What’s Match Day Really Like?

I have a love/hate relationship with Match Day. The parts of it leading up to the day…the pressure and  anxiety and how everything is kept in the dark and the complete lack of answers…I hate that part. A lot. But the actual Match Day? I loved it. Best day ever. And I think I would have felt that way even if the envelope hadn’t said what I wanted it to say.

We woke up that day at the crack of dawn…because really, who can sleep when they’re about to find out their future?! We were excited and jittery and anxious, but (speaking for myself) waaaay less nervous that I was expecting. I think it was just that feeling of…it’s here. 

We got ready and then started the day at some of our close friends’ house, where we toasted the day we’ve been talking about forever. It’s been really cool to have friends that are going through the exact same journey you are, but on this day-where we were all about to find out what was going to happen to our futures-it was especially sweet.

After a mimosa or two it was time to head to the school, and when we got in the car is when I finally started feeling a little anxious. So we did what any two rational adults would do…I turned on my favorite rap music entirely too loud and we danced it out.

We got to the school, which was all decked out for Match Day. All the pictures I have of us from the first few minutes we were there look like this:

Nerves, nerves, nerves. But after walking around for a minute, seeing our friends and family, and just seeing the whole atmosphere, we loosened up and starting having some fun.

There were over 100 students there to find out their fate, and their friends and families were there, and it was just such a cool experience. The energy was so high, everyone was excited, and it was an amazing thing to get to share with our families.

The whole ceremony took place in an outdoor courtyard. They had everyone’s name on a star, all in a circle around the yard. After hellos and nervous chatter and mingling, it was time for everyone to grab their little black boxes and go find their stars.

You got to request who to stand by, so we were between our two best friends from med-school. It was so sweet to get to experience this moment with them, and since I had to stand behind Chris (you know, since I’m not actually in med-school myself, so I didn’t get a star), it was perfect to get to stand with another student’s partner, someone who has walked through the same thing I had and who was just as nervous as me. You can explain this process to whoever will listen, but there’s nothing like having someone who knows what it’s like first-hand.

Once everyone got in the giant circle is when I started crying (for the first time that day, so hey, I call that a win.) It was just such an amazing moment that was so many years in the making. There were a few speeches, one in particular that referenced the first day of school four years ago where they all received their white coats. I remember sitting in that ceremony and thinking how Match Day didn’t even seem real, it was so far away. It was emotional to think of all that’s happened since then.

Then, the countdown. Everyone across the country opens their envelopes at the exact same time. So the whole courtyard counted down from 10, and in a moment that I’ll never, ever forget as long as I live, Chris opened his box and pulled out a golden envelope.

A little side note here: The match letters did not have the names of the cities, they had the names of the hospitals. I did not memorize the names of the hospitals, so for a solid ten seconds I was so confused. 

Seeing those words, “Congratulations-you matched!” while standing outside with 100 other people finding out the same thing was an incredible moment.

We spent the rest of the day laughing and crying and celebrating and sharing our good news.

It was a day I will never, ever forget. A once-in-a-lifetime experience that I’m so glad we got to have together, with baby Jack right there with us.

And now…I’m so glad it’s over. Onto the next adventure!