you did amazing on a 10 hour surgery. We stopped your heart for 2 hours. For what its worth, we normally put a lot of meds to start up a heart, in your case, it was beating the second we warmed it up. So for what its worth man, you have a very loyal heart that wants to live its life. So go ahead now and live the best life possible. Your heart got sick and it did you a favor and got rid of these people for you because it, itself understand loyalty and thats what it gave you. It wants to live on, so go ahead now and live the best life possible, be loyal to medicine and it will be loyal to you".

He shook my hand and said "see you soon on rounds someday, your patients are waiting".

And Im here to tell you, if you have the desire and passion, dont give up.

Im on the older side but somehow I did okay. Im currently an OMS-1 but being at the top percentile of my class means nothing to me if I cant pass on some good karma. So to you out there thinking tonight, "is this for me". You know the answer already, you just need to push yourself and keep trucking. You got this.....

And part of the reason why I write this time after time, I had many moments where I broke down, it was good people like @Goro who helped me through....listen to this person....they know what they are talking about....

 

[Robin-jay]

Well, you definitely touched my heart.

Seriously though, good luck.

By the way, motivation always helps. If there weren't people with low GPAs and multiple MCATs who didn't get accepted, I probably wouldn't have gone to earn my Chemistry Master's and help fix my overall application.

 

[RNthenDoc]

"You know man, I get it, you woke up thinking she would have called you, but let me tell you something, today you did amazing on a 10 hour surgery. We stopped your heart for 2 hours. For what its worth, we normally put a lot of meds to start up a heart, in your case, it was beating the second we warmed it up. So for what its worth man, you have a very loyal heart that wants to live its life. So go ahead now and live the best life possible. Your heart got sick and it did you a favor and got rid of these people for you because it, itself understand loyalty and thats what it gave you. It wants to live on, so go ahead now and live the best life possible, be loyal to medicine and it will be loyal to you".

He shook my hand and said "see you soon on rounds someday, your patients are waiting".

A CT surgeon said that?
What an awesome story, and what a great surgeon to take the time to address the emotional turmoil your life ha brought you as well as the physical. Class act.

 

[radian313]

A CT surgeon said that?
What an awesome story, and what a great surgeon to take the time to address the emotional turmoil your life ha brought you as well as the physical. Class act.

And he has stuck by his words, I am setting up a observership/internship on his service next summer for 2-3 weeks. A truly badass of surgeons. Many surgeons I spoke to said this would likely have to be 2 open heart surgeries....he was one of the few who said, I can do it in one hit simply because this was my 2nd open heart surgery and there was a lot of scar tissue from the first. But was probably the most humble guy around.

I mean during pre-op I asked him jokingly "Can I do anything for you, I know you helped me out a lot so far". He joked "get me my cup of coffee that morning, just dont get me ****bucks" and no he didnt say "star", lol.......it seemed like he went through a lot through life and was at a point of just wanting to give back in any way he can.....

 

[stickgirl390]

A wonderful story, thank you for sharing!

 

[SpartanDOnoharm]

That is an awesome story. It reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite books that motivated me to finally undertake my pursuit towards medical school, The Alchemist.

“Everyone believes the world's greatest lie..." says the mysterious old man.
"What is the world's greatest lie?" the little boy asks.
The old man replies, "It's this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world's greatest lie.”

It reminds me that while sometimes there are unexpected things that happen, and not always for good, you have to realize that you are still in control of your life no matter what happens. You will continue on to do great things as long as you know that you are still in control.

That surgeon sounds like he is an excellent physician. One day you'll be in his shoes, and I have no doubt that you'll be an excellent physician as well.

 

[radian313]

A wonderful story, thank you for sharing!

You're quite welcome.

That is an awesome story. It reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite books that motivated me to finally undertake my pursuit towards medical school, The Alchemist.

“Everyone believes the world's greatest lie..." says the mysterious old man.
"What is the world's greatest lie?" the little boy asks.
The old man replies, "It's this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world's greatest lie.”

It reminds me that while sometimes there are unexpected things that happen, and not always for good, you have to realize that you are still in control of your life no matter what happens. You will continue on to do great things as long as you know that you are still in control.

That surgeon sounds like he is an excellent physician. One day you'll be in his shoes, and I have no doubt that you'll be an excellent physician as well.

That was a great read, I read it too 😀

Thanks for your kind words, he is indeed a great physician. Such a humble person.

 

[radian313]

@brooklynzoo here ya go...