"A few years ago, I wondered if I had the gusto and smarts to become a physician. Doubt proved to be the only thing holding me back. I passed Chem 1 and 2 with flying colors, scored a perfect on my Chem 1 final, and tutored chemistry for two years. In mere weeks, my students went from being lost in lecture to the go-to student for homework problems. It equipped me with the foundation to excel as a viral gene therapy researcher during my gap year (you'd be surprised at how much chemistry goes into bench work).

A few years later, I began preparing for the MCAT. It was daunting, from the scope of material to the length of the test and the horrid unpredictability of CARS. But I persevered, stuck to my study plan, and identified my ideal study tactics. After a couple months of studying, I wouldn't settle for anything less than a 520.

I scored a 520 on the first attempt.

How did I celebrate? I went to France and taught English. For whatever reason, I've always had a passion for French. I had taken courses since high school, minored in French at UF, studied in Aix-en-Provence for 7 weeks, and seized the opportunity to teach English in southern France for 6 months. I loved every minute of it, and I still carve time out of my schedule each week to meet with friends and chat in French.

Where did it take me?

After 2 years of wine, cheese, pipetting and tissue culture, the UF College of Medicine included me in their first round of interviews. I got my acceptance before most others got their first interview. I'm currently a third year in the midst of my clinical rotations. Every day presents unique challenges, but I get by with the help of classmates and colleagues. Trust me, I understand the stress of being a student. I understand that our most valuable resource is our peers. I am eager to share whatever knowledge I can - whether chemical, medical, or francophone - to give you the confidence to move forward, one day at a time, in whatever way uniquely helps you as we hash through the tough stuff together." less...