CNA, currently training as an EMT in my GAP year applying for PA school this October-April.
I surprisingly found belonging as a intersectional women of color in a male dominated space and I learned how to be a confident leader as the first President of WiSTEM with help and support through my teachers, class colleagues and boss at the student health service department.
WiSTEM, my boss, my teachers, a handful of non-traditional students like myself, and my IGETC counselor.
I think of my days at Santa Monica College as the good ol’ days! At the university it was a GREAT Challenge transitioning from semesters to quarters and being in huge lecture halls where I couldn’t get one on one time with my professors unless I joined the single file line of 20 students who ran to the teacher’s podium after class ended. I learned the teacher’s time is valuable and I needed to organize all of my questions before asking them because the teacher will respectfully take time to explain them, and it was easier to get letters of rec because the appreciated how I respected their time and showed interest. I also had to get used to talking to the TA’s (Teacher Assistants) who are also students.
My biggest challenge was time management with the upgraded workload. I literally only had time to sleep 4-6 hours if I wanted to stay on top of homework, work and have some social time with friends. It’s a juggling act that I somehow got proficient at.
To any pre-med students I would advise them FIRST to look for programs that might set you up for greatness. Meaning; I wish I knew of programs that had pipelines to where I am now. I could have saved so much time. I didn’t know there were programs out there that could have trained me as a nurse or Paramedic when I got my bachelor’s degree. So look for Associate to Bachelor’s or Bachelor’s to Doctorate programs in your interested field or a similar field as your target career.
And lastly I would also say what my dad taught me. “Trust the process and don’t sweat the small stuff”! He taught me we will always run into problems, we are inherently “problem solvers” till we die (Welcome to Adulting 101). So embrace the challenges, make it a fun puzzle to figure out. Don’t complain unless that is a step towards actively changing the problem. This has helped me stay positive. People love to helping positive people!
Research for those degree/career Piplines! It helps you build a strong support system and you feel more confident when you’re familiar with how the school works and how to fulfill your basic needs. Your dream school might not be all that you cracked it up to be! Just sayin’.
Oooh, I would have done scary leadership things sooner! I would’ve taken more advantage of all the one-on-one mentorship by learning how I learned best, and learned how to study Upper div PRE MED sooner.
I enjoy being outside, especially surfing. I am the program manager for UC San Diego’s Black Surf Week. Where I create a week long surf camp for students and faculty alongside the Provost of Muir College. I was also a surf instructor as I attended UCSD. That was the highlight of my entire academic journey. I made time for my mental health and it REALLY paid off more than I ever imagined it would!