Jump to content
Premed 101 Forums

My Bio Would Sound Made-Up...


Recommended Posts

I think it's possible that my past and all aberrant highlights, can really only hurt me in the future if it keeps me from distinguishing myself in constructive and more conventional ways. I don't think I need to stand out because of whats strange, or aversive about me when I can stand out because of what I choose to do beyond those things.

 

This paragraph is just awesome. Andy, as far as I am concerned you couldn't take a better approach to life. I mean it. Hats off to you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, thanks very much for sharing your story Andy. I sincerely wish you the best of luck in your future endeavours. It's so admirable how you managed to overcome all this adversity in your life and are pursuing your dreams. I am confident that you you will be an awesome doctor, and while, you may encounter some ignorant people who are unable to look past your history - I think your story proves you have developed much insight, and can relate to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. As drjv said, nobody is perfect. You clearly have learned a great deal from your experiences. Look at the requirements for the schools you are interested in and give it a shot! :)

 

Thanks again for sharing such a personal story with all of us.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Andy,

 

Thanks for sharing that personal story with us. I don't have too much to say, except that I think that even the act of sharing your past experiences on a forum (where most of us probably can't even imagine your experiences) is a very brave thing to do.

 

Also, I realize that you've stated a bunch of times your medical aspirations, but I'd also like to point out another alternative: Social work. I don't remember reading what your undergrad degree is in, but if you have the chance to go back to up your GPA, and if it's possible to do a degree change to a social work degree, that would not only be a good degree to have before going into med school, it would be a good degree to have on its own, and to use to pursue a career with.

 

I have a friend who grew up in not-so-great circumstances either. He now has a social work degree, and uses it to be a patient-advocate type of social worker for individuals with HIV/AIDS. He works with them on how to navigate the medical system, and I think he's really doing a lot of noble work.

 

It sounds like you've come to terms with your past enough that you've acquired a lot of empathy. Perhaps going into a field where you can use your own not-so-great experiences with the healthcare system to help others have a better time would be very rewarding, either as a prelude to medicine, or as a career in itself.

 

In any case, best of luck!! :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

I didn't read your entire story (a bit too long for me, sorry), but I will say this from what I did take away from it...

 

If you truly want to be an MD, and you have the ability (and grades now), then you owe it to yourself to try. For those of us who are sure that med school is for us, we simply won't be happy being anything else. Not a nurse. Not a psychologist. Not a social worker. So if this is you, don't let anyone stand in your way. There's no harm in trying.

 

Now if you would be happy being a nurse, then yes, perhaps that is an option. But do realize that nursing schools will check your background as well, since you are working with a vulnerable population. You're still relatively young, so don't let age be a factor in your decisions. Your true passion and ability should be your guide.

 

If you are now mentally stable, off drugs, a law abiding clean citizen, etc, then there is no reason why you can't run from your past and start over (well, as long as you haven't killed anyone, etc.). Many people do. While your case may be extreme, you are not alone in struggling to overcome hardship. The point is that you have potential. Your goal is to use that potential to get where you want.

 

Now, I caution you in telling 'your story'. To be honest, it's not that it's unbelievable so much as it may be off putting to some. I know it's not politically correct to say, but some may shudder of the idea of their MD once giving an old guy a BJ in a dimly lit parking lot beside a Burger King...

 

In other words, state your hardships (abuse, no family support, financial barriers, depression due to the above) but don't really go into details. The idea is that you have overcome something, and you don't need to go into details for that. It's what you do NOW that really counts anyway. You can tell med schools that you volunteer with the homeless and drug addicted because you grew up disadvantaged/marginalized as well, but you don't need to say that you used to BE one of them. To be honest, that *may* hurt and not help you. Just trying to give you the best shot. On the other hand, if you don't feel right leaving parts of who you were out, then by all means let your heart be your guide. It is a personal decision.

 

My 2 cents, for what it's worth.

 

Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This paragraph is just awesome. Andy, as far as I am concerned you couldn't take a better approach to life. I mean it. Hats off to you.

 

 

I agree, that statement is profound and sums it up. But the sad fact is that while we all want this person to do well and be happy from a Utopian idealistic viewpoint, the reality is that being "on the fringe" can help OR hurt you.

 

I hate giving this person advice stating that they should hide parts of their struggle, but unfortunately sometimes the rest of the world is simply not ready, comprehending, or accepting as we would like them to be.

 

Believe me, there have been a few things I haven't done (wild n' crazy is my middle name!), because I knew that I couldn't risk anything that may hurt my future goals of being a doctor. Pride, integrity, paranoia, I don't know. :P It's the sacrifice we make. Or at least most of us *expect* to make those (self imposed?) sacrifices. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

ok this is the longest post I have ever read on this forum, anywayz, I finished reading it and here is what I think you might wanna consider.

 

1. If you really really want to be a doctor then either don't bother with your current degree and start over a new one or make sure you get 3.8 + for your next 2 years as this will pretty much guarentee an interview at Queens or Western even taking grade inflation into consideration and you have to do well on the MCAT as well.

2. If you can prove that you are competent enough acedemically and socially to get an interview then I am sure there are a lot of open minded people that will forget your past.

3. I see you are a very brave young lady and you didn't even withdraw from your dreams even when you got cancer and I have lots of respect for you on that one and that truly shows how much you love medicine.

4. Good luck with life and God bless you!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

I saw a sex ed video once where a doctor in the US who was an ex prostitute was talking about her implementation/opening of HIV and other STDs testing clinics that all prostitutes in LA go to, and her attempts to reach out to this community. She has single-handedly increased the STD testing and decreased STD transmissions in this industry and also among porn actors in LA. She knew the problems, and she knew how to reach out! You are not alone.

 

Do you have the necessary moral compass? You got out of prostitution, are off non-prescribed drugs, back in school and getting good grades. Personality, who you are, is not set in stone. Your frontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for decision making and planning) is not fully developed before your early twenties, and remains plastic/easy to change for your whole life - the choices you made in your early life do not need to reflect the choices you make in your later life - this is what is so wonderful about being a human being. IT IS UP TO YOU. Sounds to me like you are re-calibrating you compass, and you are starting to know how to navigate the storms (cheesy analogy, but whatever).

 

Good luck fellow mariner, and safe waters to you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...