How has JAMP helped you strive to achieve your goal of becoming a doctor?
JAMP provides a month long internship at a different medical school every summer, and not only are you surrounded by amazing faculty, but you are also surrounded by intelligent, hardworking students who understand exactly what you are going through. Through these internships, we are all given a taste of what medical school is like – the good and tough parts; however, JAMP has given me the opportunity to face these challenges with other people who are also pursuing a path in medicine.

Everyone is there as a source of encouragement and as a reminder of why we are all working so hard to attain the same goal. Through this and much more, JAMP has made my goal of becoming a doctor attainable through long-lasting friendships, a glimpse of what is to come and what will be in the future as a doctor, and has reassured me that my choice is the right one.

What advice would you like to offer current or future JAMP students?
I am a strong believer in the effectiveness of breaks and relaxation. It is possible to be overworked and so weighed down by stress that you forget why you are pursuing a path in medicine in the first place; therefore, it is important to relax even if it is for an hour once a week. Not only will this improve your efficiency, you will also feel less stressed and much more ready to take on the world.  

What aspect of JAMP has been most beneficial to you?
The most beneficial aspect of JAMP for me has been the summer internships. You are able to take part in classes taught by medical school professors, shadow physicians, and form friendships with your fellow JAMPers. Also, you are able to experience a little bit of what medical school is like, mentally prepare yourself what is to come, and learn more about a particular medical school from students and faculty. 

About Lynn:
I grew up in Austin, Texas, but am currently attending the University of Texas at Dallas as a Neuroscience and a Child Learning and Development major. As a first generation Vietnamese-American in the U.S., I have always had to accompany various family members in medical settings as a translator and thus began my interest in the life as a physician, their impact on others, and the workings of the body.

I was introduced to JAMP during an organization fair at my university where I met the health adviser team who encouraged me to apply and have been my mentors and encouraging me ever since. Once accepted, I did my first internship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and my second one at UTMB in Galveston. I will be attending Paul L. Foster School of Medicine in El Paso in the Fall of 2017 and am extremely excited to start my life in a new place, with new people, and a plethora of knowledge awaiting me.