The Yellow Dress Epiphany

I dressed in a black pant suit for my medical school initiation ceremony. I wasn't going to make the same mistake twice.

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As my white coat ceremony loomed around the corner and my mom and I began hunting for the dress, I began thinking about what I wore to my last formal medical school event. As a freshman coming to medical school without knowing a single classmate, I was eager to look as average as possible, fearful of standing out in a negative way. On that day, I looked the picture of professionalism: black trousers, black flats, a black polka-dotted shell, and a black jacket. I didn't feel fashionable or unique in the outfit, but I also didn't feel foolish. I didn't feel confident, but I ultimately felt comfortable.

It was in Banana Republic that I saw the dress: a long, flowy yellow garment, tastefully covered with white and light blue flowers and cinched at the waste. It wasn't a timeless shift dress like I had imagined myself purchasing - it was a statement-maker. It was professional while still exuding personality and spunk. It was everything I had always admired but never been gutsy enough to wear. Walking out of the store with this dress in my hand felt almost symbolic. It was as if this creation of fabric signified my evolution from an insecure girl to a self-assured woman.

My "yellow dress epiphany" came at a time when I was feeling very insecure in my medical school journey. It was in the final weeks before the highly-anticipated white coat ceremony; I could taste the sweet sensation of promotion on my tongue. However, I had been in the same class for six months, and my motivation to finish the course was declining in response to the fatigue. It had been weeks without any patient interaction, leaving my schedule to feel very mundane. Purchasing a dress that I would wear on the day of the beginning of my next chapter was incredibly powerful, and it helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The crowning moment at my white coat ceremony. I was very happy with my outfit choice.

As you can tell, I felt inspired enough by this dress shopping experience to immortalize it in my blog title, as I hope to continuously exude - regardless of my outfit - the sunshine and womanly confidence that this dress sparked in me. I will likely wear it once, to my white coat ceremony, and it then will remain in my closet for the rest of my days. There, it will serve as a reminder to always adopt a yellow dress mindset, regardless of circumstance.