sometimes it feels like my life is on pause because of medical school, that I’m missing out on “normal” life experiences, and that my personal growth during this time is stagnant because I am devoting so much time to developing my professional life instead of having said experiences. I’ve heard the saying often, that going into medicine is to “give up your 20’s” but what does that really mean? I am still a person that is existing, growing, and learning about myself—albeit with less flexibility than my non-med school peers might, but I also have the chance to grow in ways that others may not and have priveleged experiences with patients and my classmates that are unique to our training. In thinking about my 20’s and how this is a crucial time for me to learn about myself and work towards being the person I want to be, I can’t afford to approach it with the mentality that I’m at a loss with the path that I and so many others chose. med school might not give me all the flexibility that I would’ve wanted, I might miss out of some significant life events, but the growth that I do gain from this process and the fulfillment of a career with meaning and impact will hopefully be worth it. 🖤