Make A Legal (or illegal...hmmm) U-turn!!!

So, there's been a bit of change in the master plans... I just about fell out of my seat and crapped my pants when I got a mysterious call on my cell phone- the call was from UMKC's School of Dentistry in Kansas City- a seat has opened up in their dental class, and my name happened to be next on the alternate list. I could barely squeak out a response to him on the phone, just stunned silence! I was told by the director of admissions that the chance of me getting called up off the list was about slim to none. I jokingly kind of wondered if he just told me that to get me to stop incessantly calling him... "HAS THERE BEEN MOVEMENT ON THE WAIT LIST YET?!?!"...the poor man was probably about ready to chuck the phone into the street. I called every week. Every. week. Figured I needed him to know I meant business and that I still had hope of being called! Week after week went by...and nothing. :P So really, getting a call in July was the last thing I expected.

I had a really really tough decision to make- was already pretty much set to go to MOSDOH (in Kirksville), and was honestly really torn. I didn't have a lot of time to make the choice. When it came down to it, if my army scholarship doesn't come through, finances will be a huge struggle. UMKC is about half the cost...and so close to home. If I went to UMKC, I could live at home for the first semester/year and save some money, and just commute- not the most desirable option with a 45 drive, but I'm sure I could still beg my mom to still feed me :)

I'm trying to enjoy what's left of my last summer of freedom. I now start DENTAL SCHOOL in less than a month...which is completely TERRIFYING. And exciting!!  I'm scared about being way over my head- but maybe this is what the experience has to have. If there's a will, there's a way, and I will learn to discover the greatness of coffee and its magical powers.  It's been a roller coaster summer of not knowing what to expect next, but I'm truly counting my blessings to be in this position. Guess I'm learning a great lesson about being flexible and going with the flow! By this time next month I will be a first year dental student at UMKC! :)

Waiting...

Sometimes waiting for the unknown is tough. Currently, my school isn't set to receive accreditation until Aug. 9th... I'm thinking good thoughts, but need to be thinking of backup plans if things fall through. Luckily, I think I can request an educational delay extension from the military and start the following year with the school (their backup plan would be summer 2014), but I need to find out for sure... It's kind of a tough situation. Most people can just reapply if they don't get into school, but I am required to go on active duty at some point- which throws a huge wrench in my school plans. Luckily I might be able to get that extension due to the special circumstances.. Also waiting to see if I will receive the HPSP (health professions scholarship) through the army to help fund me- should find out for sure sometime in early August after the board reviews my packet. Hope hope hoping for some more good news! Just the wait is agonizing from all the waiting this past year! I guess I need to try to not worry about things I can't control, as I've done all I can so far...

Rub some dirt in it :)

Commissioned May 17, 2013

My battle buddies at LDAC, Fort Lewis, WA June-July 2012

Good evening! Was just reminiscing tonight on how much can change in a year. I know a lot of students are busy studying for the DAT, preparing their application, and balancing insanely busy lives. I remember how last year I finished up my junior year of college (very tough balancing O-chem, a bunch of other science courses, band for stress relief, and ROTC..), then jumped right into 6 weeks of solid DAT studying... I can't say I enjoyed it too much ;) The week after I took the DAT, I shipped out for Fort Lewis, WA to complete a month long military training course (LDAC, the leadership development and assessment course) that I had to successfully negotiate before commissioning, as a requirement for my ROTC program. Long story short, I spent a month playing soldier in the Ewok infested woods of Lewis (and by the way I THINK the area I was in was where the original Star Wars movies were filmed....PRETTY COOL RIGHT?!). I was beyond stressed because a shot at dental school was very slim, as I had to compete for an educational delay. The army allows cadets to have a wish list of branches (career areas within in the army) where you can choose to be placed...may not get what you want, depending on performance over your 4 years in ROTC and at LDAC. An ed delay would delay my service for 4 years while I finish school, then come into the Army as a dentist...which is highly competitive to even receive. I can say it was by far the toughest month of my life, but I have a wonderful experience to look back on and I experienced firsthand how a team of people can help each other succeed. Now, I look back on the tough times and glad I went through them, because it'll help deal with the tougher things in life that may come.

Anyway, to those applying to school now, it was a super stressful time for me, and I understand it's hard! VERY hard!!! Heck, I had been rejected by the majority of the schools I applied to (to the point where my friends would joke and compare how kind or mean rejection letters could be...I applied to 13 schools,  2 interviews, 1 acceptance- all ya need!). I was fully prepared to go on active duty with the military in an area completely unrelated to health or dentistry (had to fulfill my obligation), which was discouraging because I couldn't reapply. It was JUNE when I got the call I was accepted...just about died of relief! I was worried what I would do, where was my life going...worry worry worry!

But, what helped me was to try to keep a positive attitude, smile and be happy as much as possible, and try to focus on the big picture of life. You can do it- keep on truckin'! Find something small to enjoy today :)

Hey there! I'm 2LT Tess Kornacki, and I hope that this attempt at a blog I am starting will show others the journey I am about to take on! I hope my documentation of my experiences will give advice, laughs, and some wisdom to those wishing to become healthcare professionals as well! The lovely gal in the picture is my identical twin sister, 2LT Erin Kornacki, and she is heading to San Antonio to IPAP (the interservice physician's assistant program) at Fort Sam. We are both very excited to begin our careers and start helping others, but separation for the first time after 22 years of togetherness will be tough!!

To give a little background on me, I completed my undergrad at Kansas State University as a Psychology major, and commissioned through Kansas State's Army ROTC program. It has been a very difficult but rewarding experience, but I'm so glad I chose ROTC as my avenue to achieve my goals. I will owe the military a minimum of 4 years active duty and 4 years reserves, and am also currently in the process of applying for HPSP (health professions scholarship program  through the military)- which if I receive that I will owe 4 additional years. It is my true desire in life to serve soldiers and help others through my career choice.

I have been accepted to the inaugural class at AT Still's Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health, and I will begin in late September. I'm so excited! I have no idea what to expect, as I will be the guinea pig :) I definitely know that the next 4 years will be incredibly rigorous, but I'm so grateful for the opportunity to serve my country in the future as a dentist! Hoo-ah! I hope my experiences will be able to help future dental students get through it as well!