The path I’ve taken to who and where I am today is anything but direct: Raised in Davis, CA, I moved to the Bay in 2020 to attend UC Berkeley as a mathematics major. Despite being fascinated by the subject, I was struggling with my mental health, and left Berkeley in 2022 to pursue a different path: I became an EMT. From 2023 to mid-2024, I went to school to become an EMT, and then worked in Alameda County’s 911 system as an EMT. Halfway through 2024, I left ALCO EMS and moved north to work as an EMT on a US Forest Service hotshot crew for the 2024 fire season. I resigned my position in October of 2024, and returned to the Bay.
Though math had fascinated me, it had never moved me. In fact, nothing in my life up until that point had felt meaningful enough to be worth dedicating my life to. EMS changed all of that. On my very first day in EMS, I found a home, and a purpose. I fell in love with emergency medicine, patient care, and most importantly, patient advocacy. As an EMT, I saw my first and foremost role as that of patient advocate, and for the first time in my life, I found purpose. Though I enjoyed my time in fire, which though I still functioned partly in the capacity of EMT, was mostly away from EMS, I quickly realized that my heart was left behind, with EMS. And so the question remained, would I become a paramedic, or a physician? I wanted to be a physician, but didn’t believe I was capable enough—smart enough, disciplined enough—and so I went back to school with the intention of pursuing paramedic school.
And so there I found myself, sitting in Anatomy and Physiology. I hadn’t taken a Bio class since 8th grade, and had never taken Chem, but I found the material so fascinating. By the end of the first week of class, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to pursue medicine. I thought: Screw thinking that I’m not smart enough. I’m deeply passionate about this field. I’m a good EMT, and I can be a good physician too. What I lack in talent, I’ll make up for threefold with hardwork. It was settled, and I embarked on the beginning of what will likely be a 10+ year journey to become a physician.
Outside of my coursework, my academic and clinical interests include ECG interpretation and toxicology. I’ve been fascinated by ECGs since the very first ride-along I ever did in EMS, but toxicology is a newer discovery, fueled heavily by the fantastic podcast The Poison Lab. (The other incredible clinical / EMS podcasts I regularly consume are EMS 20/20, and Pick Your Poison, both of which everyone should check out).
Outside of my clinical interests, my free time is split between my personal project Circle of Willis, my friends and my athletic pursuits. I’m an avid BJJ practitioner, though I’ve been dealing with an injury for over three years, and right now am able to train only around once per week without significant pain. I’ve seen a sports medicine physician, been referred to PT, and we have a working diagnosis, but as of right now I’m confined to light running, and moderate intensity weightlifting. Even so, 6-7 days a week, I’ll spend at least an hour of my day either lifting or running. Movement is, and has always been, when I think and feel my best: As a child, I was a dedicated cyclist, racing road and mountain bike events, including completing a 50 mile mountain bike race. As an adult, I’ve ran a 50k trail race, a road marathon, and have regularly ran weekend long-runs that push 27+ miles. I’ve competed in BJJ once, and once my injury heals, I’d like to do so with much more regularity.
Finally, I’m an amateur writer, which is what ultimately lead to the creation of this website and blog. Writing has always been an outlet for me. At times in my life, I’ve participated in the regular habit of Morning Pages. I’m a published poet. And I journal on a near-daily basis. I never said I was any good. But writing has been profoundly helpful to me, will without a doubt be something I carry with me for the rest of my life.
This website is ultimately a place for me to share some of that work, and my blog specifically is an exercise in facilitating communication between the inner version of myself that I don’t always feel can be expressed, and the outside world.