Chew on this.

Over 30% of adults in the United States are obese. Clinically, this means having a body mass index of greater than or equal to 30. The statistics for children is around 18-19% obesity rate. We MUST do something about this. We have the knowledge to know better, yet we still don't want to commit to eating better. I work in the ER and see people with all kinds of health problems that could have easily have been prevented. Type 2 Diabetes left unchecked resulting in loss of vision or loss of feeling to the legs or loss of a toe. Heart problems due to obesity. Respiratory problems from smoking. We MUST start taking care of ourselves in this country. Yes, jobs are important to make a living, but you must be alive to work. Thus, your body is the most important tool that you must take care of.

If I could give people a few tips, they would be to increase their activity and decrease their consumption of processed foods. When they go grocery shopping, park far away and only shop the perimeters where the produce, deli, meat department, and dairy is. Cut down on eating out. Try to make a family activity more active by going to a park or signing up for a 5k.

There is no excuse for cutting your life or your family members lives short.

insist on yourself. never imitate.~ Emerson

One of the greatest feelings in life is coming to the point in your life when you realize what's important in your life and how the things that used to worry you don't matter at all. Most young kids are entirely themselves, they show unconditional love to others and do not judge. They don't care what you think about them. However, at a certain point, usually during grade school and especially middle school, children feel peer pressure to act certain ways in order to be popular. This usually backfires. I myself am often a people pleaser. However, I am finally at the point, at 22 years of age, when I realize that being my self will be more pleasing to others than not. I need to make decisions about what I want to do in my free time and who I want to be with. I have to decide how I am going to act at work and be careful with the words I choose. I realize that not saying how I feel about something only festers more negative feelings. I see individuality as being wonderful. However, often people lose themselves in the crowd, hoping to be put on a pedestal. In reality, you are selling yourself short. All in all, whatever you do with your free time, whatever your profession is, whatever you choose to say, make sure it is YOU who is in charge.

Alexandra Marie

Done with the MCAT finally!!!!

So, I have totally been on a hiatus from blogging due to the fact that I committed myself to dominating the MCAT. I had not really struggled throughout undergrad and with my decent grades, I thought gaining acceptance into medical school wouldn't be too hard. My biggest obstacle, however, became the MCAT. The MCAT or Medical College Admission Test is a 5 hour long test consisting of 4 sections, Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, a Writing Section, and finally Biological Sciences. I have sat for this exam a total of 3 times, 2 times too many. It tests your knowledge of organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biology, and physics, everyones' favorite classes :)! Well, the first time I took it, I studied on my own and obtained a 26, which was a good enough score to get me into a D.O. school in Pomona, California. However, I deferred the acceptance, being weary of moving to California all by myself to complete medical school. The second time I took it, I felt very confident coming out only to receive a 27. At the end of my senior year, I had one acceptance and was on the waiting list at Indiana University School of Medicine. It was a long summer in which I eagerly checked the mailbox daily in hopes of seeing a crimson and cream letter. At the beginning of the summer, I was feeling quite low. However, I knew that if medicine was what I wanted to do, then I would commit myself to it.

The summer after I graduated, I spent my summer days inside, behind a desk doing practice problem over practice problem over practice passages. I took a MCAT prep class, which broke my piggy bank, and in the end, took around 15 full-length MCATs. All of my hard work finally paid off, I received a 31 on my MCAT!!!!!!! When I heard the good news, I cried, jumped up for joy, and did shots with my parents.

Currently, I await news from Indiana University School of Medicine, which I have already interviewed at and also from Midwestern University and Rush Medical College. The future looks bright.

For anyone having trouble with this exam, DON'T GIVE UP!! Don't let it shoot down your dreams of becoming a physician. If you want this life and to have a rewarding career, look at all of your options too!

More to come,

Alexandra Marie