First Blog!

Hello all,

I've decided to start blogging because I feel to need to put my thoughts down on paper and reflect on personal experiences. I was never a big fan of writing, but I think there is some value in documenting your thinking in a systematic and analytical way. I am primarily interested in blogging about health care related issues, but occasionally I feel the need to ponder on personal aspects of my life. As an aspiring doctor, I know that blogging will encourage introspection in an environment where difficult decisions are made on a daily basis.

So...a little bit about myself. I am 21-years old and just finished a 4-year undergrad at McMaster University. I applied to med school this year and hope to receive good news on May 15th. If that doesn't work out, then I will be doing graduate studies in health policy at UofT. I currently live in a house off-campus with my best friends of 3 years: Michael, Davide, and Gabriel. They say that some of your best relationships are established in your university years - I can certainly attest to that.

My family lives in Toronto and I see them often. My mom and dad own a family business (an optical store), while my brother practices as a chiropodist (or foot care specialist) in his new clinic. Family is a central aspect of my life. I can tell my parents anything over a half-chicken dinner at Swiss Chalet or a BBQ pork & rice dish with bak choy at Congee Queen. During stressful moments in my undergrad, I have relied on my parents for social support (and a lot of other things too, such as $). It goes without saying that they go out of their way to offer me advice and are always willing to listen to my concerns (however small and insignificant they are). I've learned that conflicts between family members are a necessary aspect of developing strong relationships. When arguments erupt, they can be healthy for building relationships if the family member at fault learns to be apologetic. I've had my fair share of arguments with my mom, dad, and brother. We know which buttons to press to make each of us mad, but at the end there is always reconciliation.

The past 4 years at McMaster University in the Bachelor of Health Sciences program has been extremely rewarding. I intend to blog more about the uniqueness of this program and how it serves as a model for teaching and learning at the post-secondary level. Looking back at my undergrad career, I really think that I found my niche at McMaster, socially and academically. It's a small enough institution that you can recognize familiar people on campus, but large enough to keep you excited about exploring different dimensions of university life. I have no regrets for making the decision of coming here (the other contender was UofT) and I am proud of the opportunities it created for me. If I attend another university next year, I wonder what the transition will be like...something to blog about in the near future.

Anyways, that's all for now. More to come. Thanks for reading.

WC