By Krystal Le
School of PA Studies Class of 2027
Student Ambassador
Krystalle.spas26@ketchum.edu
Going into orientation week and finally being able to call myself a PA student, I couldn’t have been more excited about something I had envisioned for myself over six years ago. I’ve always been a fan of first days and fresh starts – they’re an opportunity to make a good first impression and create a memorable experience for yourself. I was so eager to meet everyone in my cohort after browsing through most of their Facebook profile pictures, haha. Before I knew it, I had learned everyone’s names, gotten more comfortable with the layout of campus, and was ready to start my first week of classes!
As time went on, reality started to sink in quickly. I stepped foot onto campus knowing that I was a smart, outgoing, and organized person. However, as the stress of PA school started to build, it made me second-guess everything! I started thinking… “Am I smart enough? Am I outgoing enough to make friends who like me as I am? Am I organized enough to manage the chaos of our schedule?” We were constantly told things like, “It’s going to be a tough first few months…” and “PA school is like drinking out of a fire hose” – phrases I had heard repeatedly but didn’t truly understand until I was in the thick of it.
The high standards my program had set for us really scared me at first, making me think I might not have what it takes to succeed. With out 80% pass rate, I made a vow to myself to study and work as hard as possible because PA school was something I had wished upon a shooting star for! (And the thought of any tuition money going down the drain made me shudder, lol.) Since it had been four years since graduating college, I was genuinely worried about my study methods. However, I really leaned on the advice of my peer advisors and tried out different study techniques for different subjects. I would create a chart for diseases, use Quizlet for physiology, make a study guide for pharmacology, and so on. I used different resources and gave myself deadlines so I could cover everything I needed to before test day. Luckily, the routine I had set up for myself was working and helping me succeed. I was doing well on practice tests and recalling things effectively. I was genuinely surprised by how well I had adjusted! Maybe I thrive under pressure?
As my classmates and I “trauma bonded” through PA school together and basically saw each other every day, we grew very close. You’d be surprised at how well 40 different personalities can mesh. We were supportive, understanding, and there for each other. I would jump from study room to study room during the beginning of the school year, wanting to get to know everyone and study with different people. Over time, I grew very close to some people who I’d now consider my besties! This was exactly the experience I had hoped for going into school, and I felt blessed to have found such amazing and inspiring people. I guess it was a little silly of me to think I wasn’t going to make friends.
And finally, shout-out to my Google Calendar and the amazing PA program faculty for making the day-to-day schedule of PA school manageable. My Google Calendar saves me from being late for school and forgetting assignment deadlines. I can color-code classes, events, and even schedule workout times to hold myself accountable. The program structure and the people who make it possible are also a huge blessing. PA school is already hard enough, so it’s reassuring knowing that the faculty are not trying to overwork us or hold us to unreasonable standards. The fact that the program has been around for a long time and has had consistently high student satisfaction was one of the reasons I wanted to come here. Thanks to the schedule, I get some weekends off every 1-3 weeks so I can turn off my brain, hang out with my friends and family, and binge-watch my favorite shows!
To wrap it up, you’re going to feel a truckload of doubts, feelings, and concerns going into your first week of grad school. These are totally normal – and that is okay! Just have faith in yourself, because you got into a competitive program and you can accomplish more than amazing things. Ride the wave, lean on your friends and cohort, and trust the process! You’re going to accomplish so much – and might even surprise yourself along the way.
