Being a physician has been my lifelong dream. Today, I am extremely proud and excited to be sharing the news that I am one step closer to making that dream a reality: I got accepted into medical school!!

I’m sure you are all familiar with the concept and saying: “it takes a village to raise a child.” I feel the same way about the making of a physician; it takes a village to get an individual through to the point where we call them “doctor.” It does not happen by chance or without support. 

Getting this far has been no small task. It has taken twenty-four years of life; seventeen years of education (and counting); 180 college credit hours; 17,902 words written for application essays; and basically an entire lifetime of hard work to get to this point. You can also add in two years of hard work in therapy and other forms of treatment because eight years ago, I hit a roadblock. I was not really living but was instead slowly killing myself (and my dreams + potential) due to a severely disordered relationship with food and exercise. I was driving myself mad carrying out compulsions that were meant to calm their corresponding obsessions but rather only provided temporary relief. 

That is all an immense summary of what it has taken to get this far, but I think you get the point. It has been a long time coming and has involved a lot of hard work, and I am not ignorant to the fact that I still have a long ways to go. For today, though, I am just excited to finally be sharing this news and wanted to share this thank you to all of you, my village. 

First off, regardless of all of the hard work and support in the world, if medical school wasn’t the path God had set for me, I would not still be on it. I was far from the perfect applicant, and I fully believe that I was only accepted because it is within his will for my life to become a physician.

Mom and Dad: You have supported me from day 1. You were probably the first people I ever told that I wanted to be a doctor when I grew up. You raised me to go after my dreams and to never give up. You always believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. You let me dress up like a doctor every year for Halloween and bought endless medical toys and supplies for my Christmas and birthday every year. You (and T-man) were my first “patients” as playing hospital/doctor was one of my favorite games as a kid. You never tried to discourage my dream but rather always supported it however you could. Without your support and investment, I would not be where I am today. Thank you. 

T-Man: As I said, you were one of my first “patients,” and were very patient with me indeed! You asked the doctors for medical things to bring me from your surgeries when you were little and put up with me bandaging you up and giving you “breathing treatments.” Thanks for being my built-in best friend growing up. 

My sweet boyfriend: Although you walked into my life only three short years ago, you have quickly become an instrumental part of this journey. You’re my best friend, my confidant, and my cheerleader. You want me to chase my dream and have been nothing but supportive of me doing whatever that takes. Walking this journey with me has not been easy, and I know it will only get harder, but I also know there is no one else I would rather have by my side. Thank you for loving me and for always cheering me on. 

Gammie, Pop-pop, and Grandma: Like Mom and Dad, y’all have supported me in so many ways along this journey. I sure am lucky to have such awesome grandparents. Thanks for loving me and helping mold me.

My fire department family: I had NO clue what I was getting into when I decided to join the fire department nearly three years ago. Y’all are my adopted family, a role you all take very seriously. Y’all have taught me intangible lessons and skills, stretched me, thickened my skin, loved me, and helped me grow. My life would not be nearly as colorful or full of love without you all in it. I will miss you all immensely, but Lord willing, I’ll be back in a few years. 

Dear friends: Whether you’ve been around since childhood, high school, or college, you all have heard my stress-induced rants, kept me company through many late nights, and helped me remember to have a life outside of school. Thank you, all of you, for loving me over the years. 

My hospital floor peeps: Y’all got me through the growing pains of my first medical/healthcare-related job and taught me many tricks of the trade. My time on the floor taught me invaluable lessons and is not a time I will easily forget. Thank you. 

My EMS Friends: Another bunch that has taught me so much. So many of you have taken me under your wings and helped me learn and grow. Like my hospital floor experience, my EMS experience has taught me invaluable lessons and is not a time I will easily forget! Y’all have taught me so much and have done nothing but encourage me and push me to keep moving forward. 

Under that branch, to my dear partner: I will always have fond memories of my time spent on the truck with you. Twenty-four hours every third day is a long time to spend with a co-worker, but thankfully you were so much more. You became a dear friend, someone who got to know me and my life way too well, someone who saw me at my best and at my worst. We were just babies when we became partners and had (and still do have) lots to learn, but we have always worked hard and are always learning and trying to improve. I’m gonna miss you partner. Thanks for putting up with me!

College professors and all other educators and teachers: While it takes more than academic education to be a good physician and to get into medical school, a solid education background is still essential. I was fortunate to have wonderful teachers from a young age. Without you all, I would not be prepared to tackle this next step in my education. Thank you for all that you do. 

Furry friends: Although they cannot read and will never know how much they mean to me, Darryl, Copper, and Keeva have all kept me company on many late nights studying, and life would not be nearly so fun or happy without them in it. 

Everyone else: Even if you did not find yourself in one of the above categories, if you are here and you are reading this, you are likely part of my village too. Thank you for being here and thank you for being part of my journey.