 |
| So many things wrong with this photo. |
Random Person @ Random Event
So... Whaddya do?
Me
I'm applying to grad school.
Random Person
For what?
Me
(mumbling incoherently)
Random Person
What?
Me
(inhumanly fast)
Traditionalmedicinefocusingon (big breath) preventativecomplementaryandintegrativehealth.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) isn't so bad because no one really knows what it is; but it often requires further explanation like, acupuncture. Acupuncture, is a filthy, offesnive word which conjures a slew of dirty, archaic images like chanting.
A good therapist would tell me my fears are based on my own superficial views and I should work on being less judgemental. Clearly, that's the case. Yes, I'm thinking about you, White-Girl with dreads.
I'm worried people will immediately assume I'm some meditating-yoga-practicing-vegetarian-gratitude-giving-herb-tokin'-sustainable-living-eco-conscious-localism-equal-rights-advocate (Which I am). I'm afraid they'll think I'm a...
A hippie (Which I'm not).
Some New-Age-horoscope-crystal-reading freak who just up and decided one day to study TCM so I can tattoo the Yin-Yang on my lower back, perpetuate the Asian-stereotype and greet people with a 'Namaste' bow. The fact that I had my "Eat-Pray-Love" moment in which I traveled for nearly 2 years just adds to the cliche I'm desperately trying to avoid. It makes me want to punch my own face.
These are all my issues and the reason why I started this blog. I want to...
 |
| I'm good enough. I'm smart enough. And doggone it, people like me! |
1) Get over my lame-ass fear of people judging me. TCM saved my life and I should be far more grateful than embarrassed for it.
2) Give people a glimpse as to what a TCM student has to endure. There's a host of people I've met who think TCM school is a lot like Hogsworth -- Minus the cool capes.
3) Chronicle my journey. I'm learning very quickly my friends and family can only handle so much of my Ah-ha! ideas whether it's learning about the mechanism of catabolism in my Anatomy & Physiology class or wondering if acupuncture could possibly help with the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder. There's a limit and it's exemplified in the increasing rate of eye-rolling. It's nerd-talk, yo!
I may not be the typical medical student and that's fine -- That's my "schtick". I just want people to know there are different methods to healing; and just because I believe in a holistic approach doesn't mean I've lost my damn mind.
