White Coat Ceremony

At my medical school, unlike some others, we did not have our white coat ceremony until we had already been in school for six weeks, taken four exams, and had a final exam scheduled six days later. Despite it being sandwiched in between weeks of long hours in the library, I really enjoyed this day. It exceeded my expectations.

Since I’m from out of state, I knew that my family would not be able to attend. I was able to invite a few families and friends from church. Mostly, it was an honor to see my classmates receive their coats– 180 brilliant, kind, positive, hardworking, and inspiring people with the people who love and support them. This day was a healthy reminder that although school may be challenging, the goal is to practice medicine with compassion and humility. We all came from different backgrounds and we’ll be together for four years, working towards a common goal of being kind to ourselves, each other, and to our patients – ultimately to be a great doctor. The community that my program has provided has made the transition from sunny Southern California to the South worthwhile. 

That morning, I put on a special piece of jewelry. My great-grandmother was a doctor and there were very few other woman in her medical school class. I wore her bracelet, as a link to the past and a reminder that being a woman and being a doctor requires sacrifices. It is a blessing and a privilege to have this door opened to me.

I walked towards the performing arts center from the parking garage by myself, unsure of where to go. I noticed a familiar face and followed my immunology professor from a distance. I felt conspicuous and a little like a fraud, choosing to carry my freshly pressed white coat over my arm rather than wear it prematurely. To my surprise, almost every person who I passed by wished me a sincere and warm “Congratulations.” 

After the ceremony, I took pictures with friends, mingled with the saints who came to see me receive my coat, and was even invited to lunch with a classmate and her family. However, I instead went home to sooth my soul with kimchi, rice, and a video call with my parents to update them. I baked a peach cobbler with peaches I got from the farmers market and finished cleaning my apartment. I went to the store to get baking supplies and got grass-fed, organic butter for free due to a price mislabeling. I saw the most beautiful butterfly on the sidewalk. A stranger spontaneously told me “You’re number one!” and made me laugh. My friend invited me to go bowling, so I went out with a group and got sandbagged. Evidently most of them had taken a bowling PE class in their undergrad, which is not offered at UC Berkeley.  Even being repeatedly defeated at bowling and air hockey didn’t dampen the excitement of the day. We all went back and ate my peach cobbler with homemade ice cream and practiced physical exam skills on each other. That means we pulled out our stethoscopes used a blood pressure cuff to take each other’s blood pressure and pulse, checked reflexes with a little rubber hammer and tuning fork, and used an otoscope to examine nose and ears.

I have to say – these ordinary days are really enjoyable. Church life, studying, exercise, as long as I keep my priorities, the supply is there. I had somewhat been dreading this day, because I knew that it might be hard to be reminded that I’m far from home and far from my family. Instead, there was grace for the day.