You Get Out What You Put In

[Disclaimer: mildly sappy, but relevant, post]

Today, April 15^th, is my late great-grandfather’s birthday. Aside from COVID years, my family celebrates it like it’s a for real holiday: t-shirts, barbecue, spades, the whole works. He was born on this day in 1900 and died when I was in second grade. I remember the day he died like it was yesterday, I even remember what I wore to school that day…which is funny because I don’t remember what I wore 2 days ago. I don’t remember many particular interactions with him very well, but I know that every story I’ve ever been told of him by anyone, family or not, depicts him as a wonderful man.

He was not formally educated, couldn’t read or write his own name, but is always described as incredibly smart and resourceful. He worked in our town’s cotton gin (in Alabama) until he had saved enough money to buy a piece of the land that his family had been slaves on and had sharecropped. He farmed the land until he died and left it to his children. I grew up on this very land, running up and down the dirt road barefoot with my cousins and barging into my aunts’ and uncles’ unlocked houses to grab slices of cake and pie, and sneaking off to quiet places to read in the grass (yes, I was that kid- I had a pet goat named Billy, too, but that’s another story). It was great! I’m so happy that my niece and younger cousins still do the same to this very day.

My grandfather loved the land and understood it as a source for sustenance for our family. He was a great farmer and didn’t just farm for our family but for the entire Black community in our town. We’re often told stories of how families who had less than his (though he didn’t have much) or were on hard times were always welcome to come to our little farm and pick whatever food they needed or get meat from the animals he’d raised. 

This afternoon, on his birthday, one of my aunts posted something in our family group chat that she recalls him often saying. I thought it was fitting to share with you—for your pre-med journey and for life, really.

You can’t plant peas and expect to get corn.

How profound is that? Maybe you’ve heard variations of that quote. It’s certainly true. In life, you get out what you put in. Being pre-med is the same. You can’t skip class and not study for exams and expect to get the A’s you need. You can’t show up late to shadow or volunteer and expect a glowing letter of recommendation. You can’t study for the MCAT for 2 weeks and expect to get a 520. You can’t send in a half-completed application and expect the admissions committee to grant you an interview. You’ve got to give everything you do your best effort!

My granddad and The Good Book are right, you reap what you sow. So sow hard work, diligence, and kindness…and you’ll be rewarded accordingly.

In my own words: You can’t put in half the work, half the time and expect to get a whole white coat.

That’s your nugget for today. You’re welcome.