Opportunities Appear When You Keep Looking For Them
- US IMG
- Step 1 Pass [Third attempt]
- Step 2 CK Pass
- Step 2 CS Pass [Second attempt]
- 10 Years since Graduation
Opportunities only seem to appear when we keep looking for them! Here's an inspirational story about a doc who despite nearly having to give up on being a doc keep looking for a way and finally found it:
Hi Dr Barone,
Its been a while since I met you. I just want to share my history with you. in case you wanna give hope to some students.
I started my journey in 2011 in Kaplan.. unfortunately, I failed twice in step 1 but had to take it 4 times cause in one time internet got disconnected and they told me to take it again..
I failed cs once and I pass it on the second attempt and CK passed in first try. In 2015 i started to apply to residency with no luck at all...
I started working as a medical assistant for a peds physician for 2 years. Since I did not get into residency I started an accelerated nursing program to become a nurse first and then a NP. In this adventure I discovered that I could apply for an internship in Puerto Rico(if you speak spanish) and got in. That was in 2019. I met a lot of doctors and saw me working, got good letter of recommendation and apply again to PR pediatrics program. Yesterday I got Match after 10 years!.. I hope that my history will give hope and perseverance to others!! Thanks one more time for the knowledge you shared with me!!
P. R. March 19, 2020
Dr. Barone: How did you keep motivated and persevere with all the attempts and not matching?
My wife keep me going... my desire to beat the tests also. Well I saw the steps as something to beat in my life a goal no matter how many times I would have to take it .. It was something for me for my own auto realization. I saw the step as something that does not tell me if I am a good physician or not just as how to take test, that helped to keep my self-steam. Well after not matching the second year I gave up to be a physician... because it was many years and because the multiple attempts and scores and started doing nursing were I discovered the internships in PR , I got hope again .
Dr. Barone: What was the key for you getting matched after all this time?
The key to matching for people that failed the exams is meeting people and that program directors and attendings see your working and what u can bring to the table.
Dr. Barone: Looking back what would you want to know that might have helped you be successful?
- Well, one of the reasons I failed the test is because I got depressed for being alone here in America. So to get support or to start studying before coming to the US if you don't have anybody here.
- I would have go to observerships instead of doing nursing... or applying to internship before. I would try to make connections before.
- Always belief in yourself!
Photo by Ales Krivec (Unsplash.com)