Set High Goals!

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Reach for the Moon!

Last month, I shared with you all that when I first started medical school, I felt like an imposter. I just didn’t think that I deserved to be here. Here I was, finally fulfilling what I had planned for the better part of my life…and I thought it was a mistake.

The happy ending to that story was that I finally resolved in my mind, before our first block exams, fortunately, that since God brought me here to fulfill His purpose and the desires of my heart, “I DO DESERVE TO BE HERE.”

Phew.

However, was that enough? What now? At that point, I had been out of school for 2 ½ years and out of undergrad for 5 whole years. I literally turned 26 on the day of my orientation, making me a nontraditional student (one who doesn’t matriculate right after undergrad).

In short, I was petrified at starting school again. Sure, I may deserve to be here, but what if I flunk out because I forgot how to study? So, again, I panicked!

At that point, I had heard horror stories about students being dismissed after flunking 1 too many classes. And worse yet, not all of them were chronic partiers. Some studied from dawn to dusk and into the wee hours and still didn’t GET it. What if that was me?

There was no plan B for me! There’s nothing else that I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. Sure, I fell in love with photography during my travels. Should I start applying to National Geographic?

What else can I do with the degrees that I already had: B.S in Bio and M.S in Biomedical Science? Teach or do research. I guess I should start downloading applications for NIH.

However, I knew that I would be disappointed in the long run. I scratched those options from my mind and had a new resolve.

I would set my goals high!

“Reach for the MOON. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the STARS.”
I resolved that I would try to Honor all my courses that semester (MOON)! Even if I miss, by getting a B somewhere, I would still be eligible for the Dean’s List (STAR).
Sure enough, I did miss, by getting 2 B’s (a point away from Honors), and only Honored one course.

However, I landed on my STAR! I made the Dean’s List. It was then that I knew, unless I set my goals SUPER HIGH…I would fall on someone’s roof, rather than a STAR!
I was flabbergasted as to how many of my peers were satisfied with only passing! I couldn’t believe that everyone wasn’t interested in that elusive Honors!

My advice to you, in all that you do in your studies, study as though your goal is to get 100%. Don’t gloss over a section, no matter how detailed or boring or miniscule. I promise you…it will be a question on your exam. And you will smile when you come across it. Then you will know what setting high goals really mean.

Good luck in your studies…and reach for that moon!

~Tacha