Distance Travelled

” A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.”

Oprah Winfrey

This week, I officially registered with National Residency Matching Program and am nearly ready to submit my residency applications. In less than a year, I will be graduating as Dr. Jennifer Tich. Even typing this just now gives me goosebumps. The whole process of applying for residency is daunting and a total unknown to me, but I am so thankful to my mentors who have helped me so much as I navigate the process. Your encouragement, advice, and willingness to brag about me where I find it difficult to do so myself mean more than I could say.

Looking back on my journey and seeing how far I’ve come is incredible. I started medical school three years ago: three years after I graduated from St. Olaf. I was accepted off of the waitlist in the middle of July after applying to medical school for the third time, profoundly grateful that someone took a chance on me. I remember feeling so small when I first started. I didn’t know anyone, and medical school was unfamiliar terrain. I spent so much of my energy agonizing about what the appropriate etiquette was or deciding who was safe to approach, that I found myself frequently mentally exhausted.  

As time went on, I found a great group of people who have become friends for life and have become an incredible source of support. Of course, my family has always been my rock. I couldn’t have done any of this without them. If I learned anything in undergrad, it is to never be too proud to ask for help. My parents are not physicians, so I needed to take it upon myself to seek advice about navigating medical school, choosing a specialty, and building a career in medicine. Pushing past my comfort zone, I began to talk to faculty, staff and administrators. I quickly learned that they are incredible human beings and I had no reason to feel nervous at all around them.

For some reason I still have yet to completely understand, several took me under their wings. They helped me turn a summer research project into a publication and national presentation. They showed me how to network and that something you’re already doing can easily become research. They opened my eyes to a specialty I knew little about, literally gave me a seat at the table in “the room where it happens”, and sparked an interest that has turned into a passion for medical education and changing how we learn in medical school. I’m not entirely sure what the saw, but they clearly noticed something in me I didn’t know existed. For that I am incredibly grateful.  

Now, I find myself gaining confidence in my abilities as a future clinician and giving myself permission to dream bigger than I previously thought possible. While this virtual interview season will be quite the ride and I can’t believe it’s a month away, this next step is sure to be exciting.