Day 3: Attempting to Make the AAMC Less Intimidating

“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”

― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

---

First group to do the conquer the fitness test!

When the monster that is the MCAT is all said and done there is still another beast to conquer: the AAMC application.

Its quite obvious that even once the application process is over there are still many other obstacles to cross before I can even become a physician. I've also never found myself to be the best writer nor the best person to talk about my own accomplishments so I was pretty happy today when we had a discussion about personal statements planned for this morning. When Mrs. Cindy Riyad came in and told us to create a mind map about ourselves I didn't think much of it at first since this wasn't my first time completing one. I was certainly wrong.

I believe that the last time I ever made a mind map it was over a year ago for a project but now having the chance to make a self-reflective one entering my senior year it was a different experience. One fo the most difficult issues I've been dealing with when writing my personal statement this semester has been finding a cohesive way to link all of my desires to enter medicine as well as my own accomplishments together into one essay. Seeing it all circled and linked on paper, however, has surly changed my writing strategy.

Later that morning Mason, and M2 student at GHS, came and spoke to us about applying for the military track in medical school. As interesting as it seems (especially with the pay and no loans aspect) I don't think it will ever be the right route for me.

Luckily though MedEx isn't always sitting down and listening to lectures. My group went to perform on the fitness test this afternoon and boy was I sore afterwards. It certainly is a bonding experience for each tier.