Life.
Okay so… I know that every other pre-med says this… but I want to go to U. Washington. I mean, it’s my reach school. I have plenty of other preferences too (I’m looking at you, UIC global med program). But holy cannoli. If I could get into that school… oy.
It’s interesting. Their website makes it seem like a cakewalk. Of course, every fibre of my being tells me it isn’t but, for instance, you don’t have to have a certain amount of calculus or biochem or whatnot. In fact, they require you to have taken history and anthropology - hell, that’s one of my majors! That probably helps a bit!
I think part of the challenge is that there are so, so, so, SO so many other talented, passionate, deserving individuals out there applying as well. People who have been the president of three organizations while also getting an A in organic chem. People who have triple majored, gone and gotten their graduate degree, and then re-applied after having also spent time with the peace corps. Lots of excellence out there. It’s kind of cool. And intimidating.
But hey. I’m me. I’m cool with me. At the moment, I don’t have a ton going on in my life - it’s a bit self-centered, really, all the academic stuff and emphasis on music. But that’s okay. This is my time to grow and work on my study habits, to take the courses I enjoy, become a better steel pan player, and get a decent, sane-person’s night of sleep before plunging into years of sleepless nights on call, or perhaps abroad in a country where you sweat right through your clothes most of the time. I’m ‘behind’ a lot of other pre-med students out there. But as Imogen Heap once said, “but then, it’s your life, and you’ve only got one.” Why not take the time to do things right academically, and then focus my energy into other things at other times? I’m going to throw myself into shadowing this summer. I hope to get in at least 60 hours, probably more, before heading off to Interlochen and plunging into more of the best days of my life. I’m going to get a steel pan and bring that up to Michigan, too, and practice. A lot.
When I get back to school? I’ll keep practicing and working towards the concerto competition and the undergraduate artist competition. I’ll get involved in OMA again. I’ll do a senior honors project in anthropology or music. I’ll try to keep performing as a source of income and general happiness. And I’ll find a global health organization that meets when I don’t have class, and get seriously involved in some volunteer opportunities.
I just know that doing what I love, doing it well, with passion and vigilance, is the only way I’ll become the person I want to be and go where I want to go. Truly.
