The Value of a Good Support System

Never underestimate the value of a good support system. Your support system should include individuals who encourage you to achieve your goals, and individuals who can help advance you to the next level. As a single parent, building a good support system has been critical to achieving my goals. Whether it was someone offering to babysit so that I could go study or have a break to myself, or just a friend offering to listen to me vent over the phone, I would not have gotten as far without the help of others around me. You may not think that it is important to rely on others, but no one gets very far on their own. The key is identifying where you find the support and encouragement to keep pursuing your dreams. This could be religion, online forums, family, close friends, or even a significant other. You just have to find what works best for your situation. There are some people who brag about being able to do it all on their own, but in reality no one has ever gotten anywhere in life completely without the help of others. Having a good support system can also help you maintain your sanity and decrease the overall stress in your life. It’s inevitable that I may have some moments in the upcoming future where I feel that I am completely alone and unable to go on, but I am lucky to have a small but strong support system to keep me going. I hope all my readers that are about to enter into medical school are lucky enough to have the same, but if you don’t I encourage you to identify the sources of strength in your life. You never know when it might come in handy.