Hello friends! On July 17th, I had the pleasure (and pain) of running a half marathon in Ventura, California. In my last post, I wrote briefly about how exercise became part of my personal regimen of self care. Today, I want to share about why I ran a half marathon, some tidbits from training, and… Continue reading
Category: Motivation
Med School: Year 1 Reflections
Hello friends! I write to you no longer as a first year medical student… but as a rising second year! With all my final exams passed, I’m officially on to the next stage of the journey. It’s surreal and it’s taken a few weeks to really soak in, but I’m beyond thankful to be here… Continue reading
Dealing With Failure
Hello friends! Today, we are taking a trip back in time. The post below is one I wrote on September 7th. It was the day of the second exam of our introductory block of medical school, about four weeks into classes. We got our test scores back that same afternoon. The results weren’t what I… Continue reading
Cinnamon Rolls and Starting Something New: Thoughts on Rest and Creativity
In high school, I loved making crazy cupcake creations for friends and family like these: And these: Later on, someone gave me a recipe book just for cupcakes and I started thinking more about taste and texture. My love for baking has only grown since then, and nowadays I bake almost every week. It’s a… Continue reading
Take Back Your Time: 6 Tips to Get Off Your Phone and Back to Real Life
I was a senior in college when I got my first smartphone. I was beyond excited because by then, the vast majority of my friends had already been using smartphones for years. I remember posting on Facebook on that day, saying something like, “Welcome iPhone! I hope you don’t ruin my life!” It’s been about… Continue reading
Find Your Tribe: The Importance of Building Community as a Pre-Med
Being pre-med is hard. Applying to med school is hard. But know what makes it all so much harder? Doing it alone. When I was in high school, I was a “smart kid.” I worked alone, I didn’t like group projects, and I wanted to go to a huge university where I could just blend… Continue reading
The Curse of Comparison
“Don’t compare your chapter 1 to someone else’s chapter 20.” I saw this quote years ago, and as a non-traditional pre-med, it’s one I come back to time and time again. In my sophomore year of college, I struggled in my science courses. These were classes I knew I needed to do well in to… Continue reading
Hello! Welcome to My Blog
Hello! My name is Mika, and I’m a non-traditional, married pre-med student. I’m starting osteopathic medical school this Fall 2021 at the age of 28, and I’m so excited to be here! My Not-So-Straightforward Pre-Med Path If you’ve known me for a while, you’ll know it’s always been my dream to become a doctor. And… Continue reading