As I sat on my bed, starring at the test, sweat dripping down my face, I continually attempted to tell myself it was a dream. How was I going to tell my parents that I was fifteen years old and pregnant? In June 2007 my parents had discovered I was twenty-two weeks pregnant; I delivered my daughter Alanah in August 2007.
I always knew I wanted to be a physician and becoming a teen mom was not going to stop me. I never used my situation as an excuse and I worked extremely hard to successfully complete college, but as a mother, full-time student and full-time employee working 2 jobs and 35 hours per week, I had more on my plate than some of my classmates. During my second year of college, I went through a horrible and stressful break up with my daughter's father who I had been with for 6 years. Life has a funny way of working out because 6 months later I met who I absolutely know is my soul mate, Henry, who I have know been with for 4 and half years.
Four years, two failed classes and much stress later, I successfully graduated from Le Moyne College in 2014 and instead of entering medical school; I went into public service. I served with Community HealthCorps AmeriCorps, a federal public health service program where members serve as Community Health Educators in underserved areas. These were two of the best years of my life. Here is where I learned the importance of getting individuals in the underserved population to not only understand the importance of primary and preventative healthcare but also getting these same individuals to utilize the services. I met people in some of the most horrible life circumstances. How was I suppose to tell a person who didn't know where their next meal was coming from or where they were going to sleep at night to get to their doctor for an annual physical? I couldn't!
I will be ending my two year experience with AmeriCorps in July 2016. I look forward to closing that chapter of my life with so much gratitude, peace, gratification and humility. I have learned so much from my public service that I could not have learned anywhere else. I gained valuable real life experiences and learned how to help individuals not only gain control of their health but also to help them live better quality lives. I was able to give health education on preventing childhood obesity while feeding a hungry child. I was able to refer a woman to a primary care physician and also set her up with a case manager to help her find a job and safe shelter. And I was able to give information about the services we offered at the health center to individuals in the homeless population; all while offering them a healthy lunch and ice cold water. I will always hold AmeriCorps near and dear to my heart but I am excited to start a new chapter of my life.
I applied to about ten US medical schools; but I applied very late; submitting my applications in November for the next year's August cycle and any aspiring med student knows this is late. As a result, I was rejected or waitlisted and so I applied to Ross University School of Medicine and was accepted. There are many other reasons I applied to Ross and decided to attend, which you can read about in my future blog I plan to write, "It's a Caribbean Medical School, Aren't you Worried About Securing A Residency?"'. My acceptance to Ross came with some additional work. I was accepted to Ross University on the condition that I complete a preparation program in Miramar, FL with a C average or better. You can read more about my decision to complete MERP on my future blog titled "MERP" .
When I was first accepted, I was planning to move for school with Alanah and Henry, but in life, sometimes you have to make the realistic decision. He works as a Teaching Assistant in the Syracuse City School District and he is a Psychology major at Le Moyne College, working towards his goal of becoming a Behavioral Psychologist. And to top it off, his job pays for most of his undergraduate degree tuition. How could I ever ask him to give up all of that, to come chill with me on a tropical island for 16 months? Well, I didn't, he offered! So for 8 months, we were mentally and physically preparing for our move, until one day, driving to get lunch at Panera (which anyone who knows me, knows that’s my fave place evaaa) and out of nowhere, I said, "you ever think about staying?" 2 days later, we made the decision for not only him, but for our daughter to stay as well.
I will be taking Levi, one out of the two dogs we have with me and Nova, our 6 lb Morkie Poo will be staying with Alanah and Henry. Levi, our German Shepherd will be travelling with me to Florida and the islands. He is trained as a companion dog and as a personal protection K9 and therefore will be helpful for me while away, not only keeping me company, but keeping me safe as well.
I will miss them dearly but I am excited for the opportunities they both have here. I will be moving away for my first approximately two years of medical school without him and Alanah by my side, but of course, in my heart. Alanah is a phenomenal dancer and competes on a great competition team. So it makes me happy she doesn't have to give that up for two years but instead do what she loves best and that's dance! Also, Henry's dreams, goals and aspirations are just as important as mine and I cannot, in good conscious, ask him to pack up and leave his job and school for 16 months while only I progress. I love him enough to want the best for him and I know that while I am away, he and Alanah will be here, safe and well taken care of, supporting me 100%.
God has a way of working things out and there is no doubt in my mind that with God, we will make it out just fine. Henry and Alanah, I love you beyond words. Henry, I thank you for being so incredibly supportive of all my dreams, even so much so that you are willing to put your life on hold. Nothing worth having comes easy and while I will miss you and Alanah's presence physically, it is love that will keep us strong.
It is now time for me to begin my journey, thanks for choosing to join me and I hope you enjoy this blog, where you will experience my successes, failures, trials, tribulations and plain old happiness and fun as I enjoy and experience Florida and the beautiful island of Dominica!