Living Vicariously Through Flint

It was now time for me to find out what I lacked to get into medical school. Over the next several days I visited several websites looking for information. What I found out was that I wasn’t far from having the necessary prerequisites. I had the general and organic chemistry classes, except for 1 lab credit, all the english, humanities, etc., but lacked two biology classes and a physics. Electricity and magnetism was not required for my undergraduate degree. I looked over the options with the local community colleges. At this time I figured I would take the classes I needed the prepare for and take the MCAT.

Around this time at church one Sunday, I sat in to observe the instructors of a class of 14-15 year old young men. The instructor was doing a superb job, it was great to see that teenagers were getting such wonderful religious instruction. I had recently migrated to this new congregation and worked with the youth as well. During the lesson, the instructor, who I did not know at the time, made a small comment about an experience he had in medical school. After the lesson and closing prayer, the young men and other instructors left. I approached the teacher and after introducing myself asked him about his comment about med school. I explained to him that I was happy in the engineering field but felt that I should make a change and go to medical school. His first questions was, “How old are you?” I replied that I was 30, knowing full well that is a little long in the tooth to beginning medical school. His response was another affermation that had begun the right journey. He said, “That is about how old I was when I decided to go, and I had 4 kids.” We discussed several more things including the little school he attended, and suggested I give a look. Then he encouraged me to not waste any time. He suggested taking the MCAT as soon as I could and not wait to take all the classes. Others may take issue with his suggestion, but I trusted him, sort of. It was November, the next semester of classes began in January and didn’t get out until May. The next MCAT sessions were April and August. I regsitered for biology and signed up for the August MCAT session. I figured I could use the summer to refresh and review for the MCAT.

Intel has a great tuition reimbursement program and really works with employees who want to pursue higher education. I knew that Intel was not going to benefit much from me taking biology classes and then leaving, so I paid for them myself and scheduled evening classes that began well after work hours (even for Intel). I also avoided doing homework on company time, as best I could (no one is perfect, especially me). At the first week of classes arrived my family began the sacrifice. I would already leave for work before my son would wake up, now on Tuesday and Thursday he would go to bed before I got home from class. So, I would put him to bed on Monday night and not see him again until Wednesday night, then not again until Friday evening. When the semester let out my time became consumed with MCAT preparation.

May I first express gratitude to my friend Tomas for kindly and graciously offering to create this blog.

At the first mention I was somewhat apprehensive, but soon recognized the opportunity it could be. Tomas has encouraged me to write what I think and feel. He has also suggested that I not worry to much what others will think. Many may not view life as I do, however, some will. With that in mind, I would like to offer the following as gound rules:

These are my thoughts, opinions, experiences, etc. as I see them. I in no way wish or intend to insult or offend anyone. I believe we all have a right to have and express our own opinions. I call it how I see it and encourage others to do the same. There are those who would fire shots across the bow. This is an effective method of communicating but has its limits. I believe that every once in a while you need the lower the canon and put a round right through the radar room. The curve ball was always meant to decieve and distract, a fast ball,on the other hand, is unambiguous and direct.

Tomas, I cannot thank you enough!
Let us begin.

By the time I graduated from college in 2003 I had a wife, a child, a mortgage, and a ton of student loans. Getting a B.S. in Chemical Engineering was about the most difficult and lengthy task I had ever completed. I swore I would never go back to school. Some students had already planned to go to grad school, but not me, I really thought i was done.

I spent the next 10 months looking for a job. I had savings and loans left from school and became a substitute high school teacher to pay the bills. In April of 2004 the Intel Corporation terminated my unemployment by giving me a job. By the October/November time frame my wife and son and I had sold our house, paid off all my student loans (no regrets, highly recommended), and began house sitting for my sister and brother-in-law. They had a beautiful, brand new home. Just before closing on the new home they left for a temporary assignment that was to last until May. Everything in my life was moving along nicely. I had an engineering degree, a challenging job with plenty of responsibility and a nice paycheck, no loans, a beautiful wife, handsome and brilliant son, a 4X4 and some great hunting buddies. It was truly a great time for us. Around this time I was up late one night thinking about things. Nothing specific just general things. Then in a moment, my life took a new direction. I felt a distint and unmistakable impression. It was as if i was told, “You need to go to medical school.” To which I replied, “Oh, no I don’t.” I did not hear a voice. But the impression was no different than if I had. I had never really considered a medical career. I had sworn not go back to school. Going to medical school would not only mean going back, it meant going way, way, way back. So, I sat on it for a few weeks and waited for the feeling to quietly subside and go away…

Well, the feeling didn’t go away. At that point I realized that I had been presented an opportunity and a serious challenge. A previous experience had taught me that impressions like this become excellent adventures when followed, and they always work out one way or another.

It seemed to me that it was time to involve my wife in the ordeal. As we ate dinner in a local restaurant I explained that I had had an impression to go to medical school. Her initial reply was something along the line of, “I thought you said you would never go back?” She knows the importance of following impressions as well. After thinking about it she said she would support the decision and inquired as to how she could help. Many times in life, it is a good thing to not know what you are really getting into. I had no doubt this is what I was supposed to do. Even though she pledged her support, it actually took my wife some time to feel the same way I did.

With my wife on board (sort of) the game was on and the journey officially began.