KalpyWrites

Disclaimer: I know I’m publishing this during the first week of November, but I needed a little time to reflect on the whirlwind that was October. Thoughts on the election, post-vacation vibes, and more will come soon!

I kicked off October in Bremerton and Gig Harbor, Washington, wrapping up my emergency medicine rotation. The ER was intense but fascinating! Patients come in undifferentiated, meaning you don’t really know much about their history until you dig into it, which makes it an ideal place to hone diagnostic and history-taking skills. That’s what I love about medicine—diagnostics is like solving a puzzle, and clinical judgment is key to piecing together a patient’s story.

The ER was definitely fast-paced. Since it’s often the first line of care for many, I saw everything from active heart attacks to mental health crises. The autonomy I had there was amazing—I even got to repair several lacerations and practice suturing. One memorable case was a patient who’d accidentally cut his forearm with a chainsaw. Thankfully, no tendons were damaged, and I stitched him up with 12 superficial stitches, mostly unsupervised. It felt incredible to be trusted by both the patients and the physicians. While I love the ER, I definitely think I made the right decision choosing Family Medicine. I love the long-term connections that FM provides, as well as the opportunity to do a lot of good in various clinical settings. Overall, I’m proud of the diagnostic and procedural skills I’m building, and I’m feeling like I’m right where I need to be as I head toward graduation in just seven months.

A big part of this month was self-reflection. With my parents spending six weeks in India to care for my grandparents, I found myself with a lot of alone time. This period allowed me to exercise my independence, create my own schedule, and even improve my cooking skills. Being alone gave me a chance to reflect more deeply and understand myself better, but near the end of the six weeks, I realized how much I missed my parents. I feel so lucky to have such amazing parents that I genuinely enjoy spending time with.

After finishing my rotation, I took my last-ever exam of medical school—and passed! I can’t say I’ll miss exams, but it’s surreal to think that after residency interviews, it’ll just be a countdown to May 2025 when I can finally graduate.

October also marked a big personal milestone: turning 25! I was lucky to celebrate my birthday with my brother Sanket, and we decided to throw a huge birthday bash in honor of our quarter-life crisis. Given our love for TV shows, we made it a Television-themed costume party, and everyone came dressed as their favorite characters! Celebrating with such an incredible group of friends and family made us feel beyond lucky.

On the fitness front, I’m proud to say I stayed consistent this month. While I couldn’t work out as intensely as I did in September, I still made it a priority to show up for my health regularly. A highlight was running the UW Dawg Dash 10K, and I’m thrilled to add another medal to my collection!

Academically, the biggest update was starting residency interviews. I’ve completed about eight so far, and it’s been quite the experience. Each program offers something unique, and figuring out the best fit for my training feels a bit overwhelming—but it’s a good problem to have! I’m grateful for the options and excited to keep moving forward in this journey.

Looking back, October was a month filled with milestones, both personal and professional. From building confidence in the ER and finishing my last medical school exam to celebrating my 25th birthday and staying dedicated to my fitness goals, I’m feeling grateful for the journey I’m on. Starting residency interviews has been a whirlwind, but it’s also a reminder of how close I am to achieving my dream. With each experience this month, I’ve been reminded of the incredible people in my life and the support that keeps me moving forward. Here’s to the final stretch of medical school and all the excitement that lies ahead!

Any comments? Thoughts? Questions? Would LOVE to hear your thoughts. Much, much love to you all.