- T
- U
Hello Village!
As you all know, I'm about halfway through my medical school journey having just begun my clinical rotations last month in Albany, Georgia. In another couple of years, I'll be a physician, ready for the next stage of training. I know I've been sharing a lot about my journey with you all, but so far I've had the honor of serving as a leader in my class and our community. I have really stepped into what I believe is my purpose on this Earth - to give. I served as a coordinator for a student-run free clinic for LGBTQ+ patients, as a chair and representative in the Student National Medical Association (the nationwide organization for Black and Brown student doctors), I've helped organize a state-wide COVID-19 vaccine education campaign, mentored young aspiring future doctors, and more. I say all this to show that I am truly working my behind off, not just for my own career but for all of us.
The Situation
What many people don't know, though, is that medical school is extremely expensive. Between tuition, supplies, books, scrubs, required trainings and exams (yes, we pay for these out of pocket too), added to the normal day-to-day expenses of rent, food, gas with a lot of recent commuting, and more, I am in a pretty serious financial bind. I will receive my financial aid and scholarship funds for the next semester, but not until mid-July. My school changed its curriculum so we started our 3rd year months early, but were not given the corresponding financial aid yet so it has created a difficult situation for the time-being.
Life gives and takes much from us. There's a lot of change happening now and over the past few years...things I have tried to hide but don't like to and refuse to do anymore. I was diagnosed with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) the very same week I submitted my primary applications to medical school in 2019. It has been an extremely difficult, expensive journey to prioritize my health so I can continue serving my patients, and I'm happy to report now that everything is stable and I'm lucky to be well taken care of. A year later, in my first year, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is recovering well, but again the toll these things have taken on us has been substantial. These challenges have had a huge impact both good and bad - on one hand, I can connect with my patients with minimal effort because I can truly empathize with their experience with illness. On the other hand, it's a constant, daily battle to stay healthy. Meanwhile, I'm just trying to learn how to be the best doctor I can be.
The Ask
I am asking for help, period. Like I said, I will receive financial aid in a few months, but the powers that be do not take rain checks for bills. At this point, I am behind on rent (I pay ~$800/month) and my car note (~$300/month), my two largest bills currently. We are not able to work in medical school especially now that I spend the overwhelming majority of my time in clinics/hospitals and studying for board exams.
It is a point of pride that I have made it this far without asking for much help. I usually figure it out. But this time, I am stuck. If there is anyone who is willing to contribute financially to my medical school journey, I would be forever grateful. If there's anything I've learned (and hopefully anything we've all learned this past year), it's that in life it TRULY takes a village - we all succeed together, or we all fail together. Anything you're willing and able to contribute will have an impact beyond just me. Thank you so much for reading and for thinking about it.
Love,
Kyle
As you all know, I'm about halfway through my medical school journey having just begun my clinical rotations last month in Albany, Georgia. In another couple of years, I'll be a physician, ready for the next stage of training. I know I've been sharing a lot about my journey with you all, but so far I've had the honor of serving as a leader in my class and our community. I have really stepped into what I believe is my purpose on this Earth - to give. I served as a coordinator for a student-run free clinic for LGBTQ+ patients, as a chair and representative in the Student National Medical Association (the nationwide organization for Black and Brown student doctors), I've helped organize a state-wide COVID-19 vaccine education campaign, mentored young aspiring future doctors, and more. I say all this to show that I am truly working my behind off, not just for my own career but for all of us.
The Situation
What many people don't know, though, is that medical school is extremely expensive. Between tuition, supplies, books, scrubs, required trainings and exams (yes, we pay for these out of pocket too), added to the normal day-to-day expenses of rent, food, gas with a lot of recent commuting, and more, I am in a pretty serious financial bind. I will receive my financial aid and scholarship funds for the next semester, but not until mid-July. My school changed its curriculum so we started our 3rd year months early, but were not given the corresponding financial aid yet so it has created a difficult situation for the time-being.
Life gives and takes much from us. There's a lot of change happening now and over the past few years...things I have tried to hide but don't like to and refuse to do anymore. I was diagnosed with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) the very same week I submitted my primary applications to medical school in 2019. It has been an extremely difficult, expensive journey to prioritize my health so I can continue serving my patients, and I'm happy to report now that everything is stable and I'm lucky to be well taken care of. A year later, in my first year, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is recovering well, but again the toll these things have taken on us has been substantial. These challenges have had a huge impact both good and bad - on one hand, I can connect with my patients with minimal effort because I can truly empathize with their experience with illness. On the other hand, it's a constant, daily battle to stay healthy. Meanwhile, I'm just trying to learn how to be the best doctor I can be.
The Ask
I am asking for help, period. Like I said, I will receive financial aid in a few months, but the powers that be do not take rain checks for bills. At this point, I am behind on rent (I pay ~$800/month) and my car note (~$300/month), my two largest bills currently. We are not able to work in medical school especially now that I spend the overwhelming majority of my time in clinics/hospitals and studying for board exams.
It is a point of pride that I have made it this far without asking for much help. I usually figure it out. But this time, I am stuck. If there is anyone who is willing to contribute financially to my medical school journey, I would be forever grateful. If there's anything I've learned (and hopefully anything we've all learned this past year), it's that in life it TRULY takes a village - we all succeed together, or we all fail together. Anything you're willing and able to contribute will have an impact beyond just me. Thank you so much for reading and for thinking about it.
Love,
Kyle