Full Circle

Today is the day I receive my white coat.

Today is the day I stand with my 164 classmates and say the Hippocratic Oath.

Today the China chapter ends.

One year ago today, I was in Beijing, China, dreading a year in that crowded, dirty, crazy country. Praying I would survive to make it to this day.

Now that day is here. And now, I look forward to the day when I can return to serve in China as an M.D., if Father wills it.

The year has come full circle now. The best, hardest year of my life.

And I wouldn't trade it for anything.

My heart goes to the people I love: my team, my babies, Dustin, Lee, Gavin, Tina, Zora, Vera, Nina, Jeff, Answer, Sonjie, Bourne, Connie, Yang, Gerry, Guo Ya Bin, my co-teachers, my Jenny and her family ...

Today I put on that white coat and take that oath, not for me. Not for my family. Not for my country. But for God. For China. For the people I will serve.

I know today, when I put that coat on for the first time, my heart will be in China.

And these faces, the faces of the people I love most in this world, will be the only faces I see.

Class 1

Class 2

Class 3

Class 4

Class 5

Class 6

Class 7

Class 8

And now, the China chapter of my life has ended. That interruption that I once hated ... is the best thing that ever happened to me.

Because I got to love those beautiful babies.  And they changed my life. Forever.