Megan Bekas is just days away from completing her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Missouri State University. As she concludes her very successful two years as a PA-S, we asked her to share her preparation, experience, and advice for future PA students.
Hometown: Ash Grove, MO
Degrees Earned: Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology and a minor in chemistry.
Previous healthcare experience:
Pharmacy technician for 3 years
Phlebotomist for 1.5 years
ER tech for 2 years
Why did you decide to become a PA?
I have always loved the medical field and when I was growing up my mother, an ICU nurse with 25+ years of experience, would tell me stories of her day and the amazing ways she and her team made a difference in patients’ lives. The PA profession called to me due to the autonomy and teamwork related to it, along with the ability to think critically, problem-solve, and focus on patient care. Plus, I loved the flexibility of this career and the opportunity it gives to have a work-life balance that allows me to achieve my personal life goals.
Describe your experience so far in the program.
I would describe my experience in PA school as one the most difficult, challenging, fulfilling, and worthwhile adventures of my life. From the amount of information we learned in didactic year to feeling constantly overwhelmed and humbled by everything still left to learn, I have grown both as an individual and as a future clinician and am proud of myself and my classmates of all of our accomplishments thus far.
What do you like most about Missouri State PA program?
I really enjoy the professor to student ratio and how caring the faculty are. The professors have definitely built us up when we felt defeated and like we weren’t good enough and I truly appreciated that. Also, I have some really great classmates and I am very blessed to be learning with them and from them.
Do you have any advice for prospective PA students? Any helpful tips to prepare for PA education?
Absolutely! Here’s my top three tips/reminders:
1. Schedule time to spend with your support system as well as doing an activity or self-care for yourself. Literally plan a few hours into your week for this. Your friends and family love you and care for you and their support is going to help you feel not as isolated and overwhelmed.
2. Don’t be afraid to establish boundaries as needed! For instance, I let my friends and family know that I needed at least one week’s notice for any new or spontaneous plans otherwise I was most likely going to be too busy. And that’s ok!
3. There will eventually come a point in your didactic year where you feel very burned out from all the studying, testing, more studying, and still more testing. When you reach that point, remember that it is not a reflection of you not being a good enough student, not caring enough, or not being smart enough. Remind yourself that you are an amazing person and of how hard you worked to get into PA school. You are good enough, you will pass your tests, and you will be a PA.