pesto and optimism

Between studying, walking the lake and reflecting I made a bit of delicious parsley pesto this morning...I'm excited for a pasta lunch later!

I'm not going to lie. February wasn't the most exciting month. You can probably tell from the fact there was one and only one blogpost for the entire month. I felt like I was simply in the waiting room wondering what would happen next. I dedicated a tremendous amount of time to brushing up on physics and chemistry and worked here and there at the salon, nannying and substituting. By the end of the month my motivation to study for the MCAT was fading as I lost track of the big picture goal of medical school within the day-to-day business of life.

So when I was asked to interview for a microbiology lab tech position, I was excited (my aunt works in the lab) and thought this my be a great opportunity to gain experience in medicine even if it is part-time every other weekend...something is better than nothing. Back in January I had applied for a summer internship with Uganda Village Project, an organization my friend Meg had worked with a couple summers ago and is still involved with - check out her blog. But I still hadn't heard whether or not I'd been accepted. They sent an email about a week ago telling applicants they were still processing apps. So, I was headed to a job interview, but really wanting to know if I was going to Uganda for the summer. In the shower (my thinking place), I was mentally going through the interview...questions they may ask, my motivations, building up confidence etc...and just felt like I should email the internship coordinator with UVP and tell them how extremely interested and excited I was about the internship. As soon as I got out I went to the computer and sent a quick email and then focused on the interview. When I got home from the interview, which went alright, I worked on some physics and then got ready for work at the salon when I decided to check my email real quick and there was a reply from UVP saying Congratulations! You've been accepted! I was completely thrown off guard, shocked at how quickly my future changed...my negativity towards reaching my goals was flipped like a switch...a door finally opened, one that will push me in the direction I actually want to go, not that is convenient or easy, but what I am excited and passionate about! I made some funny squeal-like noises in my living room and then rushed out the door to get to work.

It's still a bit surreal to think that I am going to be in Uganda for 2 months doing what I want to do...public health work in developing communities. Yes, I do have a difficult road to get there - fundraising, finding someone to rent my room, more fundraising, shots, finishing studying and taking the MCAT...but there is a new sense of motivation, encouragement, optimisim that I am headed in the right direction and to keep up the good work. Mottos...they really can mentally put you in a place to succeed. I stole mine of late from Nike...yeah, you guessed it...Just Do It. Seriously, for so much in life you just need a little shove...a little reminder to Just Do It, go for it, what do you have to lose? So, I will keep up the hard work and follow through with my goals knowing that in the end good things will come of it...for right now, that looks like a public health internship in Uganda. Praise the Lord.