To: Future Me
From: Me

Some advice never changes.

We have all heard things like 'eat more vegetables, exercise regularly, and sleep at least eight hours a day'. Sometimes the answer is simple, but what about those hidden gems that go beyond telling me what I have already heard or know? 

We are at a point in time where you do not have to know everything. Maybe it was always that way, but with endless tools to navigate a vast landscape of information I find it most useful to seek ones that can serve more than one purpose.

Lately, I have been on the hunt for solutions that inspire confidence or courage for the challenges both in and outside of an academic setting. It likely has something to do with the current trend on sustainability and growth. I'm talking about something more direct - not some lofty goal like a New Year's Resolution that fizzles out over time or becoming carbon neutral some 50 years from now. 

Also, I value solutions that you cannot 'Google' for a simple answer like converting pounds to kilograms. The purpose of this long-winded preface is to ruminate over a couple questions: (1) What did I gain from getting a Masters in Biomedical Sciences and (2) what really helped me learn when I struggled in this more-than-seven-year-long journey to medical school?

Disclaimer: This blog is a (perpetual) work in progress, so if one person finds any part of it useful or interesting then I'll consider it a success of sorts. I am not an expert by any means. Everything written here is more for me than it is for you, but maybe it will provide some insight or spark a laugh at the very least.

Thank you, family, friends and mentors! I have likely contacted each of your individually to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for your time and advice over the years. I am pursuing this dream for me, but I also do it for you! 

~michael-david calderon (mdc)
Dec. 13, '21