06/10/2023
10 years ago I started school at the Pacific College of Health and Science (then PCOM) in New York City. That took me to San Diego (plus a brief stint in China) where I graduated with a Master’s of Science in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine 5 years ago. Last weekend I graduated from AIMC Berkeley with my Doctorate in Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine.
The timeline and setting of this journey was not the plan back in 2013 when it all started, but looking back I can’t see it going any other way.
When I graduated with my master’s degree in 2018 my main focus was passing the licensing exam so that I could start my acupuncture practice. After that I wasn’t really drawn to any of the doctorate programs at the time and I was content with the strong education that I had. After a couple of years, though, the pandemic created a shift that actually made the doctorate program I had my eye on at the Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College of Berkeley accessible to me as it moved online.
Throughout this program I had the opportunity to work with amazing teachers and practitioners that have influenced me deeply, both professionally and personally.
If you would have told me 10 years ago it would take me this long to be “done” with school, I probably would be upset that it wasn’t done in the 4 years I was planning on. But seeing how much better it can be when you surrender the idea of a “right” timeline, I realize that it’s ok to let go of expectations we have for ourselves.
I’m grateful for what my education has taught me on so many levels and am excited to share that with my patients.
💚