Why Become a Physician?

"The awe of discovering the human body. The honor of being trusted to give advice. The gratitude for helping someone through a difficult illness. These things never grow old."


Advise from an article I read on the New York Times today, about why people still want to become doctors.


Nowadays, with the advancement in technology, the higher demand on administrative documentation, it is becoming harder for physicians to fully devote themselves to patients.  It is the interaction you can have with patients, the way you can make them feel better without speaking, and the smile you can give that lessens the pain that makes medicine so unique, and so worthwhile.


Medicine is the only profession in which you are licensed to touch.  There is a reason why they are licensed to touch.

Osteopathic Fee Assistance Program

The Fee Assistance Program (FAP) for osteopathic schools require you to send in a SAR (Student Aid Report) after filling out a FAFSA.  Getting the FAP would pay for the first three schools you apply to, as well as 90% of the secondary applications.

Fill out your FAFSA now!
https://fafsa.ed.gov/

You can get your FAFSA reviewed in like..three days!

AMCAS Activities Section - New Format

There are some changes to the activities section of the AMCAS application this year.  Instead of writing 1325 characters for each activity.  It is now limited to 700 characters per section.  For activities you feel are significant, and you need some more room for it, you have additional 1325 characters for those.  You can choose up to three activities for those significant activities.  You are still limited to 15 activities you can write about on your application.

https://www.aamc.org/students/download/125246/data/new_document.pdf

Check out the instructions!!!!

Fragileness of Life

I just got the news that a close family friend had passed away.  He was diagnosed with stage IV cancer about 1.5 weeks ago.  This person reminds me so, so much about my dad.  He, too, was a heavy smoker, reluctant to go to doctor's check-ups.  As an immigrant from China, the pride and language barrier had a great role in discouraging him from preventing his diagnosis from something treatable to life-threatening.  He had a on-going cough for the past three years, but everyone just thought it was from heavy smoking, or aging.  No one would have ever thought that the first check-up he has, is the day he was told to have two weeks left to live.  The tumors were found to be in his liver, kidney, and lung. He left a little earlier than his two weeks notice.

He did not want to see anyone, or be visited.  Shortly after his diagnosis, he had kidney failure and was admitted to the ER.  He never came out from the hospital since.  He gave up on his life.  He decided to end his life and not fight, so he wouldn't experience the pain and suffering associated with the cancer.

I sometimes wonder whether it was a good idea for me to push my dad through all the chemo and radiation therapies.  As he was someone who was reluctant to be taken care of, and did not want to consult physicians, I thought I was being proactive in making him get treated.  I am unsure whether I have been toxic to him and made his quality of life lower.

Life is fragile.  Life is short.  Tell people who you love, that you love them everyday.  Don't take people around you for granted.  Love them even if they don't love you back....

Keep Going! Move Positively Forward!

YES, life has an interesting way of knocking you down!  Right when you think that things are going smooth and silky, it can become disastrous.  I had a pretty good taste of that in the past few years.  Dealing with death, suicide, depression, isolation, and rejection left me feeling unloved and unworthy.  I was such a mess.  People walked out of my life, and I thought it was over.  As I took the time out to reflect upon events after events, I even began to think that I was the issue, and that something was wrong with me.  I must have been too full of myself and so selfish that I thought I was God.  I thought I could handle everything and anything.  When things were out of my control and it did not go my way, I thought it was my fault.  I thought I did not try hard enough so I did not get what I wanted. 

I realized that sometimes, we all just have to stop being our own God. Instead, we have to let go, and let God.  When you do not know what to do, and are bombarded by too many thoughts, just let go and reflect upon what is important to you.  Trust in God that things are happening in YOUR favor.  Trust that God will pull you out of the situation He put you in, with double the benefit.  God is preparing you to become the person you have dreamed of being.  Uhm, in that perspective, the worst is not that bad, huh?

Well, as of now, I am not exactly out of the dark tunnel.  I do not know where I will be or what will happen to me.  But, I am surviving, and learning how to take on the everyday challenge.  I am so excited about what God has to offer.  I am excited to be in a better position than I am now.  I am excited to see myself live in my highest potential.  I am making it!  So can you! 

Focus on little steps that you can accomplish.  Stay true to who you are.  Do NOT settle for anything less.  As long as you keep doing the good to those around you, some things can one day turn into your favor unexpectedly.  Life if more interesting when there are challenges you have to overcome anyway, right?  In the midst of adversities and you are lost, know that the destination is just around the corner.  Please, do not give up too early!  You are more talented than you or other people around you may think.  Do not let these adversities take you away from you.  Enjoy the journey.  It is in the darkest of times, you can see the stars that shine, the brightest!

If no one loves you, I LOVE YOU!