Six words. Accountability, Integrity, Patience, Passion, Drive, Grit. Six words I saw on my whiteboard every morning, every afternoon, during every study session, during interviews, during late nights, and during moments when I didn’t think I could do it; moments where I was sure I was going to finally give up. Six words that summed up my year, and six words that will continue to outline many of my years to come. These six words saw me through my most vulnerable moments these last 12 months. These words were placed here as a reminder of the type of person I truly wanted to be despite the uncertainty that seemed to consistently lie ahead. As the academic year began in the middle of the pandemic, I wasn’t sure how the fall semester would unfold but knew one thing for certain – it was time to rewrite history. I was determined to change the type of student, worker, friend, and professional I was meant to be. I learned resilience, confidence, self-love, and most of all, the importance of having a community to support me in all my endeavors.
This year was one of the most successful yet, I achieved my goals. I built a foundation for what it means to be successful, and I am determined to build off this. I have reflected on the journaling I did this semester and am overjoyed with the pride and excitement I had for myself and the work I put in these past few semesters. Albeit I experienced immense success, I would be remissed if I did not mention my gratitude for the leadership roles I was a part of in this past year. I found my identity as a leader and believe this involvement was ultimately a catalyst in my success. Most notably, my role as a Resident Advisor in Morgens Hall and my role as President of Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Health Society. The Resident Advisor role gave me a community, exposed me to what it means to be involved at UC, and showed me the impact I was able to have on my residents. In this same light, my residents impacted me in ways I did not believe possible. I was so thankful to be a part of their first year in college and look forward to seeing where they go in their remaining years as undergraduate students. My role as President of Alpha Epsilon Delta gave me an avenue to channel my passion for this organization and its mission. I was able to bring together my love for medicine, passion for pre-medical student success, and enthusiasm for leadership all in one. I will be continuing as President of this organization and have a laundry list of what I hope to accomplish in the coming year.
Finally, I would like to take a moment and remember Ally Sidloski. Ally passed away on May 22nd following an accident at East Fork Lake. Ally was known by so many on-campus and although I did not know her very well, having only spoken to her a handful of times, her name deserves to be remembered. I will be racing in the Flying Pig Half Marathon this October and will carry her with me on my race bib as #WePlayFor3. Ally has reignited my passion for sport and reminded me of the importance of living every day to your fullest. We miss you, Ally.
I challenge anyone who reads this to find their six words. Six words to inspire you and six words to work towards every single day. Six words.