Sunday Morning is probably one of my favorite TV shows. This is probably very strange since this show is probably more popular with the older demographic of viewers because of how early it comes on and the fact that many people my age may see 9:00 on a Sunday morning as an ungodly hour. But this show is one of my secret pleasures that makes getting up at that time worth it. Last week’s episode featured the musician Justin Hines who has a Larsen Syndrome and as a result of his disability uses a wheelchair. Often one may think that a disability especially one such as his not only defines you but confines you as well. However, this is not the case Justin and his voice and talent couldn’t be simply confined to the four wheels of his wheelchair. Watching this segment emphasizes is a testimony that we are so much more than what the world see us as and we should never be afraid to live.

               My trip to Northwestern could have been a little bit smoother somewhere between drunken passengers that sat in the immediate row in front of me and the two hour delay that I had at my stop over. Nevertheless, Northwestern definitely shot up to the top of my list after interviewing there. The students that I met on my interview day did an amazing job of talking about the selling points of the school such as the ability to complete an MPH/MD in four years, cultural life, and the ability to take certain courses for free(I believe at the undergrad campus). The school also has beautiful lecture halls, friendly students, and a pretty nice hospital. However,  the selling point for me was the strong sense of community that I felt at the school. I especially loved the treatment that I received from Office of Diversity which took a group of interviewees out to dinner the night before our interview. I definitely got a strong vibe that they really wanted us there and that they would make sure that we would be provided with  a strong support system needed to be successful in med school.

                Now on to the interview… There were two types of interviews. One which was the panel style which involved 3 interviewer and 3 interviewees. While, the second one was a more personal one on one interview style.  My group interview (panel) experience could have been a little better. All I can say about this interview type is to  just be yourself and it is truly the luck of the draw in terms of chemistry of a particular group but in the words of Tim Gunn “Make it Work!” But my individual interview was a lot better. My interviewer and I were definitely were more compatible since we shared a lot of the same interests and even accidentally went over time.  

                Now onto locationàLocation. Location. Location. I love Northwestern’s location it kind of reminded me of a weird hybrid between  Georgetown and Manhattan. Chicago seems like it has a great cultural life. However, Chicago’s weather will definitely take some extreme acclimatization acclimatization in the form of gaining 200 lbs of body fat. Nevertheless, I am thankful to have had the opportunity to interview at Northwestern and could definitely seem myself attending J

On my return flight from Chicago, I was reduced to reading the magazines provided by the airline since I had forgotten to bring a book. Surprisingly enough the magazines were pretty entertaining. One of the magazines was actually a catalog I believe was called Sky Mall which is a collection of some of the  most useless gadgets under the sun. Flipping through the pages I was trying to comprehend who would actually buy/ produced these products but honestly I’m afraid to find out...

Like many of you know the economy has seen better days. This shouldn’t be news to those even if they have been living under a rock for the past year since this seems to be the living conditions of many Americans courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Foreclosure. In addition, to being too lazy to find another place to live I decided to live at home since it was cheaper. How could I turn down the endless supply of jollof rice, malt, and the occasional shopping spree. Plus, I told myself that it was just for a year until medical school. It couldn’t be that bad. Well I was wrong- for some reason I had momentarily forgotten I had Nigerian Parents.

 Being that I plan to spend my next four years in medical school I decided to enjoy my “free time.”  A few weeks ago, I met up with friends for happy hour and then was somehow convinced to go out to a lounge in DC. It was fun catching up with friends that I had not seen in a while and next thing I knew it was 3am. Dashing home, hoping they were asleep so I wouldn’t get scolded at. I quietly opened the door. Tried to run up the stairs but he had awaken. “Do you know what time is it? Where did you go” (Like I had not told him earlier). “Never again, Next time I don’t want you out later than 11 pm.” Cool I have a curfew, I am finally the envy of all the 22 year olds I know.

 Next weekend, I attended a birthday dinner. Texted the parental just in case I didn’t make it home by my curfew. The birthday dinner ended slightly earlier than I expected. Went to sleep woke up the next morning. “Where did you go?” (déjà vu much) I jokingly asked him what time did you come back (since I knew he had attended a party and didn’t come back until 3am)…..wrong idea. “Am I your age mate?” I took a deep sigh knowing this was a battle of respect and control that I simply could not win and in the eyes of my parents I will always be a child/treated like one. Which for the time being, I would try not to mind as long as they kept the mountains of jolloff rice flowing.

                                                                  How my parents still see me