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Hi {{ first name | friend }}
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on my decision to take a second gap year.
When I first decided to take a gap year after graduating from Texas A&M, I saw it as an opportunity to experience things I hadn’t had time for during college.
For me, Gap Year #1 was about exploration.
It was about traveling internationally, saying yes to experiences outside of the classroom, applying to medical school, and discovering what life looked like beyond being a full-time student!
At the time, it felt exciting.
A little scary.
And different than what most of my peers were doing.
But as I thought more seriously about taking a second gap year, I realized, gap year #2 would look NOTHING like #1.
Gap Year #2 isn't about stepping away. It's about leaning in.
Instead of international travel, I'd be prioritizing travel for research conferences, professional opportunities, and experiences that directly contribute to my future career.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is: Not every gap year has to serve the same purpose.
Some seasons are meant for exploration, while others are meant for building, learning, or simply figuring out what comes next. Other times, it's about investing in yourself through work, internships, research, and opportunities that help shape the person and physician you hope to become. Everyone’s gap years will look different and that is OKAY!
It's easy to compare ourselves to people who go straight into medical school, start their careers immediately after graduation, or seem to have their entire future mapped out.
But choosing a path that looks different doesn't mean you're behind; it means you're choosing the timeline that makes the most sense for you.
Growth doesn't always happen on a traditional schedule. Sometimes an extra year provides experiences, perspective, and confidence that you wouldn't have gained otherwise.
And that's something worth embracing, not apologizing for.
Siena Palicke
During my gap year travels, I took a boat out to see the Great Barrier Reef, and ended up getting extremely seasick on the way there.
It made me curious why some people are totally fine on boats, while others feel sick almost immediately.
What I found was actually really interesting; it mostly comes down to a mismatch between visual input and what your inner ear is sensing.
In this week’s video, I’m sharing what actually causes seasickness, why it affects people differently, and a few evidence-based tips that can help the next time you're on the water.
Siena Palicke
Pre-med student matriculating into Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine Summer 2027, content creator and founder of {{ first name | friend }}.
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