Decidering, Part 20

I'm deciding college related questions this week.

Here's the scenario: Allison has one year before the MCATs. She's working full-time and has a year left in a post Bacc premed program.

Here's her dilemma:

I am convinced extensive volunteer work will give me a power-up on my applications over these hyper-achieving millennials I'll be up against (I'll be 29 by the time I apply to med schools.) Berkeley Free Clinic has an awesome volunteer program but the training is 3 months long, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday nights throughout the summer then a year commitment of sporadic volunteering after training. I'll be taking 1 class 2 nights a week during this time as well (and working.) Should I go for it? Risks: home life. My boyfriend will have to fend for himself for a while and my dog just gets sad when I'm not around. Gains: better chance at Medical School entry...What to do, what to do?

This was one of the more difficult questions I've had to answer because I am inclined to say "do the clinic" even though that is not necessarily what I would do.

Here's what I am going to decide: Do the clinic if it something you want to do. Like, really, want to do. Not want to do because it will make you look good, or want to do because everyone else is doing it, or want to do because it seems like it's the only thing else to do. What I mean is: do if it is something you want to do because it makes you want to get out of bed in the morning or inspires you or makes you feel like a better human being.

I think the key to everything, to life (here I go unlocking the meaning to life, people, pay attention), is to do things for the right reasons.

So, if you really feel passionate about this program, it'll be okay if you have a hectic schedule for the summer (and your boyfriend and dog will forgive you; they only want what's best for you after all). On the other hand, if you have to drag yourself to the training everyday, wondering if it is even really worth it, you'll regret signing up. In which case, I say don't do it.

Wow, is this ever a non-decision.

Let me put it this way. At Law School I am not on the highly prestigious Law Review, but I am President of Law Students for the Arts. I am not on Law Review because, even though it looks all fancy and spectacular on a resume, I just didn't feel passionate about doing a bunch of monotonous, repetitive, boring, bang-your-head-against-the-wall work. I am involved with the art club, because I truly love the arts.

You know who gets on my nerves? People who sign up for EVERY club because it looks good. Here's what I say: do what makes you feel good, like, on the inside (that is some deep stuff right there, friends). I'll bet you end up happier.

Also, Allison lives in Berkeley and says she's been reading my blog for a year now. To which I say: why haven't we met for coffee or cocktails?!

Comments

[Emily]

Wow, this is a really good answer to a tough question. It's helping me too since I am recently unemployed and have been looking into volunteer opportunities. Let me know if you meet up for a drink, I've also been reading your blog forever and live in Oakland :)

[Leah]

Love this advice! So fabulous :-) I too am a big believer in doing stuff because I want to do and not because I should. And, honestly, I've often found that seemingly unrelated jobs and volunteer opportunities helped me out down the road. Very true to do something because you want to and not because of how it will look to other people.

[Alison]

Why yes, I am tickled pink to see you respond to my question! Thank you for giving this so much thought! I had to go ahead and make this decision since applications are due April 30. I didn't go for it. I went to the orientation, loved what Berkeley Free Clinic had to offer, but it wasn't a right fit for me. Instead, to make sure I was still headed in the right direction, I applied to several other volunteer opportunities that were more low key on the commitment level. You're very right, I have to do what's right for me, which for now means going at a pace I can handle instead of comparing myself to everyone else in my class! (It also means I have no excuse not to do well in class!)
And dare I even mention that we sat at the same table at BlogHer last year (20-something get together) and I STILL didn't introduce myself :-) I think a bay area meet-up is in order if you swing out this way.

[Operation Pink Herring]

I could not agree with your answer more. This is the sort of question I would struggle with (to put it mildly)... your outside perspectives on these make everything so much clearer! Dude, I don't even want to admit how much time I spent thinking about Wedding Hair. And then those pictures you posted were EXACTLY what I was trying to find. You rock :)

[Jill]

Might I suggest volunteering at Children's Hospital in Oakland instead? You get regular shifts and the training is definitely not as intense as Berkeley free Clinic.

[Alison]

Hi Jill, just printed my application. Thanks for the tip!