I’ve recently been interviewing for my first “real” job and I’ve learned how to answer the question “tell me about yourself” in three short and terribly boring sentences:

“Well, I grew up in Texas before attending college. Upon finishing college, I went directly in to medical school. During my third year, I fell in love with Surgery and here I am today.”

That’s the short version. In long, I grew up in East Texas as the daughter of a pastor. I was homeschooled for the first 12 years of my life before attending a private Christian school. After graduation, I spent the next four years of my life having an absolute blast in college (you can read about that experience here). I am now in my fourth and final year of medical school, and am currently interviewing for a General Surgery residency, where I (hopefully) will spend the next 5 years learning how to cut people open, and put them back together again with minimal harm and maximal benefit. I started writing for InsideOut back when it was still a paper magazine (about 2 years ago), and I’m incredibly excited about blogging for them too!

That’s what I’ve done and what I do. It’s not so much who I am.

I am the middle child, the one who was terrible as a child and who still struggles with wanting things to be too fair, and the attention to be too centered on me. I am passionate about others finding God’s will for their life – because I found His will for mine, and it’s been the most incredible journey. I love being in the operating room – I feel His pleasure when I am there. People challenge me to become a better person. I love to read, usually lightweight stuff that doesn’t require deep thinking. I love Texas, and Texas campmeeting, and Texas youth camps – they are the greatest. I like to pretend I spend more time at the gym than I do, and I dream of becoming really fantastic at snow skiing. I still haven’t figured out exactly how to be a “saint” and not the “preacher’s kid.” I can’t keep my room clean and I can’t get to church on time. I have discovered that Jesus is sweeter still in the tough times. I love people’s stories, I drink too much coffee and Coke Zero, and when it all comes down to it, I’m somewhat boring.

That’s me, or what I’ve figured out so far. Who are you? What are you passionate about? I’d love to hear.

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” Phil 3:12 NKJV

P.S. Bonus points if you can figure out where I am in that picture. Hint: It was cold in November, and that’s a famous ship in the background.