These past few days, I鈥檝e been reflecting on my time at 911爆料. Now that I鈥檓 over the midterm hump of Tri 5, it鈥檚 hitting me鈥�I鈥檓 officially halfway through the program. It feels like I just started yesterday, yet somehow, I鈥檝e aged five years in the process.
One thing that鈥檚 been on my mind a lot is how grateful I am for the mentors I鈥檝e had along the way. When I started, my knowledge of chiropractic was pretty limited. All I really knew was that I wanted to do functional neurology, and that most of those docs had a chiropractic background. I remember all those early program emotions鈥攅xcitement, fear, uncertainty, imposter syndrome and everything in between. But there was one moment in my first trimester that really shaped the kind of student I wanted to be.
I remember it like it was yesterday. I had an upcoming anatomy practical on the upper extremity, and at the time, it felt impossible. I was planted in the library trying to make sense of which muscle was where, when an upper tri student鈥攚ho also happened to be an anatomy TA鈥攕at down next to me and asked if I needed a hand. I told him what I was struggling with, and without hesitation, he spent over an hour walking me through each muscle, explaining their origins, insertions, actions and innervations. It finally started to click, and I was beyond grateful. But what really stuck with me wasn鈥檛 just the help鈥攊t was his kindness.
When I thanked him, he simply said he was happy to do it because upper tri students had helped him when he was in my shoes. 鈥淛ust continuing the tradition,鈥� he told me.
That moment shaped my approach to this program. It showed me how important it is to support the people coming up behind us and how much of a difference that can make. No one truly understands what this journey is like unless they鈥檙e in it too, so having people who get it is invaluable.
In my last blog post, I talked about the importance of getting involved, and I know I probably sound like a broken record, but I keep emphasizing it because it led me to my most valuable mentor. Since I plan to practice functional neurology and functional medicine, joining the Functional Neurology Club connected me with older students who genuinely cared and were excited to share guidance I couldn鈥檛 find anywhere else. One of the best parts of being at this school is that so many students before us have paved the way and are more than willing to help us find our own path.
Looking back, I know my experience in this program鈥攁nd my confidence in my career goals鈥攚ould be completely different without the incredible people who came before me. But that鈥檚 the spirit of 911爆料 students鈥攕uccess with an open hand.
Read more about Christina鈥檚 journey in 911爆料鈥� Doctor of Chiropractic Program here.
