Throw caution to the wind: Real-world experiences illustrate need for unfiltered thought

Mishael Gill ’23 Paper Managing Editor

Iremember sitting as a junior for my Inklings leadership interview like it was yesterday. The chair I was sitting on was wobbly, so I braced my foot against the floor to keep steady. The late afternoon sun was peeking through the classroom’s blinds, illuminating a panel of faces before me—the present senior Inklings leadership and advisors. Even though I had spent a considerable amount of time perfecting my application, no amount of preparation could’ve prevented the dryness of my mouth or my fingers anxiously fidgeting in my lap.

I spent the greater part of high school planning and preparing. From my course selections, my study methods and the extracurriculars I chose, I cautiously made each decision. Having real-world interview experiences showed me that preparation is limited: sometimes you just have to throw caution to the wind.

Nearly a year after my Inklings interview, I found myself in the same position. Since my sophomore summer of high school, I had my heart set on a B.S./M.D. program (a dual-degree medical program that typically ranges from seven to eight years in length). This past January, when I finally received the opportunity to sit for a medical school interview, all the hours spent volunteering in the hospital, shadowing doctors and conducting research felt validated. All I had to do was speak my truth and respond to the question: why do I want to practice medicine?

As a true planner, I went back to my supplemental essays and picked out the key ideas I wanted to highlight in my interview. I studied YouTube videos, scoured Reddit threads and collected an extensive list of potential interview questions and points I wanted to make. I was prepared—right? But when I sat down to conduct a mock interview, I froze. The simple question “Why medicine?” took me back to that day in the rickety chair at the Inklings interview, where my wish to provide the “perfect” response to showcase my true self.

It took a lot of practice and self-reflection for me to finally understand that this interview wasn’t going to be perfectly rehearsed or artic ulated. I had pre pared enough— the answers were all in my head—I just had to provide myself the space to allow my un filtered self to shine through.

So, I implore you, future Staples graduates, to leave some room for improvisa tion. Not everything has to be planned extensively, and speaking to your raw expe riences will allow the rest of your personality and incred ible talent to follow through.