Milestone: 518 MCAT

I had been quite for sometime now, purposely. I just want to stay on the sidelines for now. So many things going on around me internally. My wife is still in the deeper water of her grief recovery and is contemplating retirement. I welcome surprises in life and this event is one of those. I’m not afraid, I am excited instead. Maybe this event is the catalyst for my life after 50.

I wrote this letter to my 21 year old son the night before he took his MCAT and would like to share this to everyone. 

The result is not to expand an ego or anything else but just a way to keep tabs of what is going on with my life around me

June 6, 2017

Dear Brent:

I just want to say a few words to you before you take the exam. I understand that this is a pivotal part of your life but not career/dream ending. You’ve chosen to take this path, you’ve contemplated, you’ve studied, you’ve burned your midnight candle, you’ve done your practice, you’ve performed many practice test, your GPA showed your capability and you know what you can do.  

Please ponder on these few items.

 1. Delete anxiety, no need for it. Anxiety=Importance x Uncertainty x Powerlessness. The only variable that is really in play is Powerlessness but then you’ve already proven that you are capable.

 2. I have zero expectations from you and Brittney. All I really wanted from you guys is that you “try your best” and I know that by heart that both of you are doing that.

 3. “Just jump in the water” and you will figure out what to do. You’ve done enough preparations already. Just do it.

 4. Enjoy the moment. Watch Brent take the test, it’s fun. They call this self-awareness or mindfulness. All the things that you’ve studied are there inside you, all you have to do is recall it.

 5. Sleep and eat well. You burn a lot of calories. Make sure you have food and water. You need a lot of calories and water.

Dad

Chemical and Physical foundation of Biological Systems, 128/129, 86%

Critical analysis and reasoning skills, 128/129, 90%

Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, 131/132, 99%

Psychological, Social and Biological Foundation of Behavior, 131/132, 99%

Total MCAT=518, 97%