It was the most unexpected dream come true.

I found myself under the acting medical officer for health, learning about the Canadian health system, attending cancer prevention meetings, assisting in sexual health and child health clinics and even meeting with the chiefs of Manitoulin Island First Nation peoples.

I do not want to sound like the girl who got straight A’s though – I didn’t.

I took three years to be accepted into medicine and, no, I did not have the TER to make the front page of the newspaper, in fact I cried when I found out my result.

I don’t know how I have been blessed to retain knowledge of the body when I can not retain knowledge of where I put my mobile phone.

I have sat supplementary exams because of a failing mark when my grandmother died and I have had days when I wonder if I really want to do this.

But it has all been worth it and not being that perfect student I hope will help shape me into a better doctor.

When people say it is not possible or say, “You come from where?” all I can say is it’ i made me who I am today.

I do not know where I will be in the next 10 years but I know that where I have come from and the experiences I have right now are the key to tomorrow and I trust God to show me the way.

I have learnt from my home town, Kukerin (population 60), the importance of community and how each person needs a sense of belonging.

Being home-schooled helped me be independent in my learning.

My large family of three brothers, two sisters and four nieces and four nephews has shown me the importance of being a real person with weakness and tenderness before being a future doctor. My faith has brought me to where I am today.