Fall is my favorite season out of the whole year. I love the warm colors, perfect weather, cinnamon spice, leaves, and everything else that entails the fall season, including one of my favorite holidays: Thanksgiving. To me, Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks. It’s the perfect time to reflect and acknowledge all of the blessings in our lives. This holiday helps us remember what’s important (even in the midst of all the studying), and be thankful for all of the people, opportunities, and experiences we’ve encountered.
So in the spirit of the holiday, here are some things that I am thankful for about being in medical school:
- Supportive, loving family and friends—they keep me sane and help me remember what a privilege it is to be a future physician.
- Good health—you want to be your best self inside and out.
- The privilege of becoming a future physician—the opportunity to serve is an honor; after all, in no other profession will strangers become so vulnerable.
- The opportunity to learn—you’re basically learning a whole new language in a whole new world called medicine. All of the gross anatomy, pathology, pharmacology—it means something, and you get to learn all of it.
- National conferences—I get to meet some of the kindest, smartest people around the US. Not only do I learn from these conferences, but I also get to make friends I hope to keep for a lifetime.
- Classmates—these are the people who understand and support you throughout this journey. Medical school is a marathon, not a sprint, and I’m glad to have such talented people running this marathon with me.
- Christmas break—with Thanksgiving here, it’s a small reminder that another break is around the corner. Just remember, there’s much to be thankful for—even the smallest of things.
What are you thankful for this year?
Avani
Fourth-Year at University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Medicine
Avani discovered in the past four years of medical school that she is more than just a future physician. She has found passions in other areas of medicine such as policy, advocacy, and healthcare administration. Therefore, she is taking an interim year to pursue these passions which she will share throughout her blog posts before pursuing residency.
She also enjoys traveling, advocating for patients and students, and serving as a leader locally and nationally. She has lived in Mississippi her entire life, and it has taught her true community. Avani serves on Board of Trustees for Mississippi State Medical Association, Executive Council for Central Medical Society, and the Ambassador Steering Committee for American Medical Association in addition to serving as the 2017-18 Southern Chair of the Organization of Student Representatives affiliated with the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Outside of school, she enjoys nurturing friendships, spending time with family, meeting new people, public speaking, organizing events, and writing. A few other noteworthy passions of hers are adventure, cars, beauty, and fashion.
Latest posts by Avani (see all)
- How to Succeed During M4 Clinical Rotations - August 14, 2019
- Never Have I Ever: M1 and M2 Med School Edition - July 15, 2019
- Never Have I Ever: M3 and M4 Med School Edition - July 15, 2019
