"The mere-exposure effect is a psychological phenomenon by which people tend to develop liking or disliking for things merely because they are familiar with them."

— Wikipedia   "Mere-exposure effect"

The dozen sharp plastic tips pressed into my back leading to a diverse array of raised bumps: I was allergic to almost everything. A consultation later, I sat with the low hum of the office A/C as I waited for the soreness in my arm to disappate. I would be receiving an injection every two days for the next three years.

I had to spend 30 minutes after the injection to make sure I didn't get a severe reaction, and spent these moments chatting with the doctor who made many passes by the waiting room. Soon, I began to fall in love with medicine.

And as my allergies faded, my love for medicine grew. I would end up enrolling at UCSB in the microbiology major where I conducted research into the Pink Berry Consortium with the Wilbanks Lab.

During this time, I received an invite to work as an Optometric Technician and this position would lead to me being offered a position as a Clinical Rearcher conducting Phase III trials.