Medium: Acrylic landscape painting Artist’s statement: My experience so far as an accelerated medical student inspired the piece and its name. While taking some time to paint at a UPB event, I was very stressed from prior academic tests and assignments. So, I took some artistic liberty to show my feelings on the project. The comets represent the destruction of serenity brought by academics, the still water represents by basic need for calm and the lilies represent my growth so far. Conversations with my loved ones inspired me to show that growth and calm exist even in stressful situations.
Grasping a Lifetime
MARY L. WILKENS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE STAFF MEMBER AND STANDARDIZED PATIENT
I see the big picture of my life: The ups and downs and turn arounds The edge of walls, the nearly falls The easy fruit, the slap of truth The finding friends, the dying friends The love that laughs, the love that ends
And through it all, the one Great Call to someplace new, yet always known. Someday I'll be there, and I'll be home.
The Making of a Doctor
ERIN MCKENZIE UMKC MEDICAL STUDENT
Rat race against the ticking clock flies by Imposter in a room full of worthy A competition just to fly standby Already tardy, just started, hurry Accomplishing so much but cannot see Research, awards, publish, don’t stop, don’t breathe Just get to residency then you’re free No sleep dark circles staining underneath A boat no rudder sails the ocean blue Alone at sea no map but distant stars “Don’t worry this will all make sense to you” I stuff emotions large into small jars Yet I keep rising up to meet the task Because to help is all that I would ask