University of Nevada School of Medicine

This post is belated, but we [finally] made a decision.

Taylor is an MS1 at the UNR School of Medicine, and we couldn't be more excited.

I don't know if I care to remember the details of the last year of deliberation and decision making.  Turns out, making decisions is hard!  We were blessed with good options of where to attend school, but because we went crazy agonizing and over-analyzing every aspect of the decision, we felt like we were cursed with too good of options.  We started to be a little bitter, and we became disgusted with ourselves and our discontent. We have learned a lot about gratitude, humility, faith, and courage.

 In a nutshell, we spent everyday since October 2013 agonizing as to where we should attend medical school.  It seemed like such a big decision, but we will probably laugh about it in 20 years....the truth is it probably didn't matter.  We will be happy wherever we go - we have each other, we have the Gospel, and we are happy people.

Our top choices were University of Virginia in Charlottesville and University of Nevada in Reno.  We felt that one option would give us incredible experience, be an opportunity to live in a part of the country we might not otherwise be able to, and strengthen us as a family.  We felt that the other option would provide good experiences and familiar relationships for our little Emmeline, allow me to continue in my professional goals, and allow us to graduate with minimal debt.  

We probably made the mistake of asking too many people their advice, and considering each in-depth.  We probably made the mistake of thinking there was one correct option.  We have prayed that our Heavenly Father would bless us and bless Taylor's goals.  He blessed us with many good opportunities.  It is now up to us to move forward with faith and excitement.  God has touched every step of our journey - I expect and hope He will continue to do so.

So I still hope that one day our journey will take us to Charlottesville.  But for now, we are thrilled to be Nevadans.  Each day we feel confirmations that this was an excellent choice.  Taylor received a full-ride scholarship.  I got an excellent job.  Emmeline will get to know both sets of grandparents and great-grandparents.  Taylor has good classmates and good mentors.  We are grateful.

GO PACK!