Be Stubborn

I saw this quote and thought it perfectly sums up my life. 

As I've gotten older, the one thing I've realized is that things never go as planned, but things always turn out ok. I thought that I would attend my dream college, I would have a perfect GPA, and be on a straight path to medical school. I really thought I was going to be with my first boyfriend for the rest of my life, that I would be living in New York and everything would be just exactly how I wanted. 

Ha! Boy, did things change. Looking back however, not going to my dream school saved me tons of money. I am now attending an amazing graduate school that will get me into a great medical school. I am dating someone else who is even better the first! (Isn't it funny how we always think our first love will be our only love?) 

The one thing that didn't change were my goals. My goal of becoming a doctor and being happy. I think this quote is exactly right. You have to be flexible about your methods. You have to be willing to change because life likes to throw you off course. 

Never, ever change want you want in life, just be ready to change how you get there. 

August Favorites!

A lot happened in August! I took a weekend trip with my boyfriend and I moved across the country for graduate school! It was a pretty good month. 

Here are some of my August favorites! 

1) Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover. 

This book was surprisingly good! I loved the story and the characters. I felt so many emotions reading this book.  I highly recommended this if you are in the mood for a beautiful, heart-warming story. 

2) Moving. 

As I said earlier I moved for graduate school! It's taking some getting used to living alone, but I like getting to decorate my place and blasting my music without worrying about bothering a roommate. 

3) Portlandia. This was definitely my favorite show in August. I watched the episodes over and over. They get funnier every time! It is so quirky, I just love it. 

4) If You Like. 

These book recommendation lists based off TV shows are amazing! It combines two of my favorite things! Here are some of my favorite lists:

- Huffington Post

- Buzzfeed

5) Organic Frozen Yogurt. 

There is an organic froyo place within walking distance from my house and let me tell you, it is SO good. The yogurt is creamier and is sweeter than regular yogurt. I am already addicted. 

What were some of your August Favorites? 

My College Essentials

It's that time of year again! Back-to-school shopping! Am I the only one who loves school shopping? My brothers start school Monday, and I start grad school in two weeks, so I thought this is the perfect time for a back-to-school post! 

For all you starting college, I thought I would make a college essentials post. There are items that are a must for me, even as I head off the grad school. (These item don't cover everything you need of course!) 

Rain Gear || Walking to class in the rain is no fun -- better to be prepared!

Yellow Highlighters || These are my favorite! I highlight my textbook, notes, planner, basically everything!

Water Filter || Keep this in your fridge and fill it up with tap water! It will save you loads from buying the plastic bottles (not to mention it's better for the earth). 

USB Drive || Back up everything!! Trust me, your laptop will shut down on you when you are writing that essay. I always keep a copy on a USB drive just in case. It will also come in handy for group projects and presentations. 

Agenda || Life gets infinitely more complicated in college. You must stay organized! (this elephant pattern is also too cute!)

School Sweatshirt || Buy some school gear to feel a part of your school! I think a sweatshirt is best because the library can be cold on those long study nights. P.S. GO DAWGS!

Coffee Maker and Tumbler || Just yes. I started making my own coffee to take to class and to study. Saved me lots of money! 

Backpack || I'm definitely a backpack girl. I just had too much stuff to carry around to put it all in a tote. Get a cute one and you'll be set!

Headphones || Block out noise from roommates/loud students.

Shower Shoes || Just trust me on this one. 

ID Holder || I found this was the best way to carry around my wallet. My school ID was in easy reach along with my debit cards. I could just carry this with my phone if my friends wanted to grab lunch. It's perfect. 

Small Whiteboard || This saved me in organic chemistry. Writing all those mechanisms is perfect on a white board (no wasting paper). I also used it for drawing out diagrams for my physiology class. If you are a visual learner, I would really suggest studying with one of these. 

That's it! Good luck to everyone going back to school! 

July Favorites

I can't believe July is almost over! This was a pretty relaxing month. I mostly spent the month with my family and mentally preparing myself for graduate school. Nonetheless, here are my July favorites! 

1. Zoella and Beautycrush: I have been obsessed with their youtube channels this month. I can't tell you how many of their videos I've watched. They have also inspired me to get back into making my beauty videos! The are both gorgeous and have such great advice about fashion, makeup and just life in general. I also love their accents! If you haven't watched their videos, then go do it now!! (click on their name!)

2. All the Light We Cannot See: I'm only about 50 pages in, but I am loving it so far! I have definitely been in a reading slump this month but this book is slowly getting me out of it. 

3. Interior Design: I have been going crazy researching new things for my apartment. I am so excited to move-in and start decorating! Check out my pinetrest to see what I'm loving.

4. ELF Cosmetics: OMG. I bought a few products from them and I am in love! They are so cheap, yet work so well! This contour/blush set is only $3 (!!) and it is so pigmented! And this eyeliner ($2!!) is seriously better than the $8-$15 eyeliners I've been using lately. This line is perfect if you want to try a trend but don't want to spend the money. 

What are some your July Favorites?

Some Pre-Med Advice

Now that I have graduated as a pre-med student, I want to share some of my knowledge. The life of a pre-med is tough and there is so much that I wish I knew before I embarked on the journey. I know there is a lot of advice out there about what classes you should take, how to study and the best ways to prepare for the MCAT, but I noticed I had some tips of my own. So without further ado, here are some of my tips for all you pre-meds out there!

1. Take more than the recommended science classes. 

I can not emphasize enough how important it is to branch out in college. Take that one interesting film class or that sociology class. College is the time to see what is out there and find what truly interests you! I came in to college thinking I wanted to be a psychologist -- took an abnormal psych class and realized that while I find it interesting, I do not want that to be my life. I thought about changing my major so many times and so many of my friends did change their major. I can almost guarantee you that you will find something new that you want to do and it may not be medicine (and that’s okay!). My main point is, come into college with an open mind and be willing to try new things!  

2. Talk to your professors! 

Starting your freshman year, go to your professor's office (especially your science professors) and talk to them, ask for advice, let them know who you are. I wish I did this because when it came time to asking for letters of recommendations for graduate/medical school, I really had no one. Not only will talking to your professors help in the future with those letters, but they could help you in the future with getting research or volunteer opportunities under your belt. It’s all about networking. Yes, it is scary talking to them (trust me, I know) but they are there to help you!

3. Do your own research. 

This means reading nonfiction books on medicine, reading articles about new medical discoveries or watching documentaries. You want to stay up-to date on what's happening in healthcare. I find that this also keeps me motivated to reach my goals. Also, it will help you in the future when you interview for medical school. (Need a recommendation? I love Atul Gawande's books).

4. Keep a journal. 

No, not a "here is what I did today journal." I mean a journal where you write down all of your medical adventures. When you shadow doctors or volunteer at a hospital, write down what you did and what inspired you. This will help you immensely when it's time to write your resume or personal statement, and will even help during your interviews. Though it may seem like all of your experiences will stay fresh in your mind, they won't. What you did freshman year will seem like centuries ago when you are a senior. 

Have any questions or ideas for a future blog post? Leave them in the comment post below!