Taking It All In, Part 2: Transitioning To Michigan

People might think I’m crazy, but I was actually excited to move to Michigan from California. It was a nice excuse to travel and explore a new place that I might not have otherwise considered visiting.

So far, I love it here.

You get to actually experience the four seasons. I moved here in late July and Michigan was gorgeous at the time. I left California experiencing 110 degree summer days to temperatures in the mid-80s and 90s.

Fall was also beautiful, but it was way too short! The orange/red hues from the leaves changing colors made for some pretty cool picture ops.

Winter has been surprisingly wonderful. Some of my classmates, like myself, were ecstatic to see the first snowfall. This rang true for those classmates from out of state, at least. There were definitely a lot of snaps and excitement that day.

I had seen a lot video posts on Snapchat of classmates walking through the snow. I was mesmerized by the beauty of it all. Yeah, it gets pretty cold, but you get acclimated to the colder temperatures.

Traffic with snow is still better than California traffic.

The holidays were especially beautiful with all the Christmas lights and decorations. It was exactly how I imagined it to be like from watching Christmas cartoons and movies growing up where snow was always an integral part of the scenery.

Now it's part of my scenery. I've never lived in the snow before, but I’m really enjoying it. It is absolutely beautiful and I catch myself just staring at the snowflakes floating to the ground. I've sent a lot of pictures/videos back home to share with my family.

At the end of Early Clinical Experience (ECE), my small group decided to rent a cabin for the weekend and go snowboarding/skiing. We decided we wouldn't bring up anything school-related for the entire weekend. We even put away our cell phones so that we could focus on being present and enjoy the moment.
 

The first day on the slopes was definitely a learning process. I had gone snowboarding a handful of times in California, but I never tried skiing before. So what do I do? I decided to try it for the first time, of course!

It took a little while to get used to, but I was eventually able to get the hang of it (kind of) thanks in large part to my classmates and a quick "skiing for beginners" YouTube search the night before—the medical student in me wouldn't let me go unprepared! 

I did revert back to snowboarding before the day's end, so I was able to enjoy it a little more (a.k.a. fall less).

On the way back, one of my classmates got a flat tire. We came together as a group to help her change it and got back on the road. It's moments like this that allow us to grow together, to build a strong bond.

Life is going to throw some curveballs at us, but we can overcome it together.

My classmates and I definitely got to know each other better. We grew together as a group that weekend. It was a nice getaway to clear our minds before jumping into intersessions.

We still reminisce and talk about that weekend. We were actually a little sad when intersessions began because we would no longer be meeting with each other as a small group until the Middle Clinical Experience (MCE).

Something I've noticed about Michigan is that a lot of restaurants get really creative with their food. The options are definitely more of comfort food than I'm used to in California.

Michigan also has an extensive selection of beer. I guess Grand Rapids doesn't get the name "Beer City" for no reason!

People outside of my classmates are really nice. I guess it's that Midwestern hospitality I had heard about. I remember picking up food one morning upon arrival and the server asked me how my day was going. But it was in a way that it seemed like she was really trying to get to know me. It was genuine. I've noticed this countless times since then with other people while out about in the community as well.

There is a real sense of community here. People want to get to know their neighbors. Although Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan, I definitely get somewhat of a small-town vibe from it.

I might not have ever considered moving to Michigan if it hadn’t been for medical school. I can even see myself potentially living here long term.

But first thing's first and that's medical school.



Harminder Sandhu is a first-year College of Human Medicine student from California. As an Office of Admissions blog contributor, Harminder offers an inside look at the college from the student perspective. Read more of Harminder's posts. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

After Another Strong Match Day, CHM Seniors Set to Take On Residency Positions Throughout the Nation

Image
Not many things came easy this last year. Yet despite plenty of disruptions and challenges, the Class of 2021 responded honorably in every way. That included displaying high levels of poise and patience during a residency selection cycle steeped in uncertainty amid a global pandemic that has upended life beyond just medicine. While the 2021 edition of Match Day marked the second in which fourth-year College of Human Medicine (CHM) students and their families were forced to celebrate virtually on the account of the pandemic, this year's seniors were the first to see their entire residency match process pivot to virtual.  Going online certainly presented it's hurdles, but the virtual nature of this year's interviews also helped to eliminate some of the larger barriers—time and cost—that are associated with the process during more traditional cycles.  The 2021 Main Residency Match became the largest in National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) history, with 38,106 total p
Read more

So You've Been Put On The Waitlist: What's Next?

Image
You've  waited for a decision and word has finally arrived: you've been placed on the waitlist. It's okay for applicants to feel some anxiety when placed as an alternate. That's normal. More uncertainty isn't something an applicant begs to endure. But don't necessarily take it as a bad omen either. More than disappointment, you should have hope. You still have a chance, after all. Considering the sheer number of applicants across the country each year, the truth is that it's actually pretty common to be in this situation. Thousands of accepted students matriculate off the waitlist each year. With only 5-10% of students matriculating from the waitlist at some schools, others accept as high as 50-60% of their incoming class from waitlisted applicants. The question then is, "What should I do now?" Remain Positive Waitlist does not mean rejection. While this isn't ideal, getting your name onto a waitlist is an accomplishment and shows
Read more

New Situational Judgement Testing Requirements for the 2023 Cycle: Additional Options and Recommendations

Image
While the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) has been a standard of the medical school admissions cycle, additional testing on top of academic metrics has more recently begun to show value as institutions aim to assess applicants more holistically and equitably.  To better provide care for patients in an ever-evolving health care industry, the next generation of doctors must understand far more than chemistry and human anatomy.  The College of Human Medicine began requiring in 2021 that all candidates take the Casper Test, an open-response situational judgment test administered online. Innovative responses to educational imperatives have been an important trait of the college, extending that spirit to the admissions office.  The college, for instance, was one of the initial medical schools in the U.S. to implement the Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) as part of its interview process and has continued with the effort now for close to a decade. So, including a situational judgment te
Read more