"That concludes your interview, do you have any questions for us?" My professor maintained a calm demeanor, and rightfully so. I, on the other hand, had an arsenal of questions, awaiting eagerly to be answered. I had heard hundreds of stories from former PA students, and although I was thrilled to be at my progression interview, I was also nervous beyond belief about stepping into medical boot camp. I managed to somehow swallow down the lump of anxiety that was resting in my throat since the beginning of my interview and proceeded to my question.
"Why PA school?" I almost threw the question at her, as if I was afraid of it being too harsh. What I didn't realize at the time, was that I would come to find an answer much more meaningful myself.
PA school isn't just medicine.
While I was in PA school, I liked to refer to it as mental boot camp. Those endless hours that you spent stuck in the library, the medical mnemonics that filled up the post it notes on your bedroom walls didn't only prepare you for hospital rounds. You see, PA school isn't just a couple of years of hard core studying. After a very short while, you'll realize that it becomes more of a mindset, a lifestyle, and an attitude. You come to realize that because of PA school, you said goodbye to procrastination forever, maybe without even realizing it. You somehow became emotionally stronger and began appreciating the little things in life, because PA school made you value all the time that you had "lost" within your endless year of studying. 
PA school will effectively reveal your true friends.
Although a little heartbreaking, this fun fact couldn't be more honest. PA school will drain the time out of your life; trust me when I say that 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week just aren't enough. Your friends will make endless phone calls and send exhausting text messages about the house parties and movie nights that you're missing. Luckily, some friends will be sincere enough to give you the space you need while others may just fall off the track and fly out of your reach. Know that it's okay - your real friends were there for you before PA school and will be there for you after. 
PA school will abolish your fear of failure.
If you are anything like me, you know how much the sound of failure petrified you. Spiders? No problem. Heights? Just another word for adventure. Failing an exam? Now we're talking. Before PA school, failure was the most intimidating, most horrific scenario that you could have imagined. PA school flooded you with failure - and I don't mean this in a degrading manner. However, your test grades will make you feel crappy. Your self esteem will drop - but your will to keep pushing on won't. With each "failure" you experience in PA school and in life, your determination will continue to get stronger. I don't know about you, but if you ask me, that's truly a blessing. 
PA school will make you appreciate your significant other.
This one's for all the lovebirds out there. It's no surprise that entering PA school put some mental and emotional stress on you in terms of your romantic and social life. When I was starting my didactic year, I remember telling my boyfriend how scared I was. "Will our relationship survive all this stress? Will we pull through?" Needless to say, we did more than just pulling through. Your significant other will be your biggest cheerleader during this time. Every time you think you've failed, every time you stop believing in yourself, he or she will be right behind you, cheering you on and pushing you to keep going. My boyfriend used to wait right outside the building for me, with warm lunch in his hand every day during the semester. He knew my test dates before I even did, and he'd occasionally treat me to tone down the stress in my life during that time. The icing on the cake? That one date that you guys were planning for MONTHS. When you finally do get to go out with your sweetheart, you'll know it was well worth the wait. 
PA school will teach you how to save a life.
And not just literally. PA school will teach you how to save your own life, from fear, anxiety, heartbreak, failure - you name it. Remember when I said PA school eventually becomes a lifestyle? Well, this is it. Although didactic year was just one year out of your academic career, it was the one that mattered most. Didactic year toughened you up, it prepared you for the worst. Yes, it taught you how to save one's life - but it also taught you how to save (and make) your own.
