Strike Two

The month after taking the MCAT is 30 days of bliss.  Basking in the uncertainty of the unknown was hard to swallow after my first test, but I wholeheartedly embraced my time of question after MCAT number two.  Yes, it would be ideal if they could tell you what the test company already knows after you press submit...aka...your score.  But instead, they give you this awkward amount of time to wait.  I debated about continuing to study during this month of serenity combined with anxiety.  My second test felt 100% better than my first.  I felt like a completely different person.  I was refreshed, energized, and was overflowing with confidence and optimism.  I remember getting up for breaks and feeling good.  Dare I say amazing?  I wasn't sure if I was going to obtain the score that I needed but I most certainly felt as though my score had increased and that my studying was moving me in the direction of success. During that month, my biggest worry was dodging and cursing at cars driving 40 mph up Moraga while finishing up my six mile run (if you are a Piedmonter you know that the speed limit in all parts of Piedmont is 25 mph).  SERIOUSLY - SLOW DOWN.

So during this month I had some great things happen to me:

1. Morgan Stanley.  Morgan Stanley has offered me my job back.  I'm going to spare you the details for now because I probably shouldn't be writing about them.  But suffice it to say that I could not be happier working in a place where I feel appreciated, wanted, accepted, valued...a place where I know exactly what I'm doing, and where people look up to me.  Oh, and did I mention that these were delivered to me there last week:

The one thing that I will say about Morgan Stanley is this: I like the work.  I have a lot of growth potential.  And Morgan Stanley will go up to bat for me in a way that Tulane has proven that they will not.  Yes, I understand why I transitioned away from Corporate America and fell for the "optimistic dreamer" approach of pursuing medicine.  Believe me, these feelings (which are truly all over the place will come in further posts.)

2. Guess who else came into my life a few months ago.  Scott.  So Scott and I have a bit of history.  He's best friends with Nick.  I'm friends with Claire (and Nick) ...and Claire and Nick are married.  Scott and I have known each other for a while.  He has been a loyal blog follower from the beginning.  When things were the worst for me.  He was there.  There are no words that express my gratitude for what he was able to hear.  Believe me when I say that it was not pretty stuff.  He was and continues to be truly and completely supportive with my drastic mood swings and constant indecision.  My mom asked me one day why I was interested in Scott.  I told her - because he REMEMBERED the exact day that Bridesmaids came out on DVD.  I know this sounds trivial.  But in all honestly, I have never had a man in my life remember the little things that matter to me.  My favorite movie came out on DVD, and Scott remembered.  I didn't even remember.  He cares.  More than most people care.  And for that, I feel incredibly lucky to have him in my life again.

3. My bestie Kirsten was in town.  Her entire family just swept me into their arms the weekend after the MCAT and hauled us off to Tahoe for an incredible weekend of bliss and peace.  My relationship with Kirsten is like no other.  She gets me.  She motivates me.  She is there for me.  She is my rock.  And I am truly thankful that she never gives up on me.  She is always there for me (despite the distance).  Not surprisingly, we easily stayed up hours after going to bed discussing life stories, events...just catching up.  I love this girl.

So here is where I start over again.  Okay.  Maybe not start over.  But it's time to start dealing with the fall out from the fact that sadly my MCAT score did not improve.  Instead, it stayed the same.  I was so ready to see even one point higher.  My motivation and encouragement would have soared.  But despite everything that I put on hold to completely and fully dedicate myself to one test, my hard work did not pay off.  And I can't figure out why.  More on that later though.  This is enough for now.

Take Two

I'm back!  I have not updated my blog in so so long.  This is not surprising as I fully and completely dedicated myself to MCAT studying for six weeks.  Not even joking a little bit.  My schedule was: Wake up.  Change from pajamas into sweat pants.  Take a practice test (yes, in total I have taken every possible practice test available to me – I’m not sure what this amounts to…maybe 45.  And some I have repeated two and three times.  These aren’t just 70 minute section tests; I’m talking about the whole five hour experience).  Eat lunch.  Review my practice test.  Run or take my favorite dog on a walk.  Do practice problems.  Dinner/see friends.  Review Notes.  Sleep.  Repeat. 

About six weeks ago, my dad said something along the lines of – Meghan – I have no doubt that you are going to get your MCAT score.  But I’m not surprised that you didn’t do it the first time.  (Thanks a lot Dad).  See.  Things just take me longer.  Example number one: my mother kept copies of my STARR exams from elementary school and I maybe scored in the 5^th percentile…maybe.  Example number two: I went to “pre-primer” – a made up grade in between kindergarten and first grade to give “smaller” kids with “later” birthdays an extra year to grow and mature.  Example number three: I failed my drivers test the first time around (okay – so I did take it in Tahoe on a stick shift which I had learned to drive literally days before the exam.  Also, the car was a 1975 Audi Fox.  I am positive that the examiner was completely embarrassed to be seen with me in that automobile and took her humiliation out on my score.  I will also say that my parents continue to drive the Fox in Tahoe and I could not be prouder to be seen in that ride.  Every person that we pass stares like we are the craziest family in the universe.  More like best family EVER.  Plus, it’s an antique.  No more smog checks required.  Um – that is pretty awesome.  Anyways).  Example number four: I received a letter about a month into my freshman year at CAL telling me that I was endanger of failing two of my classes.  Not because I wasn’t trying.  But because I just did NOT get it.  College was hard.  Surrounded by geniuses.  Not receiving points for creativity and pretty binders.  It was a struggle.  Example number five: the first time I took Chemistry at Berkeley I promised my GSI I would never attempt a science class again.  I completely gave up my medical pursuit because moles, stoichiometry, and thermodynamics were a foreign language.  You couldn’t teach me that stuff if my life depended on it.  Example number six: Have I mentioned that I am a 31 year old unmarried woman?

That said, I am not a complete idiot.  Things might not come naturally to me.  But I am a hard worker.  Maybe the hardest worker you know.  I make things happen.  About a week into my second round of studying, my friend Lauren shared this commencement speech with me: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdvXCKFNqTY

It's kind of long, so don't worry.  I'm not offended if you didn't just watch that.  Basically, it's about putting yourself in a position to make decisions.  After I got my MCAT score I really didn't know what to do.  Go back to Morgan Stanley?  Give up on medicine?  Think more about a "time-line"?  Consider a serious significant other...dare I say a family?  I wasn't sure.  But then I realized that by taking the MCAT again I was giving myself the opportunity to decide.  I didn't have to decide then...during all of the chaos.  I could decide later.  After I got my score and had some time to think.  Why make premature decisions (like having babies) when you aren't even in a relationship?  Now at least I have put myself in an empowering position to decide when the time comes. 

So.  I took the MCAT again!  It was a little over two weeks ago.  And I actually felt great.  No - I'm not confident in my score.  But I did feel like I had really improved.  And I felt like if I had to take the test again, I'm just going to keep on getting better.  After all, second chances are my specialty.  

Time Is On My Side

How is today already August 11th? (I should preface this by saying that I started this post on August 4th...so I'm not sure if time really still is on my side...but anyways).  July was maybe the worst month of my life for more than a few reasons...it's refreshing to think that even when things aren't fluffy clouds of perfection, time. literally. flies.  Weather we like it or not, time does heal.  It is restorative.  Take it from me - during episodes of chaos, disappointment, failure, despair, regret, and hopelessness, hearing "just give it time" doesn't make anything feel better....even if it is true.  But, I was talking with my mom the other day and she said - Meghan, all things considered, you seem great.  Not stressed; laid back; and completely mellow.  Maybe time is running its course.   

(card courtesy of Kirsten).

So I AM definitely stressed.  There is major anxiety running through my blood in regards to this test that I am scheduled to take in THREE WEEKS.  Ahhhhh - less than a month.  Once again, I find myself wondering, where has the time gone?  Am I going to be ready?  More ready than last time?  Is that even possible?  This test is hard.  Nobody can tell you how to prepare for it.  Probably because there isn't a "right" way.  The only known fact is that I have to know EVERYTHING....years of science classes....textbooks of information.  I have come to the conclusion that the only thing that I can do is study (and when I say study - I literally have been studying 7-10 hours a day.  Yes.  Every day).  I want to know my science facts cold.  I have done thousands of practice problems.  And practice test after practice test. 

That said, I am not nearly as stressed as I was before I took test number one.  The first time that I took the MCAT I had two weeks to study for it.  I felt like I was constantly cramming vital facts into my brain.  I don't think that I realized the relationship between the parathyroid hormone and osteoclasts until two days before the exam.  I was a mess.  I'm in a much better place now.  Things make sense.  I am figuring out the connections, and I have a deeper sense of comfort with the material and where I stand with it.  I'm also slowly (but surely) re-gaining confidence in myself and my test-taking abilities.

And then of course, there are the the newly found sources of inspiration that I have at home.  Picture number one demonstrates my constant sugar/salt/chocolate/tea (oh yeah and there are some flashcards in the mid-ground) intake (so-long Paleo).  Picture number two is what I look like on a DAILY basis.  And who wouldn't be inspired by that?  No seriously.  I don't think that you get it.  It PAINS me to remove my black polar fleece sweats and dark blue hoodie.  IT PAINS ME.  Picture number three is a Jim mug.  Jim (being my dad) inspires me on a daily basis, so why not drink coffee from a mug with his name on it?  (Yes mom, you inspire me too). 

So there are also other reasons why I am doing better.  To begin with - I am sleeping.  At least when there is room on my bed to sleep...

Unfortunately, Dandy recently got the ax from my bedroom in the evenings.  Mostly due to the fact that I was losing sleep over feeling like I couldn't move because I didn't want to disturb him.  Oh, have a mentioned that I am a nurturer?  Yes - even when it comes to Dandy.  How can I wake him when he looks so peaceful?  So instead, he sits outside my door and whines, scratches, and finally gives up...plopping himself down so that his tail pushes through the crack under my door.  Be strong Meghan, be strong.

The last time I studied for the MCAT I completely removed myself from society.  I haven't done that this time around.  Well - I have been a little anti-social.  And I do study all day.  But I usually go out in the evenings, see friends, and try to get my mind off of science.  That has helped.  A LOT.

Annnnnddddd - I got my job back at Morgan Stanley!  My full time job.  They know that my plan is medical school in the fall, so for the time being, the job is temporary.  But it will be a great way to make some money and pretend like I am a grown up again.  There are other things in the works - the hugest being - a trip to London to see Andrea!  So maybe this year isn't going to be so bad after all.  It will give me more time to grow, think, mature, and be ready.  If and when I do get into medical school, it will not be taken for granted.  I have worked and waited for this opportunity.  When/if I get it - I will cherish every hard worked day that I put into making this dream a reality.

Testing. 1-2-3. Testing

So...this whole blog thing is NEW to me.  I don't really understand a lot of it and how it works.  Paaaattttt - where are you when I need you?  But seriously...do you like my new layout?  No more stripes - kind of a purple fade.  New font.  I'm into it.

Anyways - one thing that is way over my head is the "followers" function.  You can choose to follow me publicly or privately.  It doesn't really seem to matter though because as my parents tell me on a regular basis - even though they are followers they don't receive e-mail notifications when I update the blog.  This annoys them.  It would annoy me too.

So I tried to add the "follow by e-mail" function.  I'm not sure if it works.  What do I know?  But if you are one of the many people who have asked me how they are supposed to know when I post, try entering your e-mail into the new link that is located on the top right hand side of the blog.  There are a few non-complicated steps, but this might just solve all of our problems.  I don't think that it is going to bombard you with e-mails or anything.  More like send you a daily notification when I make any additions.  We will see... 

Also - if you are worried about me knowing or not knowing or knowing that other people know (or whatever weird insecurities you might have about public display of interest..come on, I know you love stalking me) your e-mail address won't be published anywhere...I don't even think that I will be able to see it.  My settings are set to anonymous.

Thanks for reading! 

A New Day

Maybe it is because I got a whopping nine hours of sleep last night (which is a-m-a-z-i-n-g.  I am the definition of an insomniac and I literally cannot remember the last time that I slept all the way through the night....seriously.  Ask my BFF Rachel - she knows that she will get text messages back at 4:00am).  Or maybe it is because I went running yesterday for the first time in over a month and woke up with that - it hurts to move every single part of my body - good soreness feeling that really, only runners understand (albeit - it only was three miles and I was going so slow that even Dandy could keep up).  Or maybe it was because I woke up to an e-mail from my best friend from college - Andrea (who currently lives in London); she shared pictures with me from her wedding in France and they were breathtaking.  This one in particular made me overwhelmingly giddy (sorry Andrea...I hope that you don't mind me sharing).  Sunflowers are my happy place.  Being in, or even seeing, a field like this is something that I regularly fantasized about:

Maybe it was because I ordered Flavors of India for dinner last night and overdosed on carbs.  Or maybe it's because I'm finally stopping with the self-pity and deciding that life here really isn't all that bad.  Could it be that I'm actually accepting and moving on?  I'm not sure what it was, but I woke up this morning feeling better...and that is a huge step in the right decision.  My nickname by more than a few people is "Sunshine." This morning, I actually felt sun-shiny. 

With the exception of the bureaucratic craziness leading up to surgery, and one doctor, I would say that my transplant experience at UCSF was positive.  The nurses were amazing.  The social worker empathized.  My surgeon, while busy, genuinely cared about me, my fears, and my progress.  The nephrologist on the other hand acted like a robot - he treated me as though I was a number...just a body - not a human being who had undergone major surgery, saved someone's life, was left with only one kidney, and would forever be changed.

I remember feeling like I was going to die as I lay in that hospital room the days after surgery.  I have never felt so vulnerable in my entire life.  I had given my complete trust to the medical staff and the only thing that I could do was believe in the process.  My life was literally in their hands.  I couldn't move, there was a catheter in my body, I had five bloody abdominal incisions, I vomited every time I tried to stand up, and was in constant, severe pain.  Most of all - I was scared.  Was this how I was supposed to feel?  When was I going to get better?  What did it mean that my kidney wasn't producing enough urine?  Why are you sending me home - I DON'T feel normal. 

(Um - yes.  I know this isn't the most flattering picture.  But it was, at the most, two hours after surgery.  It was my reality.  Thanks a lot David for capturing my utter incompetence).

As I lay there, drugged, sick, and in fear, the nephrologist made daily rounds with UCSF students.  Having surgery at one of the best medical schools in the country was both enlightening and demoralizing.  As an aspiring medical student, I was intrigued by the process and comforted by the residents - they were the ones who showed actual sympathy and concern.  The nephrologist on the other hand would walk in surrounded by at least 20 students, recite his list of 15 "yes or no" questions and then, without warning, pull back the sheets covering my exposed body to examine my incisions.  My largest scar is below my bikini line where the surgeon actually went in with his hands to remove my fist-sized organ (yes, I watched all five hours of the surgery that they, oh so kindly filmed for me), so suffice it to say that I was forced to quickly forgo any bodily insecurities that I may or may not have had.  An entire room full of medical students took turns studying, taking notes, and drawing what they thought (but would not say) was either successful or unsuccessful progress. 
 
There is a lot to be said about my kidney donation.  I have been a patient before.  Transplant surgery was not my first experience undergoing the knife.  But there is significant value to being a patient before becoming a doctor.  I know what it feels like to lose control.  To be put in a position where you a forced to trust the medical staff.  You have to believe that they are doing everything in their power to accomplish optimal results.  They are there to save you.  To fix you.  To un-break you.  They are there with the good news and the bad news.  They are the intermediate to your mortality.  Physicians have a decision - to take this responsibility lightly or seriously.  To have big egos or to actually care.  As I struggle through the challenge of getting back the ambition that inspired me to begin this adventure I am reminded of the bigger picture and what it must feel like to make that kind of a difference.

Tennis Anyone?

I distinctly remember the day that I consciously stopped being competitive.  Okay, well maybe that's an exaggeration - competitiveness is in my blood - no one on my dad's side is exactly "easy going."  My dad isn't one to give away a pity game even if he is dominating a tennis match 6-0, 5-0 (40-love).  More like shoot for a "golden set."  I mean, it is pretty impressive to be able to say that you didn't lose a single point during an entire set.  I think that I had one of those in high school.  Anyways - I was probably 15.  That would make David, my brother, about 10.  We were skiing in our normal fashion - my dad leading the pack with me right behind...at least until David just completely would not get off my tracks.  He was really gunning for my number two position on the ski slope.  He wanted so badly to be better than me.  Be the better, faster, crazier skier.  And he was.  I realized then that I couldn't keep up.  I couldn't be the best at everything.  Feeling marginally sorry for myself, I just stopped.  I let him go ahead and I dutifully followed.  Victory was his.  

I spent 4th of July weekend in Tahoe with my parents.  Low and behold my father dragged me onto the tennis court (now that I am home for the immediate future, I'm pretty sure that he has big plans to up our #16 National Father-Daughter tennis ranking...okay maybe I kind of want that as well).  Anyways - we hit for an hour or so until finally he started playing out some of my serves.  After not stepping onto a court for a few months, I was pretty surprised by how well I was hitting - and of course - the moment that my dad put pressure onto the non-threatening situation, I choked.  Serves long, wide, and into the net.  Tennis is an emotional sport.  It is so mental.  It is the reason why I rarely competitively play with family or friends.  It just gets too intense.  I will gladly hit all day, but as soon as we start keeping score, I'm out.  I've realized that my love-hate relationship with tennis is a lot like this MCAT ordeal.  I can sit down and do practice problems all day long but when game day comes, I freeze.

I'm not really sure I understand why I stopped with the intensity.  If anyone has experience with performing under pressure, it is me.  I was a competitive gymnast for the majority of my childhood.  After quitting in middle school I took up tennis (because what else was I supposed to do?  My grandmother is in the tennis hall of fame, my dad, mom, brothers, aunt, and cousins all play tennis.  There wasn't much of an option as to what my sport post gymnastics was going to be).  I was a ranked junior player with countless medals and trophies.  Not like I've checked recently, but I'm pretty sure that if you "Google" me, my 1997 NCS championship still shows up around page two.  I don't know, maybe somewhere along the way I burned out?  I realized that the intense emotional turmoil and anxiety that I put on myself by trying to achieve perfection wasn't worth it.  Losing...accepting defeat...was always more than heart wrenching. 

Six weeks prior to MCAT number one I freaked out.  I was taking practice tests weekly, while trying to balance my science classes, and I wasn't getting the scores that I needed.  It was the first time in two years that I deeply felt as though Tulane might not actually work out.  I have a fairly decent sense of myself, how I am feeling, and what I am capable of, but something inside of me just didn't feel right.  I was consumed by doubt.  Around that time, I started studying with a friend who was consistently scoring higher than me.  He simply said - Meghan...just beat me.  For whatever reason my deep rooted competitiveness overcame my insecurities, and that is exactly what I did.  I started beating him.  We all know that in the end, scoring above and beyond in practice exams didn't result in an acceptance to medical school.  Maybe next time?  I guess I should be in a mental vacuum of winning, dominance, and self esteem, but just as I find myself slipping...losing focus...or perhaps even caring about tennis matches, I struggle to maintain my innately competitive edge on test day.

p.s. - Scott - I know that you are reading this.  The next time we play tennis you have to promise to pretend that my Achilles Tendon has not been revealed.  You better not take advantage of my honesty! 

Moving Day

I have pretty much been waiting for a letter in the mail, a phone call, an e-mail, a telegram, a sing-o-gram...anything....telling me that my resume is just so good, Tulane actually doesn't care about my MCAT score and that I can start school now.  If I got that sing-o-gram tomorrow, I would literally be on the next flight to NOLA in a heartbeat.  I want this so badly.  More than anything.  To tell you the truth, I definitely fantasized about that kind of communication after my interview - wow - we are just so impressed, you can forget about taking the MCAT.  Consider yourself accepted.  I think that I tricked myself into thinking that deep down, the MCAT  couldn't be the one thing that would hold me back from medical school.  Everything else is just pretty darn good so why wouldn't I be successful at the MCAT as well?  Modest, huh?  But, alas, I haven't received anything - no songs, no letter, no phone calls - forcing me to realize that they really are serious about this whole score thing.

July 20th was going to be my move date.  My brother and I were going to drive to Louisiana.  New Orleans was going to be my new home.  Everything was packed, the POD was reserved, and I had found a great apartment close to campus.  July 29th was going to be my orientation - my parents even received an invitation for it in the mail.  And July 31st was going to be my White Coat Ceremony - perhaps one of the proudest days of my life.  But guess what?  Today is July 19th, tomorrow is the 20th, and next week is the 31st.  Even though I would gladly accept a last minute admission, I kind of don't think that it is going to happen.  Reality.  Sometimes it's hard.

So here I am.  At my parents' house.  Back in Piedmont.  I would say that my stuff is semi-unpacked...my mother would say that it is far from unpacked.  How am I supposed to fit my life into a closet that has been collecting mementos since high school?  And what about all of the furniture?  Bedrooms really aren't supposed to have two dressers, two bedside tables, bookshelves, a desk and three lamps for only one person...but mine does!  I'm starting to feel a little crammed.

In case you haven't noticed, I'm obviously feeling sorry for myself.  And the constant Facebook news feeds from friends who are already in NOLA (not to say that I am not ecstatic for them)  aren't helping with my self pity  - social networking forces truth and envy to always be in my face....unless of course, I make the uncanny decision of turning it off.  How addicted to innocent Facebook stalking am I?  This "stalking" may in fact be turning me into a crazy person....I should stop....not to mention - try to convert the energy that it takes to feel disappointment and jealousy into positive motivation and will.  It's been a long and exhausting three weeks but I'm starting to accept the truth.  Tulane is inching its way out of my front and center.  It is slowly becoming a periphery,  while my life here - San Francisco, Oakland, Piedmont, Lake Merit, Morgan Stanley, friends, family, and most importantly, STUDYING are creeping back in.  I haven't given up on the big picture and the end goal but I have to see this year as an opportunity - a chance for growth and new experiences.  I'm not sure I really believe in fate, but maybe - just maybe - there is a reason why life is unfolding in this unexpected direction.  Who am I going to meet?  Who will I become reacquainted with? What will I learn?  What will I be exposed to?  What hard decisions will I have to make?  Where will I go?  How will I occupy myself?  Where will I live? How will I become a bigger, stronger, and better person?  Only time will tell.  I will try to be patient as I immerse myself into the complicated layers of this new life chapter.

Oh look - 12:26 am.  It's July 20.  Moving Day!