Goodbye Summer!

 

August Is Going to Be Busy!

Whew—August is already shaping up to be a packed month! Gianny and I are both getting ready for back to school. I can't believe I'm going to have a first grader! 😭 Time really flies.

I’ve officially finished all the back-to-school shopping, which is a huge relief—although my bank account definitely isn’t looking as nice as it did back in May, lol. Oh well, it’s all part of the process!

Next up: getting my hair done, and Gianny’s too. Plus, Gianny’s birthday is coming up soon, so party planning is in full swing. I already booked the bounce house (yay!), and now I just need to lock in the decorations, cake, music, and food. I’ll take care of the rest the weekend of. We’re expecting at least 20 people, and honestly, Gianny has been asking for a birthday party for so long—I’m just so happy I can finally make it happen!

On another note, I’m heading into my seventh gap year. Not exactly proud of it, but it is what it is. I don’t love teaching, but it’s a job, and it pays the bills. That said, I’m feeling a little down about going back to work on Monday. It’s always tough, but I’ve decided this will be my last first day of school as a teacher. For real this time.

Here’s to making it through August! 💪

Bye for now!!

Final Update Before the School Year Begins

 Hi everyone! This will likely be my last update before the school year kicks off. I return to work in about two and a half weeks, so I wanted to share a quick update on my plans moving forward.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get accepted into the post-baccalaureate program. It’s disappointing, but it also confirmed just how competitive the Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA) field really is.

As I mentioned before, I had a plan in place if I wasn’t accepted. I’ve now officially decided to apply during the regular application cycle—but only to schools that start before July 2026. The programs I’m targeting are:

• NSU – Jax

• NSU – Tampa

• NSU – Orlando

• NSU – Fort Lauderdale

• South  – Orlando

•  (KCU)

That’s six schools total this time around.

Another major change: I’ve decided to take the MCAT instead of the GRE. This field is so competitive that even students with a 318 GRE weren’t offered interviews for the post-bacc. I realized that a high GRE score alone may not be enough for someone with my background. What I really need is something that sets me apart—a strong MCAT score. If I can score above 500, I believe I’ll be in a solid position.

So, this is my Plan B. If I don’t get accepted in the 2026 cycle, I’ll be enrolling in a Caribbean medical school for their May 2026 start. Funny enough, I was supposed to start med school in the Caribbean two years ago—if I had, I’d likely be back in the states for clinicals by now! Wild to think about how things could’ve gone.

That’s all for now—thanks for following along, and wish me luck!

My Last Gap Year & the Fight to Beat the Grad PLUS Loans Elimination Deadline

 If you’ve been following my blog, you already know that my academic journey has been anything but traditional — seven gap years and counting. I started off as a pre-med student, but over time I shifted gears toward becoming a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA). And now, thanks to recent legislation, I’m facing another curveball — one that affects not only me but countless other students from low-income backgrounds.

What’s Going On?

The Trump administration recently passed a bill (yes, the “big, beautiful” one) that is about to change the future of graduate education funding. Here's a quick breakdown of what this means:

Key Changes (Effective July 1, 2026):

• Grad PLUS Loans Eliminated: The federal Graduate PLUS loan program, which allows students to borrow up to the full cost of attendance, will be discontinued for new borrowers starting with the 2026–27 academic year.

• New Federal Loan Caps:

  • Master's/General Graduate Programs: $20,500 per year, with a $100,000 lifetime cap.

  • Professional Programs (Medical, Law, Dentistry, etc.): $50,000 per year, with a $200,000 lifetime cap.

How This Affects Me (and Many Others)

These changes hit hard. Programs like CAA and medical school are incredibly expensive — for example, tuition alone for the CAA program at Nova Southeastern University is about $65,000 per year. Under the new rules, the $50,000 cap won’t even cover tuition, let alone cost of living.

That means I (and many like me) would be forced to take out private loans — with higher interest rates and fewer protections — just to make up the difference. And because these programs are full-time and intense, working while attending isn’t a realistic option.

The Only Silver Lining: The Grandfather Clause

There is one lifeline: If you're already enrolled in a grad or professional program and have taken out at least one Grad PLUS loan before July 1, 2026, you’re grandfathered in — meaning you can continue borrowing through Grad PLUS until the 2028–29 school year.

So what does that mean for me?

I need to get accepted into a CAA program that starts before July 1, 2026. That narrows my options significantly. Most programs start in August or later — which would disqualify me from the grandfather clause.

My Game Plan

So here's what I'm doing:

1. Post-Bac Program (My Top Choice): I applied to a post-baccalaureate program that guarantees a seat in Nova Southeastern’s CAA program — which starts in May 2026. Interviews start July 28, so I’m still waiting to hear back. Fingers crossed!

2. Direct CAA Admission: I also applied directly to CAA programs that start before July 2026. The South Orlando campus starts in March (weird, I know), and Nova’s Florida campuses start in May. These are now my only real options.

3. Plan C – Caribbean Medical School: If I don’t get into a CAA program, I’ll apply to Caribbean medical schools. Unlike most U.S. med schools, they offer January and May start dates, which means I could still qualify for Grad PLUS loans under the grandfather clause if I start by May 2026. I’d take the MCAT in January 2026, apply right after, and aim to start by May.*** This also means I have to take my child's father to court, so I can get a passport for my daughter. 

Why This Year Is My Final Shot

This really is it — my last gap year, my last year of teaching, and my last chance to make this career change affordable. If I don’t start school before July 2026, the door to federal Grad PLUS loans slams shut — and I honestly won’t be able to afford school any other way.

Even with the grandfather clause, I’ll still need to find funding for my fourth year of medical school, because the Grad PLUS coverage ends after three. That might mean dipping into savings or taking out private loans — but at least it’s only for one year instead of all four.

For Those Just Starting Out…

If you're early in your pre-med journey and these changes affect your timeline, here’s what I’d suggest:

• Look for schools with lower tuition.

• Apply for programs that offer scholarships or financial support.

• Consider military options (e.g., HPSP) — they can help pay for school.

Final Thoughts

It’s heartbreaking, honestly. These new rules are going to disproportionately affect students from low-income backgrounds who are trying to change their lives through education. It feels like yet another barrier for those of us without financial support or generational wealth. But I’m not giving up — and if you’re in a similar boat, I hope you won’t either.

This is the year everything has to come together. No more gap years. No more waiting.

Let’s do this.

Our Orlando Trip + Life Updates

 

Hey everyone!

It’s been a week since we got back from our Orlando vacation, and wow—what a trip! As expected, Disney World was super overwhelming. This is exactly why I was hesitant about spending 3–4 days there. It was packed. Gianny wasn’t a fan either; she’s not used to huge crowds, and it definitely started to wear on her.

Just getting into Magic Kingdom was a whole process. It took about 30 minutes! First, you park in a massive lot, then take a trolley to the ticket center. From there, you can either take the monorail or the ferry to the park entrance. We chose the ferry since one of the monorails was down—and honestly, it was faster. 

When we finally got into the park, I was laser-focused on getting on rides (lol). The park was so hot! But I quickly realized Gianny wasn’t really enjoying herself. We rode a few rides, and then we rode Space Mountain—and let me tell you, I had no idea it was a roller coaster, let alone a dark one. Gianny ended up sitting alone in the front, and I felt terrible. She kept saying, “Mommy, it was scary and dark,” and honestly, I still feel guilty about putting her through that. I have anxiety myself, but just imagining her riding alone in the dark still makes my stomach drop. Ugh.

After that, we took it slow—just walked around, had some snacks, and bought a few things. Luckily, we were staying close to the parks, so we went back to the hotel to rest and shower. Around 6 PM, we headed back to Magic Kingdom, got on one more ride, enjoyed more snacks, and caught the fireworks show (which was magical). Leaving the park, though? Total chaos. So many people. I have to be honest—Disney felt kind of overrated. We’ve decided that next year we’re doing Universal instead. Disney just wasn’t it for us.

The next morning, we had breakfast at the hotel, checked out, and went shopping. I wanted to check out the Nike Clearance Store in Kissimmee—and I’m so glad I did! I got Gianny three pairs of back-to-school shoes for just $115. Not bad at all. After shopping, we drove back home (about 2 hours and 20 minutes), returned the rental car, and I took an Uber back to the house.

All in all, it was great to take a break. But once we got home, I had to wrap up my Physics with Calculus lecture from Summer A, plus finish Chemistry. Happy to say I passed both classes—yay!

Now Summer B starts Monday, 6/30. I’ll be taking Chemistry lab and maybe Physics lab—just 2 credits, but it's only 6 weeks long, so it should fly by. Also, the application period for the post-bac program ends 7/1, so I’ll probably hear back by mid-July if I scored an interview. Interviews are set for 7/28 and 7/29, so fingers crossed! A lot of people on the Discord are still waiting for verification, which is nerve-wracking. My application took 8 days to get verified, so hopefully theirs go through in time too.

Lastly—I’m retaking the GRE one last time in August. So I’ll be spending my free time over the next 40 days studying hard.

****If I get accepted into the post-bac program, I won’t need to retake the GRE or take Chemistry 2 in the fall—which is such a relief. I also won’t be returning to full-time teaching. Instead, I’ll probably just work as a substitute so I can fully focus on the post-bac. The program offers guaranteed acceptance into one of NSU Florida anesthesia schools if I maintain a 3.6 GPA, so that will be my main priority—everything else comes second.

The only downside is that it means taking out more loans, and the path becomes a 3-year journey instead of just 2. But when I compare it to the CRNA route—which would require becoming a nurse (2 years), working in the ICU for a year, and then a 3-year CRNA program—that’s six years total. So honestly, three years sounds way better than six!

Thanks for reading! I’ll keep you posted on everything as it unfolds 💕
BYEEEEEEE!

2025 Orlando Vacation

Hi everyone!

We made it to Orlando safely—thank God! Yesterday was our first official day of vacation, and we kicked it off with a visit to Aquatica Orlando. We had a bit of a delay because we had to switch rental cars, so we didn’t arrive in Orlando until about 11 AM. That meant a late start to our day, but we didn’t waste any time—we headed straight to the waterpark!

Once we got there, we hit the pool, and Gianny had a blast going down a few of the kiddie slides. We grabbed some lunch, then got back in the water to enjoy more fun. Just as we were making our way to the lazy river, it started to rain—and they ended up closing the park! 😩

Since everyone was trying to leave at the same time, it took us nearly two hours just to get out of the parking lot. Total chaos, but we made it to our hotel safely, thank goodness.

Now let me tell you about the hotel—it's amazing! It’s a suite-style place, really close to the Disney parks. I’m so glad I chose it. It has everything you need to cook, a resort-style pool, a separate bedroom, a patio—it honestly feels more like an apartment. I’d definitely stay here again. Plus, breakfast is included!

After we got settled in, we showered, refreshed, and then headed out for a little souvenir shopping at a Walmart that sells Disney gear (so convenient!). Gianny was craving pizza, so we ended the night at CiCi’s Pizza and had a great time.

Oh—and some exciting news! This morning I found out my postbac application was officially verified, which means it’s now been sent to my program of choice! Yayyyyy!!!

Can’t wait to see what the rest of the trip brings!

Bye for now! 💕🌴✨

Weekly check in......

✊ 

Hi everyone, and welcome back to my weekly summer blog post!

There’s a lot going on right now, so let’s dive in. I’ve officially restarted my fitness journey because I want to focus more on my health. This year has been tough—working three jobs, not eating well, and barely sleeping really took a toll on me. So before I go back to working full-time in August, I’m using this summer to build better habits and take care of myself.

First up—Disney World! We leave in just a few days, and I’m super excited. It’ll probably be a bit overwhelming (Disney is huge, after all), but I’m looking forward to it. Tomorrow, I’m getting my hair and nails done for the trip. Gianny already got her hair done and she’s ready to go! I just want to feel and look good while we’re away.

We’ll be in Orlando for three days and two nights. Here's the plan:

• Day 1: Aquatica water park

• Day 2: Magic Kingdom

• Day 3: Early back-to-school shopping—we’ll hit a few malls and stores before heading home.

Gianny is so excited, and honestly, I’ve had “take Gianny to Disney” on my vision board for years. I’m thrilled it’s finally happening.

Now, back to my fitness goals. I’ve been fasting for 16 hours a day, getting in 30 minutes of exercise, and paying close attention to my calorie intake. I'm also prioritizing high-protein meals. The last time I tried to lose weight, I focused mainly on working out but didn’t really change my eating habits, and I didn’t see the results I wanted. So this time, I’m doing it differently—and it’s actually working!

In other news, NSU hosted an info session yesterday for the post-bacc program I’m applying to. It was super informative. I’m still waiting on one more transcript, and then I can finally hit submit on my application. The deadline is July 1st, and interviews are scheduled for July 28th and 29th. Classes begin August 18th, so the countdown is on!

That’s it for this week—thanks for catching up with me!
Bye!

---

NSU’s Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Pre-Anesthesiologist Assistant Studies Update

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share an important update about Nova Southeastern University's (NSU) post-baccalaureate program. Originally, the application was supposed to open in mid-May—but that never happened. Then, on June 1st, I received an email about the program. From what I can tell, they likely only contacted students who applied in the previous cycle and were denied, since there’s still no information posted on their official website.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

• Application Window: The application officially opened on June 1st and will close on July 1st—so it's only open for one month.

• New Application Platform: This year, NSU is using a new centralized application system called PostBacCAS. It allows applicants to apply to multiple post-bac programs using one platform, which is great if you're applying to several programs.

• Materials Didn’t Transfer: Unfortunately, none of my information from the previous cycle on CASAA transferred over. I had to start the application completely from scratch, which was frustrating and time-consuming.

• Cost: The new application costs $141 just to submit to one program. Also, you need to resend all of your transcripts and have at least one letter of recommendation to even hit "submit."

• Miscommunication: Some applicants are understandably upset because they already paid a $50 fee through the general NSU application portal, not knowing that a completely different platform would be used. That money is basically lost now.

It’s honestly disappointing that the process isn’t more streamlined, especially since they already have most of our information from the last cycle. Plus, with such a short window and the extra costs involved, I wouldn’t be surprised if fewer people apply this time around.

My advice: If you’re serious about getting in, start your application immediately and gather all your materials as soon as possible. The program is likely to be extremely competitive, and with only a month to apply, every day counts.

Hope this helps anyone who’s planning to apply—good luck!