Getting into Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) has been a dream since elementary school. I didn’t even know much about the school at the time, but was convinced that purchasing a “Baylor Bears” sports mug in an elementary fundraiser event showed my true “BCM pride.” Come to find out that I was sadly mistaken (haha, sorry for any of you Waco people), but the dream finally came true on the very cold, snowy Wednesday evening at 5:57 PM.
I finally know what people mean by having your “dreams come true.” It sounds good on paper or in conversation, but actually experiencing it is something of unmeasurable profoundness. The acceptance came in a weird way. After spending a day running errands at our family businesses, my parents and I went to Fazoli’s in Katy to eat an early dinner. After getting home, I was really lazy and decided to kick back and watch some old Fresh Prince reruns.
My dad started yelling my name from downstairs. He said that a friend was calling, but I was skeptical since I don’t give out my home number. I quickly grabbed the phone in my room, looked at the caller ID, and read: “BAYLOR CLG MEDI.”
I – wanted – to – faint. I didn’t believe it at first. Adrenaline must have flooded my system as I felt my body shaking uncontrollably, my heart racing, and my pressing need to breathe heavily after every word.
Dr. Greenberg: “Hello Rishi! I wanted to be the first to congratulate you on being accepted into Baylor College of Medicine, class of 2013!”
Me: “WHOA ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?! Thank you Dr. Greenberg!!
Dr. Greenberg: “We’re looking forward to having you join our family! You’ll be receiving some mail from BCM in the next few days, but if you have any questions, feel free to contact us!”
…I still can’t believe that it happened. I keep looking at the caller ID trying to relive that 45 second conversation. Trying to savor the fact that this is the culmination of years of hard work filled with both accomplishments and disappointments – now I have achieved the pinnacle of my success by fulfilling the dreams of a 10 year old boy as I mature into a trainee 🙂
Addendum: Here are some pictures I took the next day around the Texas Medical Center when I was apartment hunting.
Lol at the landline.
Hahaha, throwback to 2008! 😉
hey man, just found your blog. congrats on the acceptance! i’m still weighing my options with other schools, but maybe we’ll end up being classmates next year!
CONGRATULATIONS! It’s an uplifting account for the rest of us still waiting on our dream schools to call :-)… Good Luck at Baylor!
Sorry, That Brown Guy. Just got the memo. I’ll make sure all future correspondence says exactly that! :o)
CONGRATS RISHI!!!
Wow, you should be very proud of yourself!
Congratulations on seeing your dream realized!
When are you turning them down?
@ Michelle: Not at all, Michelle. I prefer to be addressed by my official title: “that brown guy.”
@ Chris: After you reject the offer from Harvard dent. 😉
Wow… that is AMAZING! What a profound accomplishment.
Shall I start addressing you as Dr. Rishi now? :o) I think I shall.
CONGRATS DR. KUMAR. You deserve it for all your hard work. Oscar, one day it will be you.
Many congratulations, buddy! This is another of those Oscar’s “I told you so.”
I hope to follow you there. 🙂
Ha, how about, say 4 times a year (11 if we meet in the playoffs)? 😉
I can totally relate to your acceptance call, by the way. When Dr. Greenberg said I was in, my mouth literally dropped open, leaving me speechless; he ACTUALLY had to say “…hello, are you still there?” before I pulled myself together and finally managed to muster a “Wow, thank you very much!!! Thank you!” Then after the phone call ended, I sorta sat there for about a minute, staring at my phone, before I realized, “… Wow. That just happened.” 😀
Haha I told you so! 🙂
Congrats, you deserve it, and in all likelihood I’ll see you next fall!
Well done, Rishi. I knew you could do it. Congratulations man!
Looking forward to meeting you in person! But we can’t talk about basketball… deal? 😉
Thank you!