Thoughts from ME

This is the personal statement I have included in my medical school applications. Personal statements are the opportunity applicants have to express the reason of why they want to be a doctor. They are short, to the point, and personal. I share mine to show you why I am choosing this and to hopefully help you understand my philosophy behind the struggle between a loving, all-knowing God and the suffering that occurs while we are separated from Him here on earth.             Melissa Snell Personal Statement  Most people view suffering as a negative thing. But when Buddha said, “Life is suffering,” I don’t think he meant it that way. I used to think I wanted to be a doctor to relieve the suffering of mankind. I know differently now. Through my own experiences on my path towards medicine I have learned that there is significant beauty in the suffering of man. I believe that suffering begins a transformation for each of us and the ability of man ...

“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.” -- Psalm 69:30 I love music. It has been an integral part of my life for the entire time I have lived on the earth, and I imagine before I received my body and came from the preexistence . I can recall from my youth, my mother at the piano practicing hymns and other music - Yanni, Mozart, etc; And my father with his guitar as we sat around his feet or around a campfire. I find happiness with my fingers on the strings of my guitar, violin, or the keys of a piano.  But no music gives me as much joy as singing of my Savior, Jesus Christ. The ability to feel the Spirit testify of His life and mission comes quickly as I listen to music about Him. How grateful I am then, to participate in a choir that has at its core the mission of spreading the word of God and of testifying of Christ!  Our first fireside is Sunday the 24th in the Hinckley chapel in Rexburg, ID. and we are excited and humbled b...

Recently I have been seeing more of this message: You are enough. Or: With Christ you are enough. I hate this message. I want to be perfectly clear here- this is my personal opinion. YOU will NEVER be enough. Before the angry messages flood in, let me explain what I mean.  Not only is it a lie that you are enough, it is terribly shortsighted.  We read in the scriptures the message from King Benjamin to his people in his address: "Believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have  tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sin, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance,the greatness of God and your own nothingness... And humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling ...

While serving my mission for the LDS Church, I fell in love with this hot fudge! My friend Elise was living in Norfolk at the time and she used to make it for me and my companion. When I found out I was being transferred, moved to a different area to continue proselyting, she sent me with a tubberware full! It's delicious guys! Elise's Hot Fudge 1 cube butter 1 pckg semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 2/3 cups evaporated milk  4 cups powdered (confectioners) sugar 1 Tbl corn syrup (optional- makes it more smooth) 1 tsp vanilla  Melt butter and chips over medium heat while stirring. Add evaporated milk - while making sure the chocolate doesn't burn! - powdered sugar and corn syrup. Bring to a boil and boil for 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla. I dip EVERYTHING I can think of in this scrumptious treat!

Seeing:  blue skies with wisps of fickle clouds Making:  sure my anxieties don't overcome my faith Cooking:  up ideas about life in medical school Drinking:  my favorite tea - Lemon and Ginger (not homemade so not the best but it'll do in a pinch) Reading: Suzanne Palmieri's the Witch of Little Italy - so far the storyline is a little wanting but the writing is effervescent Hearing:  Danna/Dovotchka on Pandora's "We Bought a Zoo" station Wanting:  to be done with the MCAT already. Looking:  not too far in the past or future. Life Is Now. Playing:  less music on the guitar than I'd like (still written here :P) Wasting:  practice/studying time for the MCAT Understanding:  more about the element of grace. Learn more about grace from a favorite talk, here Wishing:  I will do well on my MCAT and get accepted to medical school Touching:  the lives of all around me, hopefully for the better....

When trying out for a vocal group here in Rexburg, we were asked to sing a piece by Johanna Anderson entitled "Lord of the Small." She sent her poem to a man who put it to music - he felt it was fitting as he had been commissioned to honor the memory of a 12 year old girl who had died of cancer. The poem is as follows: Praise to the Lord of the Small Broken Things,  Who Sees the Poor Sparrow That cannot take wing.  Who loves the lame child and the wretch in the street  who comforts their sorrows and washes their feet. Praise to the lord of the faint and afraid  who girds them with courage and lends them his aid,  he pours out his spirit on vessels so weak,  that the timid can serve and the silent can speak. Praise to the lord of the frail and the ill  who heals their afflictions or carries them till,  they leave this tired frame and to paradise fly.  to never be sick and never to die. Praise him, O Praise Him All ye who live...