To new beginnings (and all that crap)

Here it is, my foray into blogging. It scares me more than a little, and probably way more than it should. I'm a very private person- even before Al Gore invented the internet and AOL was something awesome other than a joke, I was always afraid of letting people know too much about me. (I'm sure there's an interesting psych appointment in there somewhere.) Anyway, I've learned so much from others on their trip to med school that I wanted to give back, to let others know their failures are not just theirs. That I too am a screw-up and have failed, but am not a failure.

I am a non-trad, probably as non-trad as you can get. If there were awards for "Most Non-Traditional", I'd be the spokesperson.There's a Mr. Mechanic, a Mechanic Jr, a mortgage, a renter, a career, a history, a past, and a 20-year reunion that thankfully I wasn't invited to. I have a disappointing undergrad GPA, MCAT score, and a long list of med schools that didn't think I was matriculant material. Yes, I've interviewed and applied, but it ended like every other date I went on as a teenager- "You're great, you really are, but, um, there are A LOT of people who are so much better in many ways. No hard feelings, hmm? Is your sister dating anyone?" Wait, I'm sure the adcoms didn't say that last part.

I'm old for a med student. Like, ancient. Like, I was a teenager when "like" was commonly used as a verb. I stood in line for Ghostbusters, owned an 8-track tape, and used rotary dial phones. I actually enjoy the news and yell at kids to get the hell off my lawn. (What? They're parking their damn car on my grass- wouldn't you be annoyed?) I was the oldest person in my Kaplan class and fit in nicely in the "Oldest people in this class" section. I sit near the front, not because I'm a gunner, but because I have a hard time hearing the teacher. I'm waiting for my copy of AARP to show up unannounced and uninvited, like herpes.


*Woman pictured may not accurately reflect age of author.
Although the hair color is close.

But nay, I am not defeated, nor am I discouraged about fulfilling my dream. I may be a little crazy, maybe a bit more stupid to my non-med friends, but I'm not anything, if not driven. I am currently re-taking classes and will be re-taking the MCAT in a few months. I'll be applying to the gap year programs starting in the new year, and I plan on being successful. Otherwise I'll just be embarrassed, pack up this blog, and move to Mexico.

Here's to success, one step at a time.