I'M OFFICIALLY A STUDENT DOCTOR: MY WHITE COAT CEREMONY

3:51 PM

Two months in and two blocks down! Last weekend, I was officially "coated" at my White Coat Ceremony. A tradition since 1993, the White Coat Ceremony, is a right of passage for medical students in which we are cloaked in our bright, white coats by faculty, recite our Physician's Oath for the very first time and celebrate entrance into the medical profession! Like many medical students, I'd been dreaming of the day I would sport a white coat for years. We actually picked up our coats the week before the ceremony, and as I watched many of my classmates excitedly try them on, and jet off to get them embroidered, tailored and pressed/iron, I stuffed my own in my bag. I had just received the one garment I had been dreaming of since I can imagine, and I couldn't understand why I was lacking expected enthusiasm.

It was until the day of the ceremony, sitting in the auditorium with my class, surrounded by our family and friends that have supported us through many years of hard work, and distinguished faculty that were welcoming us into their profession as future colleges, that I began to feel the significance of this day. In a sea of white coats, for the first time, we read our Physician's Oath and declared our duty to our future patients, it hit me like an emotional throat punch!

Check out these awkward pics of me actually getting cloaked

In my head, I'd imagined what this day would be like a thousand times and it was so much more! I celebrated with my parents and my best friends traveled that 12 hours combined and over state lines to support me (and even found out that one of my friends got an interview at my school the night before... her news, not mine, but it felt like receiving my own interview invite all over again!), so it was an amazing day. Every time, I sport it, I'll feel pride and remember privilege it is to wear this white coat, and always remember to honor those I wear it for, my future patients.