Ajuni Choudhary, Pi Charter - September 2019

What are you doing today and how did joining Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority, Inc. prepare you for this? Currently, I am a first year medical student at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority, Inc. prepared me for this career path in many ways. First of all, I was confident when presenting myself to members of the admissions committees during the interview process of applying to medical school. This was possible through the situations I encountered as an active soror. I was constantly speaking in front of others and learned to be confident when presenting myself to others. Furthermore, I developed many professional, team-building, and leadership skills while being an active soror of Kappa Phi Gamma. Working with professors, faculty members, and fellow classmates aided to develop my ability to work well with others and react appropriately in situations I may not have been prepared for. Also, I learned how to manage my time well during my undergraduate career and this skill helped me obtain my Master in Public Health Degree while working, volunteering, and taking care of familial obligations. Currently, it helps me to make sure I study efficiently and take care of myself at the same time. Moreover, I was able to make many networking connections with sorors across the nation who have gone through medical school and are practicing physicians. These connections will certainly help me as I transition into my clinical rotations and apply for a residency program.

What were your biggest challenges and struggles? Personally, I am not a strong test-taker. This serves as a great obstacle because tests/examinations are utilized to evaluate medical students and physicians for the entirety of their career. Also, this obstacle made getting into medical school even more challenging than it already is because I had to tackle the Medical College Admission Test, commonly known as the MCAT. I used multiple resources available to me and advice from current medical students in order to boost my score. Through practice examinations and making sure I confidently know and understand the material I learn, I have been able to improve my test-taking skills. However, I still work hard to continue to get better at taking tests - it’s an ongoing process.

What is your favorite part of your position/career/field? I have wanted to be a doctor to help others for as long as I can remember! For me, just being a medical student and being on the path to becoming a practicing physician is an amazing feeling!

What is your work/life balance? Honestly, I don’t have much of a life as a medical student. I study in the majority of my free time, but I still make sure to take time to take care of myself and still pursue my hobbies/passions. Staying in touch with my loved ones also keeps me sane!

What do you perceive are the benefits of joining Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority, Inc.? The benefits of joining Kappa Phi Gamma are endless. First of all, I gained a second family on campus while I was away from home. My sisters became my closest friends and still are to this day. Furthermore, I gained a sense of belonging on campus and attained a pride for my school. I knew I earned my right to be a sister and be a part of an amazing organization. In addition, the philanthropy of spreading cancer awareness truly makes a difference in the community (especially during C.A.R.E. Week). Lastly, I gained many skills such as professionalism, time-management, team-building, leadership, clear communication, etc.

What advice do you have for women that are attempting to follow your career path? Don’t give up! If you have the passion and dedication to become a doctor, then you can definitely do it! The journey is strenuous and a continuous process, but with the right mindset and guidance it is an achievable goal.

How do you measure your success? I believe success is relative to an individual’s goals and aspirations. Everyone has their own journey to reach their full potential and it is 100% an ongoing process. However, I think self-reflection is essential in order to grow and continue to make progress toward a goal. I ensure that I re-evaluate myself in terms of how I perform on examinations in school and implement different methods to make sure I am effectively learning the critical information I will need to know as a physician.