I learned something very quickly upon entering my undergraduate career: there isn't one set path to success. In my case, there isn't one set way on how to get to medical school. I wish there was because that would make things a whole lot simpler (haha, funny right? as if anything pre-med is simple). You would think that having the freedom to choose a major and classes would make us happy, but honestly, it kind of drives me crazy. Yes, you have the set medical school pre-requisite classes, but I always feel as though I'm doing something wrong. I'm constantly stressing and I know I'm not the smartest or best applicant out there.

I came into my undergrad thinking I was more than prepared to take Advanced General Chemistry, Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Biology, and the many other prerequisites for medical school, but I couldn't have been more wrong. The professor I had wasn't the greatest, nor was he very helpful. I am the first to admit that I was in over my head because I didn't know how to study as I had never had to before. The whole idea of not getting an A tore me up inside and was embarrassing. I was so used to being at the top of my class and naturally grasping and understanding things.

College, I assumed, would be four years of undergrad, four years of medical school, followed by residency and then a fellowship. Instead, it's more of a "major in what you want, make sure you take classes X, Y, and Z and do relatively well." It takes you however long it takes you. It never really occurred to me that college is not about getting things done within a certain time frame. It's simply about getting things done.

Given that I'm graduating early, but even if I weren't, I could take an extra semester or two if I needed too. If I need to take a year off following my undergrad, I can do that. It's about the final destination, not necessarily how fast you can complete the journey. There's not one set way on how to become a doctor.

It's definitely hard, but medicine is all I want to do, all I can see myself doing with the exception of research. Half of the time I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing and I'm not going to make it, the other half of the time I feel confident that one day, I'm going to make a great doctor. I'm constantly wondering about whether or not I'm good enough for this.

Now the confidence battle, that's all me. I have to learn to get rid of the critic on my shoulder telling me that I'm not good enough. It's tough and sometimes, I doubt myself. But I can't imagine ever walking away. I know that if I don't have confidence in myself, then no one else will either.

Sometimes, it isn't about natural talent and more about consistency, drive, and determination. I just have to keep telling myself that people may be smarter, richer, faster, or better than me, but they will not out work me.

I know I'm going to make a really good doctor once I get there, but I'm absolutely terrified that my major and "intelligence" is going to prevent me from even getting there. I think that half of the "weed out" process is just seeing who can survive the mentality of it.

But, I have to remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint. I will get there.