2020 has definitely been a one-of-a-kind year! While I like to think that I am good at expressing my gratitude, and usually I see the positive in most situations (even the hard or crappy ones). But 2020 seems to have made me even more appreciative of the many blessings in my life, including the amazing people around me! So here are a few things on my very long list of things to be thankful for this year.

Top of the list, as usual, is definitely my faith, and my family. I haven’t been able to go to church most weekends this year, but my faith remains unwavering, and a strength to me. Likewise, I haven’t been able to see my family much this year, and even spent my very first Thanksgiving away from them this year due to the pandemic. I love them, and miss them tons!

I am super thankful for the handful of really good friends I have made while I have been here. This year has shown me who I can count on, lean on, and cry with. This program is intense. My friends have changed a lot as the trimesters have ticked on. I am thankful for everyone who was there for me, and whom I could be there for, during this crazy journey. I am thankful to be in clinic with some of the people I consider my closest friends through this process, including Joanna and Jeffrey who I started with on Day 1, back in January of 2018.     

Obviously, I am very thankful for my puppy, Lily. It is so nice having her at the end of long days. She is always there to cheer me up and make me feel super loved! I am also thankful for the school faculty, staff, and administration that have made it possible for me to continue with my education through all the closures this year. They have worked tirelessly for us students, and often times their sleepless nights and efforts go unnoticed by my fellow students. They even let us students vent our frustrations, knowing they are doing everything they can to help us. I hope they know how appreciated they are, and that their efforts have not gone unnoticed!       

Now for the rapid fire portion of things I am thankful for: Apple iPad (and pencil); Notability app; Quizlet; OrangeTheoryFitness; the Sherriff Squad at clinic (aka Dr. Bose’s shift of interns); my on campus apartment; my laundry service; the automatic start and heated steering wheel/seats of my car for the freezing Chicago mornings; my Costco membership; toilet paper (never could have imagined my gratitude for that a year ago); and last but not least, my patients, both current and future who are putting their trust in me.

There are so many more things I am grateful for, but I am approaching 500 words, which is a little lengthy for a blog post, so I better end here.

{{cta(’03fd43e4-1983-4e8f-bee9-9cf7ff8c156b’)}}