Send Nyasha to Medical School!
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Hello all,
I have been accepted into WAUSM medical school, and will be starting in January of 2024!!!!!!!!!
The road to medical school has been a challenging one for me, to say the least. I am what is known as a mature student by most universities. I have gotten into medical school at a time when most folk my age are contributing to their children's university costs. This has been my path- and this is the time the universe has chosen for me to embark on this particular journey.
I have found, during my search for resources, that most scholarships are geared towards those who are under 30 years old and I left that decade a while back.
Medical school tuition, fees, and costs- such as books, stethoscopes, scrubs, sphygmamonometers, airplane tickets, insurance, and rent are expensive. I would like to cover as much of my four years of tuition and fees as I possibly can- so that I can focus more on studying and less on financial stress. The closer it gets to January, the more expensive airline tickets become! If I can purchase my tickets by the beginning of October 2023- the more money I can save for rent and insurance.
My life's journey has taken me through many ups and downs. I have experienced homelessness, and all the barriers that go along with it. I picked myself up, and worked difficult and often debilitating jobs- in order to keep moving forward. After many years in Canada, I applied for, and was accepted into a Medical Laboratory Assistant program (I am still paying off those student loans). I completed my program late in pandemic 2020, at the top of my class, and achieved the Dean's Honour Roll throughout my program. I have been employed as a Certified Medical Laboratory Assistant for the past few years.
During these years between graduating as an MLA, and attaining acceptance into medical school, I studied the Biology, Math, Physics, and Chemistry that I needed in order to take the MCAT. Since I was making a living wage at this time, I was not eligible for any supports or assistance toward the books, study courses, and exam fees. All of these were 'out-of-pocket', but I chose to invest in myself.
I took the MCAT, and although I did not achieve the score of 510 that had been my goal, I had the MCAT under my belt, and a score that I could share with admissions committees. My years working as a Medical Laboratory Assistant also gave me the invaluable clinical experience that Medical schools value.
The speech given by the #WAUSM inaugural class student government president resonated with me, because of the journey I have taken to get into medical school; and the journey that I know lies ahead. I think you will find it compelling as well:
I have gone from homelessness to WAUSM, ya'll! With you assistance, I will crush the next four years and achieve my calling.
Organizer
Nyasha Katedza
Organizer
Kamloops, BC