I was scribing in a Radiation Oncology clinic in December 2019 when a notification appeared: “Offer of Admission, Duke Physician Assistant Program.” Forgoing all decorum, I let out a loud shriek and informed the physician that I had been accepted.
It seems so long ago now, as we have wrapped our first semester and are back from our much-needed winter break.
Although COVID-19 threw a wrench into my future lunch plans and where I would sit in the classroom, it’s refreshing to see my classmates - albeit under masks and face shields - in weekly practicums and anatomy lab. It's not rare to feel as if you are the only one struggling in a class; truth be told, it happens to the best of us. As a cohort, we try to help each other in any way that we can. Having a phenomenal study group has helped keep me grounded throughout school. It’s great to have classmates who know exactly how you are feeling because they are going through it too. It’s also great because your study group can help remind you to reward yourself and take a night off to decompress. For me this was the hardest lesson; it took some time to learn to give myself grace and reward the wins, no matter how small they are. We all make sure to keep each other focused on our collective end goal through all the long nights and endless cups of coffee. I would never trade this experience for anything.
For those who are applying currently, if you’re anything like I was, you may be feeling anxious waiting on letters of recommendation, CASPA verification, and interview invites. This is is perfectly normal! A piece of advice, don’t compare your journey to others. No two paths are the same! After taking pre-requisites, obtaining my EMT certification, becoming a Chief Scribe, and waiting through the application cycle, here I am! Although everyone in my cohort had a different path to PA school, we have similar goals.
I knew when I was accepted to the Duke Physician Assistant Program (DPAP), one of my personal goals was to leave a lasting footprint, which is why I became the Diversity Chair for my class. In my role as Diversity Chair, it has been my honor to continue the Diversity at DPAP Newsletter, where I highlight various events and holidays occurring that month. Additionally, we recently held a joint event with The Physician Assistants of Color Inc. in order to highlight Duke to Pre-PA applicants in order to increase diversity. I take pride in my Diversity Committee who help me feature cultural traditions whether it is a traditional dish or holidays for DPAP. This role has taught me a lot about the cultural aspect of others and how it is important to ensure that everyone and their culture are acknowledged. I am eternally grateful for this role and the opportunities that it has afforded me and I can only hope to continue to learn and grow within this role.
To future classes, remember you made it, take a moment to embrace it! Remember that the staff, faculty, and your classmates all want you to succeed.
I will leave you with this mantra, cloudy days are only temporary, and the sun will always shine in the end.
Soijett Blue is a first-year student with the Duke Physician Assistant Program. Email soijett.blue@duke.edu with questions.
Editor’s note: Duke Physician Assistant Program students blog twice a month. Blogs represent the opinion of the author, not the Duke Physician Assistant Program, the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, or Duke University.