Residency Recap: Joys, Surprises, and Challenges of Intern Year (Part 1)

My intern year of residency has been an utter whirlwind. Time is passing by in what seems like unprecedented speeds. In the midst of the chaos, I allow myself moments of quiet reflection. I often stop, reflect, and give thanks for being exactly where I’ve always wanted to be. I am practicing medicine as a resident physician, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Throughout the nearly five months that I have worked as a psychiatry resident, I have learned so much more than I could have imagined about myself, clinical practice, and the fragility of human health. A mixture of…

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Here’s to 28! Another Birthday Reflection

My birthday is always a great time for me to reflect on the past year. When we think about life on a day-by-day basis, it can feel like we’re not doing a lot. But when we reflect on bigger chunks of time, it’s easy to see how much change, growth, and accomplishment can happen in one year. I love to celebrate my birthday because I am truly thankful for each day, month, and year that God allows me to remain alive. It’s an opportunity to reflect on what has occurred while wishing and preparing for another great year ahead. As…

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The Secret to a Perfect Natural Hair Puff

I’ve been asked so many times about how I achieve my perfect natural hair puff that I decided to write a quick post to CHANGE YOUR LIFE! Ready for a natural hair secret?! This secret might just blow your mind! The way that I achieve the perfect natural hair puff every time is quite simple. Drum roll pleaseeee….. I BOUGHT IT! I know, I know….You’re shooketh. It’s okay! Sometimes the puff fools me too! But last year, when I was headed to vacation in Mexico with some Wharton classmates, I decided that I wanted to rock a low maintenance natural…

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How to Turn Your Setback into a Comeback

  Last Sunday, my pastor presented an incredibly timely sermon called “How to Turn Your Setback into a Comeback.” I’ve watched some similar sermons before, such as this awesome sermon by Pastor Steven Furtick at Elevation Church. However, there was something about the timing and content of my pastor’s message that made his sermon stand out to me. He presented several key principles on turning a setback into a comeback. As I did with the Father’s Day sermon last year, I wanted to share a recap of this message because I think that the themes are applicable to many of life’s…

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My First Day on the Job as a Psychiatry Resident

Today was my first clinical workday as a psychiatry resident! I have spent YEARS waiting for this day to arrive, and it was just as great as I hoped. As a new psychiatry resident at Penn, I’m starting my residency in the same hospital where I discovered my love of psychiatry a little over a year ago. The Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Philadelphia will always have a special place in my heart, and I’m excited to serve the veterans there for the next month or so during my first block of residency. Heading into this new chapter, one…

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