A Minnesota woman named Michelle stumbled upon an unexpected treasure while browsing a local thrift store, leading to an emotional encounter she never anticipated. In Minneapolis, Michelle discovered a note in a book she bought and shared her story with Newsweek. She described finding the note as a stroke of ‘pure luck.’
‘I was browsing my local thrift store and picked up a book I liked. Once home, I noticed handwritten notes inside,’ Michelle recalled.
The note began with a positive affirmation: ‘I am smart. I am calm. I’ve worked hard to prepare. I’ve got this.’ Below it, there were MCAT scores showing improvement over time, from practice scores of 515, 519, and 523 to real exam scores of 525 and 528. The note also outlined medical school applications, interviews, acceptances, and rejections.
The note listed several accepted schools, including Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, the University of Iowa, and Creighton University, alongside a few rejections. As Michelle read on, she realized the note belonged to someone journeying through medical school applications and contemplating a career as a doctor. A humorous, self-reflective question about whether the writer liked people enough to be a doctor and a backup plan to explore veterinary medicine programs highlighted the writer’s thought process.
‘Finding the note was like discovering a little time capsule from someone else’s life,’ Michelle said. ‘You could see years of hard work through the MCAT scores, encouraging notes, and eventual medical school acceptances.’
Michelle decided to share a photo of the note on Reddit using the handle lemonspriggs. The post went viral, gaining over 7,500 upvotes before Michelle received an unexpected message.
‘This is so surreal … that’s my note.’
Michelle was taken aback. ‘To my complete surprise, she found the post,’ she explained. ‘Her husband recognized the notes and shared them with her. She created a Reddit account just to comment. Hearing her story and knowing the post’s impact made the entire experience even more special.’
The woman revealed she had forgotten leaving the note in the book before donating it. ‘I used to put affirmations in my textbooks out of anxiety about the MCAT,’ she responded. ‘Seeing I’ve worked hard to prepare. I’ve got this. brought back memories of that time.’
The woman, now 34 and a doctor, shared her unconventional path. She became an infectious disease specialist, choosing research over clinical practice. ‘I study zoonotic diseases, focusing on those moving between animals and humans. I run my own research lab, working with farmers on biodefense and emerging infectious disease issues. It feels like exactly where I belonged.’
Her gratitude for Michelle’s post was evident as she said it offered her a chance to ‘meet a younger version of myself,’ who ‘was scared, but persisted.’
Her message to others striving for MCAT success or pursuing daunting dreams was, ‘keep going.’ She said, ‘One day, you’ll reflect and see late nights, small victories, and personal notes were worth every effort.’
The experience underscored the power of social media for Michelle, reminding her of its positive potential. Editors Charlotte Nisbet and Emma Lee-Sang contributed to this story for Newsweek.