In the winter of 2022 I visited Noguna Island, a remote, artificial island constructed rock by rock by a local family in Kia Lagoon. With no internet or cell service, and the nearest radio tower recently burned down, the only form of communication was handwritten notes sent via a weekly shipping boat.
During my stay, I unknowingly missed an email inviting me to interview for a medical school spot at Brown. By the time I returned to the capital, I had received a follow-up email informing me that the invitation had been rescinded due to my lack of response. Thankfully, the admissions staff were incredibly understanding and offered me a chance to interview a few days later.
This experience gave me a sense of the supportive nature of The Warren Alpert Medical School, where I am still encouraged to pursue all my interests—even when it means I’ll be responding to emails on “aelan time.”