Breaking Barriers and Finding Strength During Hardship
Life’s challenges don’t wait for you to be ready to take them on; they may happen at times you least expect. This became clear during my senior year of high school, when I became emancipated from my parents and found myself virtually homeless. After becoming estranged from them, my dreams of attending college seemed impossible, especially when they refused to sign my financial aid papers. I knew I wanted to practice medicine and become a physician assistant (PA), a path that required a college degree. I had to fight for my education, staying up night after night applying for every scholarship I could find. A friend’s family welcomed me into their home and helped me contact colleges so I could still apply.
When I received a full-ride scholarship to my top school, Boston College, I truly understood the power of resilience.
It felt like I had a second chance to pursue my PA dreams. I dove straight into taking my prerequisite courses for PA school, scribing at Boston Children’s Hospital, and volunteering at food pantries on the weekends.
However, not everything went as planned. My sophomore year of college, during the 2020 COVID shutdown, I experienced the death of my significant other. Simultaneously, I was working as a certified nursing assistant at a nursing home, where we were hit hard with staff shortages and the passing of many residents. My life felt out of control as I struggled with grief and plummeting mental health. I tried to “just push through it,” but as time went on, I grew more depressed and anxious. Knowing I couldn't face this alone, I opened up to loved ones, started therapy, took time off work, and dropped an advanced science course.
At the time, this felt like a failure, as if I was giving up on the dreams I’d fought for.
In hindsight, these pivotal moments taught me that I will always get back on my feet after life’s ups and downs. More importantly, I learned there is no shame in asking for support and guidance or taking time to prioritize your mental health. Time and again, I was embraced by so much encouragement that even the largest obstacles didn't seem so daunting when I no longer had to face them alone.
As a second-year PA student starting my clinical year, I'm confident I made the right choice coming to Duke.
The “firehose” of information and weekly exams were overwhelming, but applying my medical knowledge and clinical reasoning skills to real patients on my family medicine rotation is incredibly gratifying. Duke prepares you well, and nothing feels better than getting the correct diagnosis, making the treatment plan, and having a patient tell you they are no longer in pain.
What made Duke stand out to me was the supportive faculty who genuinely care about students as people. During orientation, they told us, “We know that life doesn’t stop just because you are in PA school, and we understand that challenges come about. But we will work with you to make sure you succeed.” When I experienced a death in my family during my first year, my academic advisor regularly checked in to make sure I was okay. Having professors who cared for our well-being made a world of difference. Moving 500 miles from home wasn’t easy, but I found a second family at Duke. I’ll always cherish the friendships I’ve made, whether we were creating funny mnemonics or sharing our life stories at bonfires.
From someone who once thought college was out of reach to becoming accepted at the top PA program in the country, I share my story in hopes it resonates with future applicants and my fellow peers who may feel “stuck” or face what may feel like setbacks.
I look back on the adversities I faced as necessary steppingstones that shaped me into the compassionate, resilient person I am today. PA school is not without its challenges and stressors, and while I still struggle with my mental health at times, I know I can handle it. Don’t let fear of failure or your obstacles prevent you from chasing your dreams, whether that is taking the courage to apply to PA school or finishing the didactic year. If becoming a PA is your dream, you can make it happen even if the path is different than what you imagined. I hope to remind you: you are capable, stronger than you think, and you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.
Fuka Reale is a second-year student with the Duke Physician Assistant Program. Email fuka.reale@duke.edu with questions.
Editor’s note: Duke Physician Assistant Program students blog monthly. Blogs represent the opinion of the author, not the Duke Physician Assistant Program, the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, or Duke University.
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