On My Way.

Sometimes you have to remind yourself that, although you have yet to reach your goal, if you're still working on it, you're much closer today than you were yesterday, last week, last month, last year.
It's a process.
It takes time.
It takes [hard] work.
Blood, sweat, tears.
Sometimes you'll have to do it again because you fell short.
It's never easy.

Sometimes, dare I say it, you want to quit. And it sometimes is more appealing to take that easy way out because then, think of the benefits (so called)!!! But then, what's next? What do you do then?
As a pre-med, second bachelors degree seeking, full-time working student I oftentimes feel like I can't take the next step. I can't finish studying to pass that next exam. I can't wake up in the morning. I can't wrap my head around all that material!!! But here and there I am reminded that it will be worth it in the end. If I tarry just a little longer...if I give it just one more hour...if I take the first step away from my bed, I'll be alright. And I always am.

Yes I am tired.
Yes I am doing a lot.
Yes my health has suffered in the process.
But I am in my way.
And by God's unfailing grace, I will get there.

Happy Monday, everyone.

Haiti

Happy Wednesday!!

Last month I had to go to Haiti for my grandmother's funeral. I had never been to Haiti before and was not sure what to expect aside from fresh, non-GMO Haitian food, so I went with an open mind. Although there are some bad parts in Haiti (mostly the capital), I was still amazed by this country and new land I finally was able to see for myself.

I woke up three consecutive mornings at 5:45 am just to catch a sunrise like that one!

One of the many market areas in the capital

These are just a little taste of what we don't see through the news, the Haiti you DON'T see, the Haiti you hear about from past natives who have since left the country. I have more pictures but editing and posting them all would take me forever (to all of you in the photography world, hats off to you!) and I really wanted to share a piece of my experience so maybe little by little with future posts I'll put more.

Despite the heat, cold showers, and lack of electricity (which meant no wifi of course), I still enjoyed myself and had a chance to meet some family members I hadn't met before. I ate a few mangoes, inhaled the breeze from the Atlantic Ocean, and luckily managed to escape without mosquito bites! Lastly, and most importantly, we buried my grandmother in Jeremie.

Haiti has so much more potential than we think. I see a lot of room for improvement, and some new plans already in the works. I'm so grateful to have experienced a new country, a new way of living and I am definitely going back! Question is, who's coming with?!

Wake up! It's the first of the month...

Happy Monday!
I haven't posted in a very long time. I didn't plan for my second post to be so far from my first one but life happens. Since my last post I've finished my spring semester, had to travel to Haiti for my grandmother's funeral (it was my first time so I will post pictures!) and got accepted to Florida Atlantic University for the upcoming fall semester. I've been up and down with a few things but since I have a break from school until June 22nd, I have some space to BREATHE!

So, since it is Monday, and the first of the month, we have a chance at starting new, or picking up things we've left for later to complete. I for one have a book I would love to finish. I bought it probably in January and had to put it down once school picked up. Confessions of a Surgeon by Paul Ruggieri, M.D. is a first hand account of the life of a surgeon. As a premed student, these books are so inspiring and are what help to keep me moving towards my goals.

In addition, I am still working on my skin, hair, and diet to see what works best for my health. Stay tuned!

Thank you for reading! 

Melissa

Pilot

Hello all!
First thing's first - my blog title is subject to change. I tried to name it quickly so I could get things rolling a little sooner. With that said, welcome to my blog! My name is Melissa, I am 24 years old, currently living in my hometown, Miami Shores, Florida. I am a pre-med student and working full-time as a medical assistant to a general surgeon. My life from day-to-day can get pretty redundant and boring so I have been thinking of what I could incorporate to spice it up. Right now, a little lifestyle blog should do the trick!

I am currently researching and trying out a few things. Number one on my list is to successfully clear my skin of the acne I've been dealing with for so long with all natural products! Slowly but surely I've been making a transition to use all-natural organic products for my skin and hair. My hair is doing pretty well (despite one thing I will write about in my next blog post), my skin on the other hand needs more work. So through tracking my progress on a blog, I should be held more accountable, yes?

If any of you more seasoned bloggers stumble upon my blog, please pass on your advice and well wishes! Thanks for reading!