How has JAMP helped you as you strive to achieve your goal of becoming a doctor?
Coming from a single parent home in a small town, I had almost none of the essential knowledge required to succeed in medical school: social networking skills, interview etiquette, even finances. JAMP helped me navigate the complex world of medical school and allowed me to focus on my education. I also had the opportunity to meet several wonderful people who would become my peers in the medical community. Finally, JAMP gave me the opportunity to mentor younger students, something I strive to do in the future as a doctor.

What advice would you like to offer current or future JAMP students?
Being a doctor is all about triumphing through challenges. Whether it is overcoming financial hardship, passing your first MCAT (or retaking it and passing it the second time!), or 24 hour call shifts as a 3rd year student, never lose sight on why you are involved in medicine. Every person I have met in JAMP has a story of why they want to become a doctor; remembering these reasons makes the challenges more manageable. When you hone into that passion to serve others and to achieve your goals, you truly shine as an individual.

I have talked to many JAMPers who worry about their qualifications for medical school; I want to quiet those fears, because undergraduate GPAs and MCAT scores do not have to be indicative of one’s future performance in medical school. I certainly had my struggles: I had to take the MCAT twice, and my GPA was on the lower end of qualifying. Upon starting medical school, however, I really began to excel. I demonstrated that drive and determination matter more than the numbers when it comes to achieving goals and fulfilling passions.

Keep working. Keep your passion for helping others at the foundation of all your efforts to succeed in medical school. When you are on your 6th hour of MCAT studying one night, remember your personal reasons for becoming a physician and you will not lose the drive to keep pushing.

What aspect of JAMP has been most beneficial to you?
The summer program helped immensely with learning time management skills; additionally, having the opportunity to study on an actual medical school campus was huge. JAMP has also provided tremendous social support, especially since I do not have physicians in my family who could give insight into the process of applying to, and succeeding in, medical school. Additionally, JAMP provided me with numerous points of contact within the medical school I matched to. Finally, the massive amount of assistance provided throughout the application process was invaluable; the practice I received for interviews was incredibly beneficial.