Brick Walls & more interesting thoughts...

Let me tell you that July 25th, 2008 was a sad day. I don't even know Randy Pausch, but I know that he passed away that day.... after having inspired millions with his fighting spirit, otherworldly optimism, and incredible imagination. Did I use enough adjectives for you? Truthfully, I could put so many more out there.... his unwavering commitment to his wife & kids, determination to live as long as he could for them, and his stubborn desire to share a 'Last Lecture' with many at Carnegie Mellon University... Little did he know he would come to mean so much to millions of people who would never have an opportunity to meet him. I wish I could thank him right now because he helped me overcome my brick walls--and there were many. Mr. Pausch tells us something about 'brick walls' that basically changed my outlook on life in May 2008. He wrote: "The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough."

My brick wall fell at approximately 4:00 pm CST on December 21, 2009 when I received an acceptance e-mail that I have been accepted to medical school. This is my third time to apply. I have taken the MCAT, a cruel and evil test, three times in three years. I will never take that crazy test again, but guess what... If someone told me I had to take it a fourth time---I would. Crazy? Yes. It is crazy, but Mr. Pausch is very right. The brick walls are absolutely there to stop the people who do not want things badly enough. I want you all to know that I want to be a doctor that badly. I want to be a part of improving people's lives through the practice of medicine. My heart lies with medicine and medicine has my heart. So, if it were necessary, I would do it because I know how badly I want to be a doctor.

I am not great at keeping my blog up to date, but I have been studying my life away all semester. I'm not sure that anyone even reads it anymore. However, if you are reading this---and you haven't read The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, I hope that you will find the time to do so. It inspired me at a time when I desperately needed inspiration. If anything, living is the inspiration. In the tragedy of this man's death, I hope that we can all find a reason to live. I hope that we all conquer our brick walls & pursue our dreams--even one's that are not our childhood dreams (as Mr. Pausch lectures about in his 'Last Lecture' at CMU).

http://www.thelastlecture.com/

I wish you all a Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays! I know I will never forget this holiday season. My future has a purpose as of today. I will officially be Deborah Lee, M.D. in the year 2014! God is so great!