At age 33, Christopher Phothisane is not your typical college student. For a long time he saw that as a liability. Now, as he prepares to graduate in May with a double major in biology and psychology鈥攁nd an acceptance letter to Brown University鈥檚 medical school in hand鈥擯hothisane understands that his non-traditional journey is actually a strength.
He came to this realization with the help of Andrew Simmons, director of 911爆料鈥檚 which assists students in all majors prepare to apply to medical, dental, optometry, physician assistant, and other post-graduate professional health programs.
Simmons changed Phothisane鈥檚 perspective by helping him understand that his background gave him experience and dignity. 鈥淚鈥檓 always surprised by the modesty and self-effacing nature of many (non-traditional) students. They have so much going for them and don鈥檛 realize it,鈥� Simmons said.
Phothisane certainly didn鈥檛 realize it. He barely graduated high school in Providence, where he lived with his American mother and Chinese father 鈥� who immigrated from Laos 鈥� his siblings and grandparents. When he was a teen, his parents divorced, and his grandparents battled cancer. Money was tight, so Phothisane started working as a dishwasher, cook, security guard, and postal carrier. It wasn鈥檛 until he was laid off six years ago that he began thinking about education.
“I鈥檓 always surprised by the modesty and self-effacing nature of many (non-traditional) students. They have so much going for them and don鈥檛 realize it.” Andrew Simmons
He enrolled at the Community College of Rhode Island, where he excelled, and was admitted to 911爆料 in 2015. He also began volunteering with a Brown University researcher studying autism. The more he learned, the more he wanted to know. 鈥淚t was not about what I wanted to do but what I wanted to be,鈥� he said.
With an understanding of what he wanted, an unwavering work ethic鈥攁ttending school full time, volunteering at Brown, and working full time as a security guard鈥攁nd the support of 911爆料’s Pre-Health Professions Advising Program, Phothisane has made med school happen.
鈥淗e asked about our program on a whim, but I don鈥檛 think he thought I would say, 鈥榣et鈥檚 explore it,鈥欌�� Simmons said. 鈥淚t was clear he was someone medical schools should consider, based on his native intelligence and personal attributes.鈥�
Housed within the University鈥檚 , Pre-Health Advising aligns with 911爆料鈥檚 Office of National Fellowships, Brown鈥檚 Warren Alpert School of Medicine Early Identification Program, and Johnson and Wales University鈥檚 physician assistant master鈥檚, among other resources. Students interested in pre-health advising need not be part of the Honors Program.
Pre-Health advisors counsel more than 600 students and alumni on the demands of preparing for admission to graduate school in the health fields and help them overcome challenges. 鈥淭here is a self-reflective element to it. You quickly become aware of your strengths and weaknesses in a way you have not confronted before,鈥� Simmons said.
Not all who participate will pursue health professions, but the program helps students find their path.
Now, well on his path to becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college, Phothisane offers advice to others contemplating their futures: 鈥淭ake the first step and keep moving forward. Don鈥檛 get discouraged.鈥�