Monday, January 17, 2011

Just Keep Swimming...

I did it! I survived my first semester of medical school. If you can't tell by the lack of blogging I've been able to do, being a future doctor is rather time consuming. There really is no way to describe it to anyone who has never experienced it before. It's above and beyond anything I have ever experienced or could have ever imagined. I have never worked so hard in my life just to stay above water. I'm not going to lie and say there haven't been days...many days...that I have wondered if it was worth it or wanted to just throw in the towel. On those kind of days the two things that keep me going are 1) knowing that it will all pay off one day and 2) the people in my life. My family is supportive, as they have always been. They remind me of my capabilities and reassure me when I stop believing in myself. I have a fantastic, supportive boyfriend who understands that I can't come home every weekend or talk on the phone for hours at night. I have friends who tell me how much they believe in me. All these people love and support me unconditionally, even though they have no idea what I am going through.

There is a subset of people, however, who do know what I am going through. If not for those people, there would be no possible way I could ever make it here. It makes a difference to have someone to complain with, someone to help you when there are so many things you don't understand. They have been there for me to laugh with, cry to, to kick me in the butt when I am slacking, or to tell me to relax when I am on edge. They are also the people I let loose with when the studying is done--whether it is going out to dinner, concerts, sporting events, or just having a lazy movie night. In a way, it's like I have made a sort of family here. Sure, we may be a little dysfunctional, but we truly care about and want the best for one another. I believe with all my heart that these people will be some of my best friends for the rest of my life. I will be eternally thankful for them and all they have done for me <3