I've been in medical school for 3 weeks now. It's still pretty surreal and at times I have to remind myself that this is "for real" but I'm having a good time. My classmates are all pretty great and have come from a million different backgrounds which really makes things exciting. Everyone is pretty friendly and I've made many friends. The transition to medical school has been kind of hard for me. I've been a little apprehensive about everything: school, how my dad is doing, making new friends, telling new friends about myself, being in a new place, getting back into studying, getting ready for tests, etc. But I'm sticking to my personality and not giving up. I'm hanging in there. I finally caved in and told a professor about mom early last week. I hadn't told any of my professors before as it all happened so fast and I didn't know any of them by name. It was incredibly hard but he was very kind and I had a great conversation with him. Today I was able to tell two more people.
I wasn't that excited about studying during the first two weeks of school. But one of my good friends from UGA just transfered to my school and since then I've been slowly building up my excitment and getting back into my old study modes. It's been really great for me. I have a postcard that my mom wrote me when I was a freshman in college. I was going through a similar phase during that time, where I was apprehensive about a new beginning. Mom wrote me a postcard where she tells me that hard work pays off. There have been times in my life where I didn't believe that statement at all. But right now, I have the postcard framed and put on my kitchen counter. I look at it every day. I know she would've said that to me today, if she were here, and I know she's saying it to me from wherever she is..so I'm trying hard to stay focused, work hard, and hopefully it'll pay off. I have to admit, it's not easy and so far I haven't worked the hardest I could..but I'm getting there.

Sunday August, 20th

Hi Everyone,
The last month went by pretty fast. The end of July and beginning of August were spent in finishing up preparations for me to move to Atlanta. I'm in Atlanta now, living in one bedroom. One of my friends is staying with me for a few weeks and after that I'll be on my own for real. So far, I just finished up my first week of medical school. It was intense, surreal, exciting, and scary all at the same time. My classmates are all great and come from very diverse academic, professional, and cultural backgrounds. I'm going to have a good time getting to know them. It's been a little hard adjusting to life over here. Living alone and being in a new environment, I'm facing the usual challenges one faces when starting something new. It's harder since mom isn't with me, physically and I'm away from my father. I am fully aware of all the positive notes: he's not really that far away and I talk to him multiple times everyday but it doesn't make the adjustment any easier. I'm taking the harder road, living away from him and doing something on my own. I know I'll succeed and everything will work out but it's going to take a little while before I'm adjusted completely. I just have to be patient with myself. Dad is doing alright, going through similar motions but keeping himself occupied. Our friends and family have ofcourse been amazing through-out this new phase in our lives. I have so much support from friends from high school and undergrad. who live around this area. Dad has been spending time with his friends in Augusta too and has had many homes to go over to and hang out. So, support is endless, for which we are so thankful. But adjusting ourselves is going to take time and we're trying to be as patient as possible with ourselves.