Student's book offers tips to be the 'premier pre-med'
First-year medicine student John Stalnaker shares the pre-med advice he wishes he had received in a self-published book, Becoming the Premier Pre-Med. He shared more about the book and the writing process with The Pulse.
What inspired you to write the book? What were you hoping to accomplish?
My purpose for writing this book was to give students (or future students) guidance and direction that I lacked. As a non-traditional student, I was looking for a book like this when I started my pre-medical journey. There are countless resources on how to prepare for the MCAT and why good grades are important for getting into medical school. However, there seemed to be a lack in the daily life, habits and mindsets of what can help improve students’ outcomes and overall quality of life. That is the essence of Becoming the Premier Pre-Med.
What are some key takeaways from the book?
- Be active in everything you do! Learning and growing is not something that will just happen by passively waiting or hoping.
- The importance of taking care of yourself physically, mentally and spiritually during these crucial years.
- How finding mentors and role models is essential and how to find them if they weren’t conveniently placed in your life.
Do you see yourself writing more in the future? Should we keep our eyes out for “How to survive medical school” in four years?
Absolutely! I loved writing this book and I believe it will truly help those who engage and implement these strategies. However, this is not the end of the road as I am still growing myself and hope that what I learn throughout these four years will make medical school more manageable for those that are to come!
You shared the quotes from physicians/faculty. Were they mentors in writing the book?
While I started writing the book before reaching out to these amazing physicians, they were all such a huge help in the process. Their insight, expertise and kindness are invaluable to me, and I have learned a great deal from each of them!
Could you provide a little of background information on yourself? Where are you from? Where did you go for undergrad? Did you always have your sights set on medical school?
I was born in Akron and have lived here my whole life. I started my undergraduate career at Stark State College and then transferred to the University of Akron. I love this community and don’t ever plan to leave! I have three amazing children and a wonderful partner who keep me pushing when times get hard. My path to medicine was a very unusual one. After high school I worked in construction and then started working on cattle farms. My inspiration for the field came from watching medicine work wonders on the cows I worked with. Although my cows were some of the best co-workers I’ve ever had, I knew this spark for medicine would be even more valuable to me if I was able to add in the human connection aspect.
Anything else you’d like to add?
To anyone reading this book: Your dreams may seem crazy to those around you and may even feel out of reach at the moment. Coming from someone who struggled in high school with a past full of self-doubt, I sympathize. However, everything will change the moment you find your passion and you become your own biggest fan. Learn from your mistakes, find ways to combat that self-doubt then put your head down and grind. When you lift your head back up, you won’t believe the things you have accomplished!